The Raw Side of Raleigh.

Are You An Artist? Do You Need A New Portrait?

Heather gets to play | RDU Street Photography

Things that happen when I've got a break in the schedule.  Heather gets to play!  And play I did.  I took loads of portraits ... without permission.  

I'm looking for frames so that I can be featured in a downtown Raleigh shop that is interested in my street photography.  Help!

Other things that have happened::

~ I shaved my head

~ Finished a tattoo

~ Started a new big adventure, it's a secret and launching November 1st so stay tuned.

~ Gained some new groupies.  You know who you are.  Loving you!

~ Learning how to be more.  Me.

That is the key.

Do what you love and love what you do!!

Pieces of Me

There have been lots of changes in my life this year.  Life changes.  I've documented them in different ways here and there like...

getting "inked" on my shoulders and forearm,

letting friends chop off my hair,

then having my husband shave it all off.

but after the push from a friend, I decided to jump into a self portraiture journey and boy was it an eye opening experience.

Here are a few images from: Pieces of Me: A Woman In Transformation.  

My journey into self portraits has only just begun.  If you have been seduced (as I have) by this type of photography, I invite you to link up below to Urban Muser's In The Picture Challenge.  

I Love My Life

I love that the season is changing.  My priorities and dreams are morphing into something different.  Something raw. and real.  and authentic.  I love that the details are romancing me.

That nature is our teacher.  our classroom.  our church.  our playground.  I love that my family supports me in all my ventures.  my journeys.  my struggles.

I love that in the every day there is chaos.  and beauty.  and monkey pajamas.  I love that I get to photograph the sacred in the every day.  I love my life.

My Five Favorite iPhone Camera Apps

I've always got a camera around (even if it's not the big one).

Chase Jarvis says,

"The best camera is the one that's with you."

And I totally agree!!  Yes.  I know that I need to take out the "big one" more often but even so.. my iPhone is always with me and well, I'm on it a little too much according to some family members. :)

It's totally because I'm a camera girl.  Gotta document those rare moments that fly by way too quickly.  So.. without further ado I thought (since I adore posts like these) I'd share with you my favorite camera/photog apps for the iPhone.  Oh and these aren't in any particular order.

Except for number one...  It's by far my favorite.

#1 Instagram.  Hello.  My name is Heather and I'm addicted to Instagram.  Are you on it?  Have you followed me (@Heathermattern) be warned, I post a lot of pictures.  At least once a day.  It's an addiction.  Some could argue a good one?  I've met some awesome friends through the app, even met up with them in real life. How cool is that?!  Oh and have I mentioned that this one is FREE?

#2 This woman got me addicted to Picfx.  It's what I use when I want to add cool fake bokeh balls or hearts to a romantic shot, my favorite though is the flame.  I dig the flame!  This app is only $1.99

#3 MonoVu is another great FREE app that I use whenever I want Black and White images.  I use this app just about EVERY time I take a street photo with my iPhone cam.  It's also great for adding textures and such to an image.  LOVE.

  

#4 Instaplus $1.99 and similar to instagram in the area of adding filters to your images BUT with this app you get to do more customizing with a brightening, contrast and saturation tab.

#5 FREE Vintage Camera can you tell that I like free stuff?  This was probably one of the first apps that caught my attention since I'm a sucker for all things vintage.  I think this is why I adore pin-up so much and have a 60's dining room table that I paid way too much for.

So.. there you go.  Go explore and let me know if I've missed any of your favorite photography apps!

5 Reasons I'm Blogging About Photography For YOU

I've been trying to figure out this space here.  What started out as a place to portray my newest images, is evolving into something different.  I've been feeling a switch happen.  I have a website with a Gallery of images, a flickr account for those personal favorites to be explored, and a Facebook Page for recent photoshoots.

But this space is going to be different.

Friends have told me to listen to my intuition.  Follow my heart.  So here we go.  This is me.  I'm passionate about photography but my heart is for people, women specifically.  How do the two intertwine?  I want YOU to pick up YOUR camera.  I want YOU to freeze the everyday ordinary SACRED moments.

So here's 5 reasons I've decided to blog about photography for YOU ::

1.  Learning comes from teaching and Photoshop is an endless treasure chest of lessons to be learned.

2.  I will have to carry my camera with me everywhere.  I cant tell you to do something that I'm not going to be doing.

3.  Community:: I love meeting new people.  I'm thrilled about meeting other photographers, even if they aren't in the NC area.

4.  I love mentoring new photographers and getting them hooked on Nikon :)

5.  New chapters excite me.