words: Jeff Baker
photos: Matt Georges

Matt Georges is a photographer. He has a chemical dependency addiction.

Okay, it’s not the chemical addiction you’re probably thinking. It’s the good kind. Hydroquinone, acetic acid, sodium carbonate, phenidone, and ammonium thiosulfate. Those words ring a bell? Probably not, but together these chemicals make up that sweet, one-of-a-kind, addictive aroma that Matt and photographers alike know so well. It’s the smell of a dark room and only real photographers know the feeling.

It is in the depths of these low-lit darkrooms where Matt gets his fix (literally). Developer, stop, and fix agents are the chemical make-ups that Matt has become accustom to. It’s the foundation for his craft, and the catalyst that provides the creativity and yearning to keep coming back for more. And this addiction can only be fed by more clicks of the shutter.

Now when I say Matt is a photographer, I don’t mean that he just bought a digital camera online, watched a couple Youtube videos, slapped the word “professional” in front of his credentials, and started posting to Instagram.

Matt is a traditionalist. He shoots film. He knows what all the buttons on a camera do. He never uses the automatic setting…ever. He has a mastery of exposing film to create emotion in his work and the results speak for themselves. In the rare occasion when he needs to accurately measure light, you can bet he has a light meter on his person. Georges can process his own film and his photography carries a signature look and feel. In fact, it’s quite easy to spot a Matt Georges photograph and recognize his vibe from the color palette alone. 

Matt is one of the very best shooters in the game, with all the skills, talent, and vision, along with a keen eye to match, that continually produces world-class imagery. And now, Matt’s accolades stretch beyond just photography, as he and fellow shooter Perly have successfully created Club Sandwich Studio, an independent studio specializing in custom print projects.

Matt’s most recent project, Arctic Roses, is a 216-page, limited edition, hardcover book shot mainly on film that he also designed. “Chasing waves and powder” in the Arctic Circle was the goal. From the majestic beauty of the Lofoten Islands in Norway, to the Lyngen Alps, and eventually onto Riksgränsen, Sweden, the crew set out with riders Arthur Longo, Bryan Iguchi, Wolle Nyvelt, Severin Van Der Meer, Enni Rukajärvi, Alek Östreng and Nils Arvidsson to chronicle the journey as they surfed, hiked, rode, and splitboarded the mountains that rise from the sea to the below-freezing waters on the Norwegian coastline. 

Visit Club Sandwich Studio to grab a copy and check out other creative work from Matt and Perly. Independent publishing at its finest.