I want to spend more time showing photography in the newsletter and less time battling algorithms on Instagram, so I’m launching a new feature dedicated to showing portfolios and driving attention to artist websites. I know that’s old-fashioned, but I think it sounds fun. As always, this is an experiment, and I hope you like it. Please email me if you’d like to show something here. Thanks for looking!
What can I say? I’m a sucker for autumn.
I live in the Upper Midwest, where summers are hot and humid and winters can be downright freezing. This means that fall, that liminal space between seasons, is uniquely special. There is something deeply pleasurable about warming wool socks on the radiator, and hot cider and sweater weather are simply delightful. Yes, I have been called Mr. Autumn Man by my friends, and when I’m waxing poetic (like I am right now), Kristen often reminds me that I’m being that guy. So it goes.
If you’ve been following my Substack Notes, you’ve probably seen me post some of my recent autumn pictures. The turning of the leaves, the smell of woodsmoke in the air, and that special kind of crisp autumnal light are hard to beat. So, you can imagine how happy I was to stumble upon Matthew Steindl’s work again this week.
These photographs are part of a series he has been creating while living in Pennsylvania, and I think you’ll agree, they are wonderful. Matt made these pictures using medium-format film in the Brandywine Valley. He writes:
These images are part of my ongoing series called River Valley, named after the painting by the renowned American artist Andrew Wyeth. River Valley is an ongoing series of images set in a rural countryside community in Southeastern Pennsylvania — a place I call home. The series captures the ever-changing seasons and the harmonious relationship between nature and people.
It also highlights the community’s efforts to protect these distinctive landscapes, which continue to flourish despite pressures from overdevelopment and modernization. The series honors the remarkable artists who once called the river valley home (such as Andrew Wyeth), drawing inspiration from their legacy and their connection to the land.
There is a mournful, elegiac quality to this work, and I suppose that makes sense since what is autumn if not the slow dying of summer? Below are a few of my favorites, which are part of a larger, more comprehensive body of work.
Needless to say, Matt’s got my number. Rural vibes and Andrew Wyeth? Sign me up! These images are just a taste; if you like what you see, please visit Matt’s website. He is a phenomenal imagemaker, and I know he’ll appreciate your attention.
About the photographer
Matthew Steindl is a freelance photographer based in a small town in Pennsylvania. He draws inspiration from exploring places connected to his roots. Matthew enjoys collaborating with people and companies that share his interests. Through genuine and impactful images, he aims to inspire a sense of adventure and nostalgia in his viewers. Follow him on Instagram @mattsteindl.
One more thing…
I’ll leave you with this, one of my favorite autumn recordings of all time. Have a great weekend, folks. Take care!
I grew up in the area, and Wyeth prints were in every house you would be in, my grandmothers, friends' families, etc. It was definitely a formative backdrop for me in understanding the landscape tradition.
Beautiful work