Matthew Lawless, a Hawaiian-born motion designer and photographer, can be found capturing the beauty of nature up and down the coast of California. We first came across his work while we were based in San Diego and thought his eye for such strong visuals based in nature was well worth exploring and digging deeper into. Join our chat as we explore his influences and a day in his shoes.

Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised on the island of Maui.

When did you get into photography and why?

I'd say I started getting into photography during high school. I was in a design class and we had the opportunity to take out a camera and explore campus a little. I think I gravitated towards photography because I could capture how I look at the world around me. 

Best place to shoot? 

I think there are too many places to pick from to pick the best place to shoot. I enjoy shooting landscapes and in the ocean the most because they are constantly changing. I feel like its over done now but Ice Land would be a great spot along with Western Australia.

How do you take your coffee?

In the morning I go for a nice black coffee, while in the afternoon I like a good almond milk latte.

Walk us through a day in your life.

Usually if there is a good swell, I'll wake up at sunrise and hit the water to shoot. After that I'll get the day rolling. I'm a motion designer so during the day I'm either getting some emails out, filming, editing, designing, or animating. If time allows I like to get out again a head towards the mountains or ocean for the golden light and stars.

How would you describe your style?

If I had to describe my style, I would say its a mix of familiar places that feel unfamiliar. 

What type of music do you listen to?

I'll always have a hard time describing this. Usually I tell people my favorite label is Ghostly International.

Any big plans in the future?

I really enjoy bridging visuals with music. I've done a few music videos and I'm hoping to keep exploring that world. 

Big up to Matthew Lawless for chatting with us and giving us a glimpse into his daily ritual. We're big fans of creatives that fully pursue their craft so for more with Matthew, check out his Website and his Instagram.