Portfolio: Matt Schwartz

Blue + White. Florida. Inside the motion with perfect colors. Image: Schwartz

Surf hut. This was the hut where I rented boards each morning. I must have taken a hundred Polaroids of this shack. It was where I wanted to live: in those colors, next to the beach and surrounded by boards. Every time I saw it made me smile. Image: Schwartz

Two boards. It’s nice to see this as an onlooker. I have been the one with the board in the sky many times. Image: Schwartz

Boy+girl. This was one of my first Polaroids I shot when I was learning to surf. I had no clue that surfing would become a primary focus of my art and travel. Image: Schwartz

Candy Store. Another angle of the surf hut. I remember thinking I was at a candy store as I selected a board from all of the bright colors. Image: Schwartz

Surfers and Pelicans. The beauty of the intervals between sets. Waves, quiet, and low flying birds. Surrounded by goodness. Image: Schwartz

Surfing.This is my quintessential surfing shot. I was standing on a pier and caught a perfect moment. Him on a wave, her about to pop up. Image: Schwartz

Full Frame. Perfect bright colors and edges on this Polaroid. The black edges remind me of a still from a super 8 movie. Image: Schwartz

Lavender. I’m not sure where the colors on this image came from. That is the beauty and randomness of Polaroids. Image: Schwartz

Ocean vs Clouds. The ocean can be switched for the clouds and the clouds for the ocean. Both competing for control of the image while not competing at all. Image: Schwartz

Surfer girl. A beautiful girl, a perfect splash, and perfect edge on the Polaroid. Image: Schwartz

Surfer girl + boat. Shot at a surf contest in Virginia beach. I love how this image peeled and the pinks that decided to enter the photo. Image: Schwartz

Glitter. I was surprised to see that I caught exactly what I was seeing. It was almost too beautiful to take a picture of. Image: Schwartz

Surf Cow. This image was taken in Montanita, Ecuador. I was actually sitting right next to a group of cows on the beach. I was waiting for the surfers to walk into the frame without the cows moving. Image: Schwartz

Lat Summer. One of my favorites. Hanging out and surfing with a friend. I just picked up the camera and shot the Polaroid from exactly where I was sitting. Image: Schwartz

Three Blues. Image: Schwartz

Through the Brush. I like this image because it just shows how we get to the beach. Tripping over rocks, down hills, through trees, across train track and on subways. Image: Schwartz

Purple Portugal Fog. I took this polaroid in Peniche, Portugal. It was 7 am, 55 degrees and drizzling. I was about to get grouchy about the weather when I saw these figures emerging from the fog. I threw everything I was carrying down and started shooting. It shut my mind up for the rest of the trip. I was in Portugal, surfing and taking pictures. Image: Schwartz