Join us for this month's forum presentation entitled "Montages: Interpreting Reality". This presentation will discuss the styles and techniques of Montages. The styles are different artistic interpretations of the subject(s), while the techniques discussed are Photoshop actions that are adapted from film.

One of Matthew's first NVPS awards was a reverse montage of a rock and fall leaf. But it wasn't until June of 2009 when he attended a workshop with Andre Gallant, that he truly adopted montages as an expression of his photographic style. Now he takes the time to shoot textures almost every time he goes out to shoot.

Of all of the montage styles, the Orton Effect is his favorite. A composite of a sharply focused image and a blurry image of the same subject gives a glow and saturation to the subject that many find truly appealing.

Matthew Schmidt is an amateur photographer and a professional computer weenie. He has been photographing off and on for nearly 35 years, but began to take a serious interest in developing the craft into an art about seven years ago, a goal that he is still working towards. He shoots action sports most frequently and is working toward bringing an artistic style to subjects like automobile racing.

Matthew joined NVPS in early 2006 and took a board position as the Digital Competition Coordinator for the 2006 - 2007 camera club year. He has held various volunteer positions at NVPS every years since and is the current Workshops, Education and Training Coordinator.