Q&A: Photographer Matt Steindl on Art, Zines, the Quiet Beauty of Rural PA

Nestled in a tiny pocket of southeastern Pennsylvania is Kennett Square: the Mushroom Capital of the World. Beyond its quaint main street lies a small group of talented creators drawing inspiration from its rural surroundings. Within this group is photographer and Field Mag contributor Matt Steindl, known widely for his outdoor photography, which is the subject of his new photo zine, "Worn Path Volume One."

I first met Matt when we were little skate rats. He was always behind a lens, and it was clear that he was gifted with capturing his surroundings. Over the last two decades he's refined his skills tenfold, and I can confidently say that he’s truly a student of the craft; soaking in every lesson that those who came before him have shared with the world. Of those lessons, nothing has inspired Matt to embrace his everyday surroundings quite like the work of the Wyeth’s, Chester County’s most celebrated artistic family lineage.

The Wyeth’s–which include N.C., Andrew, and Jamie–are regarded as some of America’s most prominent painters. Their work, including Andrew’s “Christina's World” (Location: The Museum of Modern Art, New York), and Jamie’s JFK portrait (Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston), are stand out pieces from the Wyeth family. However, it’s their still-famous, yet lesser-known paintings of normal moments through nature and life in Pennsylvania that have influenced the eye of many–including Matt.

This family's artistic influence has motivated Matt to capture his truth in his photography over the last decade. The byproduct? A debut, self-published zine, a manifestation of some of his best work documenting the seasonal changes of Chester County. Much like the Wyeth’s, Matt explores the visuals of his daily surroundings through stills that perfectly encompass life’s most consistent moments.

I recently sat down with Matt to discuss what influences helped drive the direction of his zine, who has inspired him throughout his photography journey in general, and how he maintains a consistent artistic vision with his work.

"Worn Path Volume 1" marks your debut print project. After two decades of shooting, why publish this now?

I grew up filming my friends skateboarding, which led to filming for various professional skateboard companies. In my early twenties, I produced an independent full-length skate video.I filmed and edited the entire project, created hundreds of DVDs, and hosted a premiere at my local skate shop. Since then, the experience of creating something and sharing it with others has deeply resonated with me.

After transitioning into photography, one of my goals has been to create something in a similar manner to the skate video. It took a few years for this goal to come to fruition, but I'm glad I finally dedicated time to producing a physical booklet that can be shared beyond the internet.

How do the seasonal changes of Pennsylvania influence the featured imagery?

Seasonal changes are the central theme of this specific volume titled “Seasonal Transition.” The seasons guided me through the curation of the images, as they are presented in chronological order from Spring to Winter. More importantly, creating the images within the zine led me to the realization that experiencing the nuances of each season influences how I photograph on a daily basis. I found this observation intriguing and wanted to convey it in some way within the zine, as it emerged as a significant aspect of my photography practice.

How does the Chester County region influence your work, particularly in relation to its connection to the Wyeth family?

The Wyeth Family lived a few minutes away from where I grew up. I drive past Andrew Wyeth’s Mill House every day on my way to work. Despite living so close and hearing about the family on a constant basis, it wasn’t until I truly settled down and began photographing these familiar places that Andrew Wyeth's work started to resonate with me. After studying his work in galleries and purchasing his books, I realized that our processes align in very similar ways. By delving into his work and understanding his thought process, I began to adopt a similar perspective when capturing my community and the rural landscape of my region.

Your photography captures the normalities of everyday life. Why are you drawn to portraying life's ordinary moments?

When I first started taking photographs, I was seeking out the big moments and epic landscapes. I was young and traveling to these beautiful places like Yosemite National Park or Iceland. Traveling to these places always sparked creativity and aided personal growth. However, upon returning home and reviewing the photographs I had captured, they all felt empty and soulless. It dawned on me that they lacked a deeper knowledge or understanding of the places. They were merely surface-level snapshots of locations where I was just one tourist among millions.

Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy traveling and documenting trips to faraway places. However, my perspective has shifted over time. I try to understand the place a bit more nowadays and embrace the ordinary moments and nuances within it.

In your recent Field Mag piece on Monhegan Island, how did you adapt your photography style to an unfamiliar environment?

Before traveling to Monhegan Island, I read about it extensively. I discovered that it served as a creative escape for many artists. I tried to focus on this artistic escape theory and represent it through the images I was creating. In some ways, the article reflected my own artistic escape on the island and how this place, which I had never visited before, impacted me and others who came before me.

How do you navigate the balance between staying true to your artistic vision while also considering the audience’s preferences?

I try not to dwell too much on the preferences or expectations of the viewer. I believe it's most important to create art that resonates within yourself, whatever that might be or look like. In the end, I just hope the viewer can gain some sort of inspiration and a better understanding of the place I call home.

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