Matt Vann

Matt’s passion for photography began in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, where he first picked up a film camera. Since relocating to Bellingham, Washington, in 2013, his talent has evolved; particularly in the field of wildlife photography.

Matt started getting into photography in 2000 when he was working at a photo lab. He was given his parents’ Pentax K1000, the very camera that captured most of his childhood memories on 35mm film, and still has the camera to this day. Before finding wildlife photography Matt tried out other types of photography including product, portrait, and landscape photography. In 2018 Matt had the opportunity to visit Alaska on a small boat cruise. This cruise was a photography bear viewing cruise. This peaked Matt’s wildlife photography interest but the following summer is when Matt found his calling, owls.

The summer of 2019 was when Matt followed a family of Barred Owls; adults and 2 owlets; throughout the progression of the owlets first summer. Matt was able to watch, study, and photograph the owlets from the time they were in the nest tree, through the fledging stage, and through the trials of the 2 owlets learning how to survive on their own. This experience started Matt’s fascination with birds and birding.

Specializing in raptors, Matt is especially drawn to photographing owls like the Short-eared Owls in Skagit County and Barred Owls in Whatcom Falls Park. His remarkable

ability to spot elusive wildlife—especially the owls—has earned him the nickname “The Owl Whisperer” among friends and fellow photographers.

Matt’s work has been featured in “Owls of Juliana Park”, a book he authored telling a brief story about that first year photographing the owl family, as well as in “Best Little Book of Birds – Coastal Washington” by Tamara Enz, where several of his images are included. You can also see some of Matt’s photos displayed at Trader Joe’s in Bellingham and the Whatcom Art Market in Fairhaven.

Outside of photography, Matt enjoys cooking, fishing, camping throughout the Pacific Northwest, and spending time immersed in nature.