We had the good fortune of connecting with Matt Bloomfield and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
My work life balance is a little odd because while I work both a full and part time job (plus my photography work on the side), I still always make time to adventure and have fun. Most people think having balance between the two means working less, but you can absolutely make things happen if you’re willing to squeeze things in. Just taking one extra day off can put so many great areas within a reasonable travel distance. Instead of taking a full week off a couple times a year, try breaking up your time off and use smaller chunks more frequently. Balance is partly just about prioritizing the things you love; I promise it will always be worth it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
A big goal of my photography is to show people the remote and obscure landscapes of the southwest. In my personal time, I go on several adventures to backcountry areas and I love getting to capture the unique vistas they hold. Several of these locations see less than a handful of visitors per year, but they are equally as stunning as some of our national parks/monuments! My images are all about inspiring an individual to create their own unique adventure. Whether it’s sweeping high-altitude landscapes or narrow slot canyons that you can barely squeeze your body through; I want people to see the beauty in all areas of the natural world. Maybe then they will grow to fully appreciate and protect our wild spaces.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I often have friends come visit me from my home state of Indiana. Naturally, they’re looking for a dose of adventure that you just can’t find in the Midwest and it just so happens that Flagstaff is the perfect place for this. From swimming near aquamarine waterfalls in Fossil Creek, to hiking The Inner Basin Trail surrounded by 12,000ft alpine peaks. From scrambling around the red rocks of Sedona in search of cliff dwellings, to donning headlamps and exploring underground in the lava tubes of Flagstaff. I honestly could go on with this forever; Arizona truly is an astounding place full of so much beauty and diversity. There’s no shortage of amazing things to do in this state!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Chris Gosselin is one person in particular who has been instrumental in pushing me towards my goals during this past year. He is an entrepreneur and friend who sees the positive in everything and is continually striving to better himself and the friends around him. He works hard on his own projects everyday but still takes the time to reach out and offer me his encouragement, feedback, and business advice. Should my photography business ever take off, I will truly have him to thank the most.

Website: https://arizonaadventurer.smugmug.com/
Instagram: @arizona_adventurer

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.