Getting the cover shot

Photographer Jordan Matter, R'91, eschews storyboards or staging notes when going into a shoot. His plan is mostly no plan, aside from the goal of capturing tiny, fleeting moments of joy in the everyday things around us.

At the start of finals week, four members of the University Dancers took a study break with Matter to see what moments of joy might be found around the lake. The result was several stunning shots from around the lake that we present here alongside photos from Matter’s other projects.

“I believe strongly in serendipity,” Matter said. He practices a shot for just 20 to 30 seconds before shooting.

His work features athletes, dancers, and circus folk, and it has gained acclaim from The New York Times to BuzzFeed as projects that inspire wonder and free your imagination.

That level of notoriety is only an added bonus to Matter, who married his college sweetheart Lauren Boyer, W'91: “Everything I do is for my kids. Every book is a different lesson I want them to learn,” he says. “These photographs communicate my dreams for them more powerfully than words: Relish moments large and small, recognize the beauty around you, and be alive!”