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Semi-Finalist | Head On Photo Awards, International, 2025
Angel Of Death, UT
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Nominee + Peoples Choice Nominee | 1839 Awards, International, 2025
Moonscape View, UT
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![A half-buried vintage car in the American desert, part of the Lost America series; a multi-award winner and Discovery of the Year at the 1839 Awards.]()
Discovery of the Year | 1839 Awards – International, 2024
Buried Car, CA
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![The Wall Frame, Arizona — a ponderous view into the desert through a brick wall, part of the Lost America series; a multi-award-winning image and William & Winifred Bowness Prize finalist.]()
Finalist | William & Winifred Bowness Prize – Australia, 2016
The Wall Frame, AR
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![Dead palms at sunrise in California, part of the Forgotten Palms series; a multi-award-winning image and Head On Photo Award finalist.]()
Semi-Finalist | Head On Photo Award – International, 2023
Dead Palms 6.45 AM
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![Gold Mercedes, Palm Springs, part of the Desert Modern series; a multi-award-winning image and Architectural Photography Awards winner.]()
Winner | Architectural Photography Awards – International, 2017
Gold Mercedes, Palm Springs
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![A Swing in the Water, California, part of the Lost America series; a winner in Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers awards.]()
Winner | Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers, 2024
Swing In The Water, CA
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![A Prada store in the middle of nowhere by artists Elmgreen & Dragset, part of the Lost America series; a multi-award-winning image and winner of the Architectural Photography Awards.]()
Winner | Architectural Photography Awards – International, 2017
Prada Marfa, TX
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![A water tower smiling between the houses in New Jersey, part of the Lost America series; a multi-award-winning image and finalist at the British Photography Awards.]()
Finalist | British Photography Awards – International, 2022
Smiling Water Tower, NJ
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![A triangular Baptist church in Texas, part of the Lost America series; an honourable mention at multiple international photography awards.]()
Honourable | Annual Photography Awards – International, 2021
Triangular Church, TX
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![A single basketball hoop by the sea in California, part of the Lost America series; a multi-award-winning image and semi-finalist at the Head On Photo Awards.]()
Semi-Finalist | Head On Photo Festival – International, 2020
Hoop By The Sea, CA
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![A retro payphone on the street in New Mexico, part of the Lost America series; a multi-award-winning image and Silver winner at the Moscow International Photo Awards.]()
Silver Winner | Moscow International Foto Awards – International, 2018
Payphone, NM
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![An abandoned 737 sits at the bottom of a quarry in Southeast Asia, part of the Kalah series; a top 20 finalist at Australia’s Emerging Photographers.]()
Top 20 | Australia's Emerging Photographers, 2021
Boeing 737 In A Quarry
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![Picnic stands sit quietly, waiting in White Sands, New Mexico, part of the Lost America series; a multi-award-winning image and Silver winner at the Muse Photography Awards.]()
Silver Winner | Muse Photography Awards – International, 2021
Picnic Stands, NM
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![A lonesome house sits by the canefields in Louisiana, part of the Lost America series; a multi-award-winning image and first place winner at the Budapest International Foto Awards.]()
1st Place | Budapest International Foto Awards, 2019
House By The Canefields, LA
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![A line of palm trees (Captain's Roost) silhouetted against a glorious sunset in the Hollywood Hills, California, part of the Forgotten Palms series; an honourable mention at multiple international photography awards.]()
Honourable | Chromatic Awards – International, 2021
Pathway Through The Palms
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![An abandoned motel pool in California, part of the Lost America series; a multi-award-winning image and first place winner at the Budapest International Foto Awards.]()
1st Place | Budapest International Foto Awards, 2019
Empty Motel Pool, CA
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![A line of bright red oil tanks painted with the letters "Little America," part of the Lost America series; a Silver winner at the One Eyeland Photo Awards.]()
Silver Winner | One Eyeland Awards – International, 2018
Little America, WY
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![The Tree of Life in Utah, by artist Karl Momen, part of the Lost America series; a multi-award-winning image and finalist at the Belfast Photo Festival.]()
Finalist | Belfast Photo Festival – International, 2021
Tree Of Life, UT
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![66 Drive-In Theatre at sunset in Missouri, part of the Lost America series; a multi-award-winning image and Silver winner at the One Eyeland Photo Awards.]()
Silver Winner | One Eyeland Awards – International, 2018
66 Drive-In, MO
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![A vintage muscle car, a Chevy painted in blue and white flames, sits in suburbia, California, part of the Lost America series; a multi-award-winning image and honourable mention at the ND Awards.]()
Honourable | ND Awards – International, 2019
Chevy With Flames, CA
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![Ford Drive-In, Missouri, at sunset, part of the Lost America series; a multi-award-winning image and finalist at the William & Winifred Bowness Prize.]()
Finalist | William & Winifred Bowness Prize – Australia, 2018
Ford Drive-In, MI
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![Abandoned concrete village set in the jungle in Southeast Asia, part of the Kalah series; a top 20 finalist at Australia’s Emerging Photographers.]()
Top 20 | Australia's Emerging Photographers, 2021
Concrete Village
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![A retro Americana law office in New Mexico, part of the Lost America series; featured in F-Stop magazine.]()
F-STOP Magazine Featurette – International, 2019
Law Office, NM
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![A swing and pool at a burnt home in California, part of the Lost America series; a finalist at the Belfast Photo Festival.]()
Finalist | Belfast Photo Festival – International, 2021
Swing And Pool At Burnt Home, CA
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![A picnic area between two of the Seven Sisters at Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, part of the Lost America series; a winner at Australia's Top Emerging Photographers.]()
Winner | Australia's Top Emerging Photographers, 2024
Valley View, NV
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![An abandoned penitentiary bus parked in the middle of nowhere in Louisiana, part of the Lost America series; Discovery of the Year at the ReFocus Awards.]()
Discovery Of The Year | ReFocus Awards – International, 2023
Penitentiary Bus, LA
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![Seven Magic Mountains at sunrise in Nevada, by artist Ugo Rondinone, part of the Lost America series; winner of a Life Framer Photography Prize.]()
Winner | Life Framer Photography Prize – International, 2019
Seven Magic Mountains, NV
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![A large house sits next to a burning canefield in Louisiana, part of the Lost America series; a multi-award winner and winner of the Architectural Photography Awards.]()
Winner | Architectural Photography Awards – International, 2017
Big House With Burning Cane, LA
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![An abandoned water park full of dead palms in California, part of the Forgotten Palms series; a nominee at the Fine Art Photography Awards.]()
Nominee | Fine Art Photography Awards – International, 2020
Dead Palms In Water Park
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![A concrete basketball court surrounded by jungle in Southeast Asia, part of the Kalah series; a top 20 finalist at Australia’s Emerging Photographers.]()
Top 20 | Australia's Emerging Photographers, 2021
Jungle Court
News and Updates-
Semi-Finalist, Head On Photo Awards, International, 2025
Nominee + Peoples Choice Nominee, 1839 Awards, International, 2025
Nominee, Fine Art Photography Awards, International, 2025
Discovery Of The Year, 1839 Awards, International, 2024
International Discovery Of The Year, 1839 Awards, International, 2024
Winner, Landscape, Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers, 2024
Semi-Finalist, Landscape, Head On Festival Awards, 2024
Finalist, Fine Art, British Photography Awards, 2024
Honourable Mention, ND Awards, International, 2024
Honourable Mention, London Photography Awards, International, 2024
Silver Winner, Muse Photography Awards, International, 2024
Nominee, ReFocus Awards, International, 2024
Semi Finalist, Head On Photography Awards, International, 2023
Honourable Mention, New York Photography Awards, International, 2023
Commended Award, Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers, International, 2023
Finalist, British Photography Awards, International, 2022
Nominee Award, ReFocus Black and White Awards, International, 2022
Honourable Mention, Annual Photography Awards, International, 2022
Honourable Mention, Chromatic Awards, International, 2021
Silver, MUSE Photography Awards, International, 2021
Third, FMOPA International Photography Competition, International, 2021
Finalist, Open Call, Lucie Foundation Awards, International, 2021
Finalist, Belfast Photo Festival, International, 2021
Honourable Mention, Chromatic Awards, International, 2020
Honourable Mention, Australian Photography Awards, Australia, 2020
Honourable Mention, ND Awards, International, 2020
Honourable Mention, Prix de la Photographie de Paris, International, 2020
Finalist, Lucie Foundation Open Call, Los Angeles, International, 2020
Honourable Mention, Minimalist Photography Awards, International, 2020
Highly Commended, Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographer Awards, 2020
Semi-Finalist, Head On Photo Festival, Australia, 2020
FINALIST, British Photography Awards, UK, 2020
Nominee, Fine Art Photography Awards, International, 2020
Silver Winner, One Eyeland Photography Awards, International, 2019
Third Place, Annual Photography Awards, International, 2019
Honourable Mention, Chromatic Awards, International, 2019
Honourable Mention, Chromatic Awards, International, 2019
Winner, Emerging Photographer, PDN, International, 2019
Honourable Mention, Fine Art, ND Awards, International, 2019
Merit Award, All About Photo Street Awards, International, 2019
Finalist, One Eyeland, Landscape Awards, International, 2019
1st Place, BIFA (Budapest International Foto Awards), International, 2019
Finalist, Group Exhibition Award, F-Stop Magazine, International, 2019
Winner, Photo Chronicles Street Photography, International, 2019
Honourable Mention, Life Framer Colour Awards, International, 2019
Winner, FotoRoom and Millenium Images Single Image, International, 2019
Silver Winner, Book, One Eyeland Photography Awards, International, 2019
Nominee, Landscape, Fine Art Photography Awards, International, 2019
Third Place, Landscape, Sienna International Photo Awards, International, 2018
Honourable Mention, Landscape, Chromatic Awards, International, 2018
Silver Winner, Fine Art Landscape, MIFA, International, 2018
Finalist, Best of Photography 2018, Photographers Forum, International, 2018
Finalist, Landscape, Shoot The Frame, International, 2018
Finalist, Open Call, The Independent Photographer, International, 2018
Finalist, Bowness Photography Prize, Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne, Australia, 2018
Finalist, Landscape, Head On Festival Awards, International, Australia, 2018
Finalist, Empty Spaces Exhibition, Praxis Gallery Exhibition, Minneapolis, USA, 2018
Honourable Mention, International Digital Circuit Award, Finland, 2017
First Place, Landscape, Chromatic Awards, International, 2017
Honourable Mention, Landscape, Chromatic Awards, International, 2017
Winner, Open Category, Architectural Photography Award, Budapest, Hungary, 2017
Finalist, Landscape, Shoot the Frame, International, 2017
Finalist, Winter Print Show, Lens Culture, New York, USA, 2017
Finalist, Yicca Awards, Rome, Italy, 2017
Finalist, Landscape, Shoot the Frame, International, 2017
Finalist, 'Stories' Group Exhibition, PH21 Gallery, Budapest, Hungary, 2017
Finalist, Landscape Group Exhibition, Blank Wall Gallery, Athens, Greece, 2017
Winner, Landscape, Shoot the Frame, International, 2017
Finalist, CLICK 17 Group Exhibition, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, 2017
Finalist, Landscape, Shoot the Frame, International, 2017
Finalist, Emerging Talent Award, The Independent Photographer, International, 2017
Finalist, Landscape, Shoot the Frame, International, 2017
Finalist, Landscape, The Independent Photographer, International, 2017
Finalist, Landscape, Shoot the Frame, International, 2017
Nominee, Landscape, Fine Art Photography Awards, 2017
Finalist, Bowness Award, Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne, Australia, 2016
Finalist, Head On Photo Festival, Sydney, Australia, 2016
Silver Selection, NVLA International Photography Show, San Francisco, USA, 2016
Finalist, Photobook Melbourne Photo Award, Melbourne, Australia, 2016
Best Landscape, Salon Award, Centre of Contemporary Photography, Melbourne, Australia, 2015
2015–2025Projects
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![The Wall Frame, Arizona — a ponderous view into the desert through a brick wall, part of the Lost America series.]()
Lost America
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![Gold Mercedes, Palm Springs, part of the Desert Modern series.]()
Desert Modern
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![Dead palms at sunrise in California, part of the Forgotten Palms series.]()
Forgotten Palms
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![Abandoned concrete village set in the jungle in Southeast Asia, part of the Kalah series.]()
Kalah
Series-
Matthew’s work explores quiet stillness within familiar and often overlooked landscapes. Through a deliberate and methodical approach to image-making, ordinary environments are transformed into calm, melancholic reflections on memory, absence, and the passing of time.
Purposefully devoid of people and obvious contemporary distractions, the photographs aim to exist outside a defined moment, creating scenes that feel suspended between past and present. Full depth of field and uncompromising detail are used to heighten the sense of realism, allowing the subtle character of each environment to emerge through texture, light, and atmosphere.
Working exclusively in full-frame compositions without cropping, Matthew’s process reflects a reverence for the discipline and precision associated with traditional large format photography, while embracing a modern technical workflow. His images seek to elevate the mundane through stillness, restraint, and careful observation.
The PhotographerEdition Prints
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![An abandoned motel pool in California, part of the Lost America series; limited edition prints available.]()
Lost America Prints
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![A vintage car parked at a mid-century modern home in Palm Springs, California, part of the Desert Modern series; limited edition prints available.]()
Desert Modern Prints
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![Dead palms at sunrise in California, part of the Forgotten Palms series; limited edition prints available.]()
Forgotten Palms Prints
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![Abandoned concrete village set in the jungle in Southeast Asia, part of the Kalah series; limited edition prints available.]()
Kalah Prints
Series-
Matthew Portch is a Melbourne-based photographer originally from Bristol, England. Growing up in the suburbs of the UK during the 1970s and 1980s, much of his visual world was shaped by American film and television, where the vastness and atmosphere of North American landscapes felt far removed from English suburbia and countryside.
Originally studying graphic design and photography at college, Matthew developed an early fascination with realism and detail through illustration, spending hours meticulously rendering subjects by hand. This sensibility later informed his photographic approach and interest in precision-based image making.
Influenced by North American photographers of the 1960s and 1970s working with large format film, Matthew adopted a contemporary technical camera system paired with digital capture and precision optics. His work has since received numerous international awards, been featured in the global press, and exhibited internationally.
The PhotographerCollectors
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Group Exhibition, Exhibition 20, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, 2020
Group Exhibition, Life Framer & Daylighted, Digital Exhibition, International, 2019
Group Exhibition, Live projections, Los Angeles Central Library, MOPLA House of Lucie, USA, 2019
Group Exhibition, MOPLA House of Lucie Book Exhibition, L.A., USA, 2019
Group Exhibition, The Other Art Fair, Los Angeles, USA, 2018
Solo Exhibition, Desert Modern & Lost America, Denfair, Melbourne, Australia, 2018
Solo Exhibition, Desert Modern, Rokeby Galley, Melbourne, Australia, 2018
Group Exhibition, Praxis Gallery Exhibition, Minneapolis, USA, 2018
Solo Exhibition, Lost America, Seventh Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, 2018
Group Exhibition, Lost America, Palm Springs Photo Festival, Palm Springs, USA, 2018
Group Exhibition, Architectural Photography Award, Budapest, Hungary, 2017
Group Exhibition, Lost America, Shoot the Frame & Indian Photo Festival, Hyderabad, India, 2017
Solo Exhibition, Lost America, Head On Festival, Gaffa Gallery, Sydney, Australia, 2017
Group Exhibition, PH21 Gallery, Budapest, Hungary, 2017
Group Exhibition, Lost America, The Other Art Fair, Melbourne, Australia, 2017
Group Exhibition, Yicca Awards, Rome, Italy, 2017
Group Exhibition, Lost America, Yard Furniture, Melbourne, Australia, 2017
Group Exhibition, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, 2017
Group Exhibition, Blank Wall Gallery, Athens, Greece, 2017
Group Exhibition, Bowness Award, Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne, Australia, 2016
Group Exhibition, NVLA International Photography Show, San Francisco, USA, 2016
Group Exhibition, Head On Photo Festival, Sydney, Australia, 2016
Group Exhibition, Photobook Melbourne Photo Award, Melbourne, Australia, 2016
Group Exhibition, Salon Award, Centre of Contemporary Photography, Melbourne, Australia, 2016
ExhibitionsContact
Appearances-
Phroom Magazine
ArtVort Magazine
Broad Magazine
Momento Pro
Dodho Magazine
Aint–Bad Magazine
Life Framer
All About Photo
Joia Magazine
The Flying Fruit Bowl
Seen
Visible Spectrums
C41
The Modern Day Explorer
Cooph Magazine
Feature Shoot
Float Magazine
Aesthetica Magazine
Edge Of Humanity Magazine
F-Stop Magazine
2015–2025Awards, Press & Galleries
