Matthew McIver 2012 RAW Reno Photographer of the Year Interview

Award winning artists are addictive to be around.  These are the people who are at the pinnacle of dedication and passion and are producing inspiring and evocative creations.  I have had the honor of knowing this particular photographer since his early days when we played paintball together.  His artwork is tattooed on my skin and the banner image on this website.  To say he has been an inspiration is an understatement.  On November 15th, his hard work and dedication to his art was rewarded by the local RAW: Natural Born Artists group when they announced that both the judges and the people agreed he was the 2012 RAW Reno Photographer of the Year.

Even in the face of this sought after accolade and rush of new attention, he kept humble and took the time to sit down for coffee and an interview with me this past Saturday.  On a rainy grey Reno morning we chatted about the award, his art, and what comes next.  The following is the transcript from that conversation.

Where is Reno?

Beautiful? Yes. But is this Reno?

I’d like to report that over the holiday weekend I was delighted to hear a lot of different conversations about how locals perceive Reno in such a positive manner while finding such a different view from non locals. All but one of these conversations was initiated by someone other then myself and it leads me to believe that far and beyond my own efforts to raise awareness, Renoites are aware and are concerned.

Prioritizing

Dear Reader,

I will be the first to admit that my ambition and passion can get the better of my sound decision making process.

Where is Reno?

Reno is a Brand.

Is Reno Disappearing?

The mention of Reno, much like any other location, induces an emotional response in people based upon their experiences, their knowledge of the city(or lack there of), and any rumor that made an impact(accurate or inaccurate as it may be). That feeling defines Reno as a brand and is a significant contributing factor in the decision making of those who may bring their hard earned dollars to our location. Just as a positive brand experience will sway many of us into buying from a business, a positive brand for Reno means more dollars changing hands and keeping our community employed, productive, and lively.