Matt Payne is a mountain climber and fine art nature and landscape photographer living in Durango, Colorado. In 2018, Matt completed his life-long goal of climbing the highest 100 mountains in Colorado, where his love of photography was kindled. Since 2017, Matt has hosted a weekly podcast dedicated to nature photography called “F-Stop Collaborate and Listen.” Matt is also the co-founder of Nature First Photography, an organization created in 2018 to help increase ethical awareness in nature photography. Lastly, Matt is the co-creator of the Natural Landscape Photography Awards, an international photography competition that rewards and celebrates nature photographers who dedicate themselves to photographing and editing their work in a realistic fashion.
When not engaged in some sort of photography project, Matt can be found hiking, backpacking, or watching sports. Matt lives with his teenage son, Quinn, his wife, Angela, and his four cats, Juju, Chara, Arrow, and Vestal.
Open Workshops
- Death Valley Safari — March 13 – 18, 2024 (3 Spots Left)
- Svalbard — July 4 – 14, 2024 (1 Spot Left)
- Olympic National Park — July 22 – 28, 2024 (3 Spots Left)
- Mt. Rainier — July 29 – August 3, 2024 (1 Spot Left)
- Adirondack Fall Foliage — October 2 – 8, 2024
- Death Valley — December 5 – 10, 2024
- Norway — January 30 – February 8, 2025
- Sail the Chilean Fjords — March 23 – April 5, 2025
- Smoky Mountains — April 25 – 29, 2025
- Cirque of the Towers — July 17 – 23, 2025
- Tombstone — August 24 – 31, 2025
- Bisti Badlands — September 16 – 22, 2025
- Colorado Colors — September 29 – October 3, 2025
- Scotland Castles and Color — October 17 – 27, 2025
- Scotland Highlands and Isle of Skye — October 28 – November 6, 2025
- Death Valley in Black and White — December 5 – 10, 2025
Sold Out Workshops
- Smoky Mountains — April 25 – 29, 2024
- Big Bend — June 3 – 9, 2024
- Bisti Badlands — September 2 – 8, 2024