About
About Instant Surf
Matt Smith has a rare talent for extracting the delicate beauty found in everyday scenes through his love of Polaroid photography.
Fascinated by the beach surf culture which surrounds him in his native North Cornwall, Matt’s considered yet unintentionally poetic compositions celebrate the simplicity and romanticism of three great loves; surf culture, friend/family life and exploration. Self-taught but with a passion which belies the calming scenes he captures on film, Matt has been shooting Polaroid and instant photographs for over a decade. Specialising in expired film and using an impressive armoury of vintage cameras he has collected over the years, Matt’s talent lies in capturing beautifully subtle moments in time.
Working with a polaroid camera and vintage film presents its own challenges, but Matt champions the medium and skilfully demonstrates the unique way instant film can translate a story when guided by an unerring eye such as his. Matt has travelled through the USA, Australia, Central America, The Maldives and Europe with just a backpack stuffed with heavy cameras and packs of rare instant film to bring about his Places portfolio. He not only loves picture-making and breathing new life into a near-extinct photography medium, but Matt has also converted several cameras into alternative film formats so that they too can be resurrected and assist him in his quest for that perfect image.
If you would like to know more about any of the images, would like to order a print/commission, or would like to feature Matt and his images in a press feature please do get in touch, he’d love to hear from you.
Featured in:
Exhibitions
- Charlie Don't Surf - Penzance PZ Gallery - 05 to 16 August 2022
- Instant Art Arles - 01 to 06 August 2022
- Local Mag - The Endless Persuit - 2 July 2022
- Instant Art Works Cologne 2021 - August 27-29
- Instant Art Paris 2020 (cancelled due to Covid19)
- Instant Art Works Cologne May 2020 (postponed)
- Instant Art Paris 2019
- Travelling Light - A summer travel show - Circle Contemporary Gallery
- Polaroid Festival Barcelona
- Instant Art - Arles
- CafeQ St Agnes
- Instant Art - Paris 2018
Print and Online
- Local Mag Issue 2 - Interview and Gallery
- Peel Apart Peelers - Surf Simply
- Carve Surfing magazine issue 210
- Analog Forever - Best of Polaroid week October 2021
- Backwa.sh Magazine issue 4
- Saltwater Magazine
- Polaroid Now book
- Honey Magazine Japan
- Real Surfing Magazine
- Spring circle - a celebration of spring and the lifecycle of trees
- Common Hand Collective visual interview
- Underexposure - Calm Camera Club online exhibition
- In An Instant - online exhibition - Analog Forever Magazine
- Wavelength Surf Magazine - Issue 259 - Joshua Keogh interview
- Winter Mountain - Fortune to find
- The Surfers Path magazine - Interview and portfolio
- Mike Pasini - Photo Corners
- Boxspeed film - An interview alongside Adam Bell
- An Impossible project the movie
- OneInstant Kickstarter video
- 12:12 Mens project Guest 2019
- Analog forever magazine - Instant film gallery
- PhotoKlassik International - Volume 1 - Instant film article
- Film Shooters Collective monthly rounds ups
- Polaroid Originals magazine - Instant Art Paris
- Gutless Magazine Article
- Pryme Editions 2017 Annual Journal - Cover and images
- Backwa.sh surfing anthology - Short interview and gallery
- Gutless Magazine Gallery
- Blur Magazine Issue 55
- Otter Surfboards Journal
- Snap it see it - Artist Spotlight
- Pryme magazine Print issue 2 - Expired 8 blog, Best of Roid week Spring 2017, Best of Roid week Autumn 2016
- Poladarium calendars
- Filmwasters 'What did you shoot this weekend'
Film
In 2018 I had the chance to make a short film about my work with my good friend Adam Bell, also a keen polaroid shooter.
The film has been shown at the following film festivals and competitions:
- Guarda do Embaú World Surfing Reserve
- Cucalorus Film Festival
- Surfalorus Film Festival - Winner best short film
- Anglet International Surf Film Festival
- Portuguese Surf Film Festival
- Durban Wavescape Film Festival
- 4S Film Festival
- Sunshine Coast Surf Film Festival
- Brest Surf Film Festival
- San Diego Surf Film Festival
- London Seasonal Short Film Festival
- Newlyn PZ International Film Festival
- Brest Surf Film Festival
- Waves film Festival - Winner best short film January 2019
- Lisbon Film Rendezvous
- Oregon Cinema Arts Film Festival
- SeeMor Short Film Festival
- Waimea Ocean Film Festival
- London Surf Film Festival - Runner up in Shorties category
- My Rode Reel - Finalist documentary category