Matt Bagley
Matt Bagley is an Australian ocean photographer passionate about the human connection to nature. Having grown up in a small coastal fishing town in Victoria, his value and appreciation for the ocean and the life source it offers us developed at a young age. Bagley spends part of his life as a creative in the corporate world and part of his life searching for precious interactions with nature and those fleeting moments of beauty that he can capture with his lens. Driving his passion to take the perfect shot is more than his personal desire to connect with nature, but to bring this desire and awareness to others.
Bagley’s work immerses us in a world of beauty, mystery and intrigue. Through unrestricted free diving and his minimal approach to his process, we are taken on a meditative, underwater journey with minimal interruption and heightened senses. Light cuts through the water, reflecting off skin scales and fur. Bubbles shimmer in slow motion as marine life disappears into the ocean’s depths. A rising moon shines a small guiding torch into the purity of the darkness. It is these moments that Matthew is able to capture so effortlessly within a frame.
Bagley’s work has been exhibited in prestigious galleries and museums around the world, including New York, London, Berlin, Paris, Moscow, Monaco, Budapest, and Barcelona. His photographs have been featured in numerous publications, such as Australian Geographic, Vital Impacts photography collection, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and Vanity Fair. Moreover, his images have garnered recognition in prestigious nature and wildlife photography competitions worldwide, including the Australian Wildlife / Nature Photographer of the Year, IPA silver award, MIFA gold award, Ocean Photographer Award finalist, ND Award gold finalist, and PA2F environmental photography award.
In the 2021 collection “Below”, Bagley captured the rugged coastline of Australia’s southern oceans, presenting images that evoke a sense of calmness and minimalism in the wild environment, Portraying the feeling of interaction with the marine life. The photographs are executed in a portrait style, with the intention to convey a sense of humanity and connect viewers emotionally with the environment.“
“Unseen” (2021-2024) is a project that sheds light on the impact of human activity on the natural world. The project focuses on the non-visible ecosystems, which are struggling for survival due to human intervention. The artist, Bagley, uses low-level light spectrums to reveal forgotten ocean debris, which is shimmering with red, orange, purple, and blue hues. Overall, the project is a poignant reminder of the negative impact that humans have on the environment.
Bagley’s work brings the beauty of the underwater world to the surface, inspiring us to form respective and protective relationships with the natural environment around us. Through the art of photography, Matthew stirs our emotions, inspires reflection and initiates us to drive positive change in the world we live in.
