Brooklyn's Progress
February/March 2006

By Harold Egeln

The 2005 Building Brooklyn Awards turned into a picture perfect evening for photographer Deirdre W. Matthews. It was there, while taking pictures for the Brooklyn Chamber, that she connected with Brooklyn Chamber Member Rhonda Lewis, President and CEO, Bridge Street Development Corporation.

Bridge Street won two awards, the Residential Affordable Housing and People's Choice Award for restoring a 112-year old Stuyvesant Heights building.

"Ms. Lewis contacted me in August to inquire about my photo work," said Ms. Matthews, whose studio is in New Jersey, although she continues to work in Brooklyn, where she lived for 15 years. "Ms. Lewis knew that I photographed events, but she wanted to see my work. It seemed to come out of the blue!"

Ms. Matthews went to Bridge Street Development Corporation’s office, where Ms. Lewis reviewed her work. Pleased with the sample, Ms. Lewis hired Ms. Matthews and charged her with creating a montage of senior citizens’ portraits for permanent exhibit at the Development Corporation’s new Quincy Street Senior Residences.

"The work went very well," said Ms. Matthews, who photographed 50 older adults over a four-day period. "The first day we spent at the Akwaaba Bed and Breakfast owned by Monique Greenwood on McDonough Street. We had a blast!"

"Working with the seniors was fun; each had their own story to tell. I put my creative thinking to work for each portrait session," Ms. Matthews said. The exhibit was prepared for the Residences’ grand opening at the end of November 2005 and will be available for public viewing when the Residence is occupied.

"I enjoyed working with the entire Bridge Street Development Corporation team. They were extremely supportive," said Ms. Matthews. "Although I have exhibited my work in the past, the Quincy Street exhibit is the largest one that I have been commissioned to shoot and curate."

Ms. Matthews is grateful for the Chamber and its networking opportunities. "I enjoy having access to the great events that the Chamber holds," said Ms. Matthews.

When Ms. Matthews photographed the Brooklyn Designs event in 2004, she said she met "a lifelong friend, Ormiston Edwards, one of the Interior Designers who was also a part of the Quincy Street project."

"I have photographed several of the Chamber's annual business breakfasts held in a variety of locations. One year I shot Brooklyn Eats. Wow, what a great experience!" said Ms. Matthews.

Her four-year-old company, D.W. Matthews Studio, LLC, is where she does mostly contract and freelance work, including portraits, special events and corporate events. "It's photography with a point of view," said Ms. Matthews, a member of the Professional Photographers of America.

A professional photographer for nearly 20 years, Ms. Matthews, a native of Englewood, NJ, is looking forward to more commercial work and becoming a permanent contract photographer for a business or company in Brooklyn.

Ms. Matthews may be contacted at 917-742-2875 or at dwmatthewsphoto@aol.com; her Web site is at http://www.4pov.com/.