https://www.kunstform.org/

EYEBALLS - Matthias Dandois 'HAROZONA'

"I instantly loved the fact that with 35mm, you need to think more about what you shoot"

7 Aug 2020

Harozona Matthias Gallery 14

Photography by Matthias Dandois | Interview and intro by Kevin Connors

I have always been curious and excited anytime I see a rider or friend shooting a film camera. For me it just shows how much they appreciate the trip and or that moment enough that despite knowing there is likely a photographer around, they still bring their camera and shoot what matters to them the most. I had seen Matthias posting some film picture here and there on Instagram, then suddenly he drops an amazing book 'Into The Unknown'. After a short four day trip with the Haro crew to Arizona and seeing him shoot his Lieca M4, I noticed he truly knows and understands that camera. I had to dig a little deeper...

Harozona Matthias Gallery 10

What first started getting you into shooting photos?

Honestly its BMX that (seriously) got me into photography. I have been around incredible photographers such as Vincent Perraud, Manu Sanz, Hadrien Picard really early on and have been super interested by the process of getting a good shot. You know getting a good BMX photo is a collaboration between a rider and a photographer, so I kind of got interested organically.

How long have you been actively shooting now?

I have been shooting photos as long as I can remember, my parents would give me disposable cameras when I was at summer camps when I was like five or six years old. I was just shooting really random stuff, but I knew I always liked having a lil souvenir from those trips. I think it stuck around as I was growing up.

Harozona Matthias Gallery
Harozona Matthias Gallery 3

All self taught? Or have you just naturally picked it up and learned off of being around so many different photographers over the years?

Well a lil bit of both I guess. My photographer friends taught me the basic then you just have to kind of go your own way and start shooting what you like the way you like. I guess every photographer in the world are self taught. It’s all about trials and error, making mistakes and learn from them. Get creative, just like riding BMX.

Did you ever shoot digital? Or was it one of those, like many of us, you saw a style and feel that led you to film?

I had learnt on a digital Canon camera, but then iPhones kind of got better than DSLR and more convenient to shoot photos so I mostly used my phone. The thing with phones, is that you shoot everything all the time, I was kind of overwhelmed with it and I needed something more analog. I started to get into film photography after a trip in Japan four years ago. I got myself a used Nikon FE and started to fuck with it. I instantly loved the fact that with 35mm, you need to think more about what you shoot, you need to think about the angle, the composition, the light… Film is kinda expensive and are obviously harder to develop than just shooting digital, so you have to pay more attention, be more mindful. In 2020, being mindful of what you are doing is kind of a luxury, everything is happening so fast. For me, shooting film is my meditation, my moment of mindfulness. I also love to wait a month before I develop my films, you kind of forget what you shot and its a surprise when you develop your films. Its Christmas everyday. I love that shit.

Harozona Matthias Gallery 6
Harozona Matthias Gallery 15

Do you only shoot a specific type of film, as the color palette and feel seems to have a great consistency about them?

I used to shoot with a bunch of different films. Now I mostly use the Fujifilm Fujicolor 400. The color looks good to me, and Fujifilm is a rad company.

So what’s the story behind your Lieca? Was it a camera that found you or one that just was purely always calling your name?

So as I was getting more and more into shooting film, My Nikon FE became a bit outdated. My girlfriend got me a Leica M4 for my 30th birthday and it was the greatest gift I ever got. I use that shit everyday.

Favorite lens?

I just have a 50mm for my Leica. Its great. You gotta be creative with the 50mm.

Harozona Matthias Gallery 9

Where did the idea for your book come from? Was it a project you shot for specifically or something that just evolved into what it became?

The idea for the book started with Mike Dewitt. It's kind of pointless to shoot film to only put them on Instagram, so we had the idea of printing our favorite photos and made it into a book. Something sweet to look back on.

You ended up shooting the cover of Vogue, that is certainly something to be proud of. How did that end up coming about and happening?

Man its fucking crazy, its kind of every fashion photographer's dream to shoot the cover of Vogue haha. My girlfriend and I were confined during Covid19 in NYC and Vogue came up with an "at home" editorial. I shot her in our place in New York and ended up getting the cover. Definitely something I am very proud of!

Have you ever developed or toyed with the idea of developing your own work?

For now it is just a hobby, my meditation, I do it for myself, let’s see how this goes.

Any goals or plans for where you’d like to take your work in the future?

Honestly no. We have another book in the work with Mike - stoked on that. We will take it from there!

Harozona Matthias Gallery 17

Related Video

HaroZona

Dennis Enarson, Chad Kerley, Matthias Dandois and Alex Leibrock - More Info

Previous

Next

PRODUCT DROP: New Frames, Colorways, and Parts & More from KINK

Including Travis Hughes's first signature frame!

Related Content

Haro La Bastiille Thumb
Play Button

Haro BMX - Matthias Dandois La Bastille 2019

Debuting a new colorway in Lisbon

25 Jun 2019
Eyeballs - Dallas Dunn
Eyeballs - Dallas Dunn
Eyeballs - Dallas Dunn
Eyeballs - Dallas Dunn

Eyeballs - Dallas Dunn

Never too late to regain to your love for BMX

11 Jan 2018
EYEBALLS - Sebastian Anton
EYEBALLS - Sebastian Anton
EYEBALLS - Sebastian Anton
EYEBALLS - Sebastian Anton

EYEBALLS - Sebastian Anton

When Your Camera Is Older Than You

25 Aug 2017
Eyeballs - Johnny Kilmer
Eyeballs - Johnny Kilmer
Eyeballs - Johnny Kilmer
Eyeballs - Johnny Kilmer

Eyeballs - Johnny Kilmer

Empty pools to airplane hangars

4 Dec 2016
City Links Matthias
Play Button

Vans Presents: City Links - Matthias Dandois

Street meets Flat

30 Jul 2020
HaroZona in Photos
HaroZona in Photos
HaroZona in Photos
HaroZona in Photos

HaroZona in Photos

Dennis Enarson, Chad Kerley, Matthias Dandois and Alex Leibrock

3 Aug 2020
Eyeballs - Fabien Lefevre
Eyeballs - Fabien Lefevre
Eyeballs - Fabien Lefevre
Eyeballs - Fabien Lefevre

Eyeballs - Fabien Lefevre

"A thug grandma took my strobes"

6 Jul 2016
Eyeballs: Mikkel Mogensen
Eyeballs: Mikkel Mogensen
Eyeballs: Mikkel Mogensen
Eyeballs: Mikkel Mogensen

Eyeballs: Mikkel Mogensen

Making Memories With A Scandinavian Transplant

17 Jan 2019
Eyeballs - Ryan Ogawa
Eyeballs - Ryan Ogawa
Eyeballs - Ryan Ogawa
Eyeballs - Ryan Ogawa

Eyeballs - Ryan Ogawa

Fresno Ca, Scene and Done

22 Sep 2016
I Love Ny Matthias
Play Button

Matthias Dandois - I LO{ckdown}VE NY

A DIY love letter

12 May 2020
Eyeballs - Bryce Bartlett
Eyeballs - Bryce Bartlett
Eyeballs - Bryce Bartlett
Eyeballs - Bryce Bartlett

Eyeballs - Bryce Bartlett

A taste of the NorCal scene

21 Mar 2016
Harozona
Play Button

HaroZona

Dennis Enarson, Chad Kerley, Matthias Dandois and Alex Leibrock

3 Aug 2020
https://www.kunstform.org/

Latest Content

Uo Tb TA6c H Ahqdefault
Play Button

jib bmx - 'late tape' number five

Better late than never

21 Dec 2024
From the north in the cut 1
Play Button

FROM THE NORTH - 'IN THE CUT'

42 Minutes of Extras

20 Dec 2024
Gll DC2 H5p M0hqdefault
Play Button

One Man Show 3 | Urban Wander

Weird & Revered

19 Dec 2024
QR9 Zlg Sjn 4hqdefault
Play Button
Mankind Catalog Cover jpg
S P7t6 Xn8g4 Yhqdefault
Play Button

JASON ENNS - DIG 'FRAGMENTS' - Episode 3

Taking his tech roots to the streets

18 Dec 2024
Y K Hu Q9ys R Qchqdefault
Play Button

Cold Cuts - Harrison Arcari - THIRTY - Kink

Raw and unfiltered

16 Dec 2024
Qe S9 Zym SHW Ahqdefault
Play Button

Sin Camino

A trip through Spain and Portugal

16 Dec 2024
0 F9p Ku S6gc4hqdefault
Play Button

Jack Seymour - LXB - United BMX

Lit in Luxembourg

16 Dec 2024
Qwv Hp8y VI Qhqdefault
Play Button

Vans Europe Presents: GIRLHOOD | BMX

Linda Grabner - Teresa Fernandez - Francina Fernandez - Anahi Valentina - Wibke Vogel

16 Dec 2024
5m G9j3x X H0hqdefault
Play Button
E y0 Wy WAB Ihqdefault
Play Button

FROM THE NORTH

Reynolds, Adams, Hoffmann & Ntavoutian

12 Dec 2024

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

BSD Grime Safari Reed Stark Austin 6

Reed Stark - A Photo Safari

Safari Forever...

6 Dec 2024
Et FW24 Dig Magazine Collab Shoot 031

Introducing the DIG X ETNIES Collection

Celebrating a 25 year partnership

7 Nov 2024
24 photo comp web leader

THE 2024 DIG PHOTO COMP IS NOW LIVE!

OVER $1000 WORTH OF PRIZES UP FOR GRABS

15 Oct 2024
Greystoke issue 2

GREYSTOKE BMX MAGAZINE - ISSUE 2 OUT NOW

132 pages of tangible, hold-in-your-hands BMX print media.

11 Oct 2024
SUNDAY Silvawave Frame 3 Q web

PRODUCT DROP: Brett Silva's signature SUNDAY 'SILVAWAVE' frame

"It was only a matter of time before Brett got to call the shots."

26 Sep 2024
Osomatsu 4

SETUPS - Kazuei "Osomatsu" Oimatsu - ALIVE INDUSTRY

A Ben Lewis signature frame stacked with Animal parts

12 Sep 2024
20240907 BOH 019 perris

BATTLE OF HASTINGS 2024 - Everything you need to know

Schedule, livestream links, highlights, results & more...

2 Sep 2024
Garrett ss24

SIMPLE SESSION 24 - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Highlight videos, schedules, results and more

24 Aug 2024
Volume frames 2

PRODUCTIVITY - NEW VOLUME JASON WATTS & KRIS FOX FRAMES

Certified for roasting - THE SMOKO & THUNDERHOOF

6 Aug 2024
Efise leader results

WHO WON THE €22K at E-FISE 2024 WOLVERHAMPTON?

The results are in!

12 Jul 2024
Kink 2025 bikes

PRODUCT DROP - KINK 2025 BIKES

That New New!

12 Jul 2024
DSCF5547

MIKE MASTRONI AND THE STORY BEHIND THE 'TELOMERE' VIDEO

Backstories behind the clips

24 Jun 2024