Matthew Bamberg
Art Photographer, Writer, and Educator
Image published in National Geographic Kids
Overview
Matthew Bamberg is a multifaceted professional who balances roles as a part-time professor, freelance writer, and art photographer. He is currently working on two book projects: a coming-of-age story collection and a photography how-to guide inspired by 20th-century master photographers like Helen Levitt and Walker Evans.
He refers to himself as the Text and Image Guy because his works are based upon the combination of writing and photography. His photography is well known worldwide, from exhibitions in Palm Springs and Singapore to online work at Fine Art America.
Bamberg's photography is available for purchase on Fine Art America, Adobe and Dreamstime, and his written work can be found on Medium and Substack. He has contributed articles and photographs to Southern California publications, including The Desert Sun and Palm Springs Life, covering topics such as art, travel, entertainment, and local culture. Notably, he penned the popular "One Tank Trip" weekend travel column.
As an educator, Bamberg has taught writing, photography, and critical thinking at various universities, focusing on diversity and cultural understanding. He is the author of several books, including Digital Art Photography for Dummies (Wiley), Killer Photos with Your iPhone (Cengage), and The 50 Greatest Photo Opportunities in San Francisco (Cengage).
In 2023, Bamberg received the Delphi Award from National University for his work in teaching and learning at National University School of Education.
E-Book
SELL YOUR ARTISTIC PHOTOGRAPHY ONLINE
As a comprehensive guide for photographers looking to sell their fine-art photography on the internet, Sell Your Artistic Photography Online, is a guide for a variety of Print on Demand storefonts that offer uploading services for your photography.
Once you upload a collection of your photographs onto the website, you can offer them in various formats, including framed prints, and reproductions on canvas and metal.
Written by expert photographer and educator Matthew Bamberg, the book covers essential techniques for creating desirable images and getting your work noticed on online platforms.
The book provides practical advice on shooting, composition, and marketing skills to help photographers effectively reach collectors.
Whether you're new to the online art market or looking to improve your sales strategy, this guide will teach you how to create compelling photographs and successfully sell them online.
Sample Images
Education
About Critical Thinking from a Critical Thinking Professor
Critical thinking should be taught in tandem with a specific subject discipline.
- "Research shows that, while critical thinking can be taught, it can’t be taught on its own — at least not effectively. Daniel Willingham, cognitive scientist, writes that attempts to teach general thinking abilities through logical and spatial puzzles, for example, as parts of courses added on to the curriculum, are generally unsuccessful. These skills don’t “transfer” to thinking in other domains, but generally remain tied to the logic games where they’re learned" (Bouygues, 2022).
- The challenging aspect of critical thinking is maintaining an open mind when exploring alternative perspectives, just as you do when reading content that aligns with your beliefs.
- “The principal goal of education in the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done; men and women who are creative, inventive, and discoverers, who can be critical and verify, and not accept, everything they are offered.” --Jean Piaget
- Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail.”--Ralph Waldo Emerson
Submitted Work
Fiction
The Grove Chronicles
The Grove Chronicles is a completed short story collection that provides a vivid, realistic account of growing up in Coconut Grove, Florida, during the 1960s and 70s.
The book chronicles the author's experiences amidst significant social changes, driven by the influx of Cuban and other Latin American refugees and New York exiles-from-the-cold among the rise of the counterculture movement.
In this group of stories organized chronologically,the narrator, Marvin Hammerstein, recounts his eccentric childhood and internal debates surrounding his mother's beliefs and relationships. The stories delve into Marvin's quirky interactions with a diverse cast of characters, exploring themes of prophecy, religion, drug use, and the quest for acceptance. The narrative is structured chronologically, beginning with Marvin’s mother, Eleanor's comment about not having a daughter, and culminating in a deep conversation about astrology and death as Marvin heads to college in Tallahassee.
The memoir incorporates literary devices such as foreshadowing, vivid imagery, irony, and compelling themes. It is the first installment in a planned series of volumes.
Nonfiction
Mirroring the Twentieth Century Masters Photographs
Deciphering the Methods and Meanings of Twentieth-Century Photography Masters is a comprehensive guide that explores the artistic strategies and messages of influential 20th-century photographers. The book is divided into three parts:
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The Evolution of Themes: This section traces the development of key themes in 20th-century photography, analyzing iconic works such as Dorothea Lange’s Depression-era images and Robert Doisneau’s photography.
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Adapting Master Approaches for Today: It discusses how contemporary photographers can apply the techniques of masters like Ansel Adams, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Harry Callahan, and Tina Modotti to address modern social issues.
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Technical Aspects of Photography: The final section focuses on the technical elements—such as perspective, exposure, and photo essays—that can be used to create compelling visual narratives for societal change.
The book includes images selected from over a million photographs taken over the past two decades, emphasizing how master techniques can be used to tell stories about social and environmental change. It serves as a valuable resource for students, enthusiasts, and general readers interested in photography, art history, and popular culture.
Fine Art Photography
