Author Spotlight: Matt Crump

If you spend time on Instagram you have probably come across a digital-art movement know as #candyminimal. Candy Minimal was created by Matt Krump and focuses on the use of candy-colored negative space, surreal compositions, offbeat and Americana subjects and an endless-summer vibe that has inspired an international audience to create and tag over 125,000 of their own candy-colored photos. Originally an art director in advertising, he left his career to pursue photography in 2014. By 2016, TIME magazine had named him the best Instagram photographer in Texas. We sat down with Matt to learn more about him, his style, and his newest Blurb book creation, PINK.

Your idea of happiness:

An empty beach. Warm, sunny days. Fresh-baked bread. Falling in love.

What you appreciate the most in your friends:

Loyalty. Feedback. Humor.

Your favorite occupation:

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a forest ranger. The idea of spending every day outside was very appealing. I guess it’s no coincidence that today, one of my work’s major themes is nature.

I didn’t even realize that I was becoming more and more creative just by using Instagram.

How did you begin to use Instagram as a way of showcasing your art?

If you scroll through my feed from the very beginning, you can see my work slowly evolve. I didn’t know I was going to go down the photography/art road when I first downloaded Instagram. It was just a fun app that all my friends were using. It wasn’t until people started praising my work that I started using it seriously to showcase my art. I didn’t even realize that I was becoming more and more creative just by using Instagram. It was a happy accident that Instagram ended up becoming a spotlight for my art.

How did you start focusing on minimalist photography?

I was inspired by minimal photography I’d seen on Instagram, so I tried it out for myself. I kept experimenting with minimalism until I had a solid understanding of minimal composition.

What is your favorite thing to photograph?

I have a lot of favorite themes (theme parks, beaches, palm trees, and still life to name a few). But if I had to pick, I’d have to go with roller coasters.

What software do you use to edit your photos?

I use Lightroom to adjust things like hue, saturation, and brightness. Then, in Photoshop, I take a very light approach to editing—cleaning up minor things in the image. I like to do as much heavy lifting as I can with the camera.

How did you choose the photos you selected for your book PINK?

I looked at all my pink-themed photography as a whole and then began grouping my favorite images into pairs, so both images in each spread could play off each other in some kind of fun, clever, or surprising way.

What book making tool did you choose and why?

I designed PINK in InDesign because I wanted to have the most control possible over the layout.

Your favorite motto:

Less is more.

Check out more of Matt Cump’s work on his website.