After nearly ten years of roaming the country in his Arctic Fox 990, Matt Nelson doesn’t have to go looking for incredible moments. They find him.
A rocket streaks across the twilight sky above a lone truck camper in the desert. A double rainbow suddenly appears over camp after a passing storm. In the quiet glow of sunrise, a hot air balloon drifts above red rock cliffs.
These aren’t carefully staged photography shoots. For longtime Truck Camper Magazine reader Matt Nelson, these scenes happen simply by being out there. With an instinct for lighting and timing, Matt has developed a knack for recognizing when the ordinary moment is about to turn extraordinary. Since 2020, Matt has become one of the most successful entrants in the annual Truck Camper Magazine Calendar Contest. Readers have voted him into the podium five times, and in 2025, his perfectly timed snapshot earned him a coveted cover.
Working remotely from his Arctic Fox 990, Matt spends months at a time escaping the winter and roaming the country in search of wide-open landscapes. While he might be clocking in for a full-time job, he’s often only steps away from his next great photo.
We caught up with Matt to learn how his photography passion began, hear the stories behind some of his most memorable images, and get tips for capturing compelling truck camper photos along the way. After all, when you travel with a truck camper, the next unforgettable moment might be waiting just outside your door.
Where did your passion for photography and truck camping begin?
I’ve always enjoyed photography as a hobby. That interest really grew when I started visiting national parks in the early 2000s. At the time, I was trying to figure out how to travel around the country and see as many parks as possible.
Before I owned a camper, I would fly somewhere, rent a car, and explore with a tent and sleeping bag. Those trips exposed me to truck campers at campgrounds and around the parks. I kept thinking, “That’s the perfect setup for the way I want to travel”.
Eventually, I bought my own truck camper, and photography just became a natural extension of those travels. When you’re constantly visiting incredible places, it’s hard not to start documenting them. I take photos of scenic vistas, national parks, and moments that happen at camp along my travels.
You are one of the most successful Calendar Contest winners in Truck Camper Magazine history. What do you enjoy most about sharing those captured moments with fellow truck campers?
When I find these beautiful locations, I naturally want to share them with other people. Friends, family, and folks I meet on the road are always asking for recommendations on places to visit. I’m thankful to have met people through Truck Camper Magazine and to have a community to share my adventures with.
Photography comes naturally to me. When I’m somewhere scenic, I’m always observing the light and thinking about how to frame a scene. If you walk around a little, change your angle, get lower to the ground or climb up a hillside, you can turn that same scene into something much more interesting.
Do you work from the road?
Yes. I work full-time in IT. I’m very fortunate that my company allows me to work remotely. I can travel for months at a time while still making a living.
My internet setup is a combination of Starlink and a cellular hotspot. As long as I’m online when I need to be, I can work from anywhere. I’ll spend the day working like everyone else, and when the workday ends, I step outside into a beautiful environment. I usually end my day with a hike, watching the sunset over a mountain range. There are moments when it doesn’t feel real.
“There are moments when it doesn’t feel real.”
Do you have favorite places you return to, or are you always exploring new areas?
A little bit of both. I typically travel in the winter to escape the cold in Pennsylvania. I generally go to Florida or Arizona. There are definitely some places I find myself returning to, but I always try to discover new spots along the way.
I typically stay in the same spot for a week or two before moving on. However, last summer I took my first trip to Alaska and I was moving every few days. It was exhausting, but it allowed me to see a lot of incredible things throughout the state.
My Arctic Fox 990 is well-suited for off-grid camping. The only thing I can’t run off the battery bank I have is the air conditioning, so I usually follow mild weather.
Right now I’m in El Centro, California, where temperatures are in the low 80s, but this weekend it’s supposed to hit 100 degrees. When that happens, it’s time to find someplace cooler.
Why did you choose a truck camper instead of another RV type?
Before I owned a truck camper, I rented out a small Class C motorhome just to see what traveling in an RV would be like. When I considered the places I wanted to go, the truck camper appealed to me. Having four-wheel drive opens up a lot more places to explore.
Another big factor is the size and maneuverability. Truck campers fit within every campsite length limit I’ve encountered in national parks.
My travel style has evolved over time. These days, I spend a lot of time camping on Bureau of Land Management land outside the parks, often in places where there are very few people around.
“I get to spend time in places that many people will never see.”
That solitude and wildness play a big role in my photography. I get to spend time in places that many people will never see.
The locations in your photos sure look remote. What drew you to a Ram 3500 and Arctic Fox 990?
It’s hard to believe my camper is almost nineteen years old now. When I was shopping for a truck camper, I was drawn to the Arctic Fox 990 for its short overhang and spacious layout. It was also well-suited for rougher roads.
I also occasionally tow a Jeep, especially when I’m camping out in the desert. The Arctic Fox 990 was ideal for towing because I only needed a short hitch extension. There’s very little tongue weight from the Jeep, so the setup works great. When I’m driving down the road, I often forget the Jeep and camper are even back there.
I’m a camera nerd. What do you shoot with?
For a lot of my pictures, I just use my cell phone. It’s always in my pocket, ready to go. I have a Sony mirrorless camera and zoom lens, but I rarely pull it out. It’s crazy how good a photo you can get with a cell phone these days.
There’s no denying the quality of a phone camera these days. The Calendar Contest Cover winner in 2025 features a rocket launch in the sky over your camper. What’s the story behind that shot?
That photo was pure luck. I had no idea there was going to be a rocket launch that evening. I was inside my camper cooking dinner when I happened to glance out the window and saw a strange glow in the sky.
At first, I was trying to figure out what it was. It wasn’t moving like a plane, and it lasted too long to be a meteor. Then it clicked. It was a rocket launch!
I shut off the stove, grabbed my phone, and ran outside. The camper just happened to be parked at the perfect angle, so I lined up the shot and started taking photos. After that, I just stood there watching with my jaw open. It was an incredible thing to witness.
The timing is what made the photo even better. When a rocket is launched at sunset, the sun illuminates the vapor trail behind it. That’s what created the glowing effect in the sky. If I hadn’t glanced out the window at that exact moment, I never would have seen it.
Where did you capture the 2024 solar eclipse and how did you make sure the conditions lined up?
When I saw the solar eclipse in 2017, I immediately decided I wasn’t going to miss the next one. Planning began two years in advance by scouting campgrounds that would be within the path of totality. I visited several locations in Arkansas and marked down specific campsites.
Using an app called PhotoPills, I could identify the position of the sun to make sure the site didn’t have trees blocking the view. I reserved the exact site six months in advance the very day it opened up. It was the only time in my life I’ve planned a campsite that far in advance.
Even with all that planning, I was still prepared to abandon that campsite at the last minute if clouds were in the area. Astrospheric is a great app for viewing current and upcoming cloud cover. I was ready to drive wherever I needed to be, even if it meant watching the eclipse from a Walmart parking lot.
Fortunately, the weather cooperated. The campsite backed right up to a lake. It was an ideal setting. After the eclipse, I spent a couple of hours kayaking and just enjoying the moment.
What is the story behind the leg lamp photo? Do you have a personal connection to the movie, A Christmas Story?
I was really hoping that picture was going to win the calendar contest last year.
I saw a picture online of the leg lamp and added it to my Google Map. The next time I was driving through the area, I decided that I’d make the detour to Chickasha, Oklahoma.
Growing up as a kid, we always watched A Christmas Story on Christmas Day. I still watch it on Christmas if I’m around a TV.
I find it hilarious that it’s in the middle of a town in Oklahoma with no relation to the movie at all. The house where they shot the movie is in Cleveland, Ohio, just a couple of hours from where I live. It’s a funny stop.
We got a kick out of that photo. What other fun stops like this have you made along your travels?
Several years ago, I was driving across Kansas and made a stop at The World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things. It’s a little museum that has about 200 miniature replicas of famous oversized roadside attractions. It humored me to no end.
Photo courtesy of atlasobscura.com
Driving back and forth across the country, I get to see a lot of random stuff. I plan out stops along the major national parks, but always keep one eye open to explore the things in between.
Your photo featuring a yellow hot air balloon in the middle of the desert is stunning. Were you expecting to see this, or was this another happy accident?
That one was a happy accident. I was actually in a Teams meeting with my colleagues and brought my computer outside to show them where I was. The morning glow in the desert was stunning and I might have been showing off a bit.
There just happened to be people setting up two hot air balloons below my camp. The camper was in the right spot and I grabbed a photo at the right time. A lot of my photos have a story like that—spur of the moment. I just happen to go to places that are pretty darn cool to start with.
The photo of The Wedge Overlook was a 2023 runner-up. What was it like driving out to that location and camping on the edge the way you did?
That spot is about fifty miles down a dirt road. When I arrive somewhere new, I usually grab the first campsite I see to secure a spot. Then I’ll go for a walk or bike ride to explore the area and see if there are better spots open nearby. That’s exactly what I did there.
Backing into that site was mentally challenging. I could see in my mirrors and backup camera that there was plenty of solid ground behind me, but my brain had trouble letting me press the gas pedal. It fit my camper perfectly. A larger RV definitely wouldn’t have fit there.
I love being able to stay in one place and get the full experience. Watching the light and shadows dramatically change throughout the day makes you appreciate that environment on a whole other level.
What tips would you give someone who wants to take compelling truck camper photos?
You don’t need fancy camera gear. Some of my best photos were taken with my cell phone. Lighting is one of the biggest factors. Photos taken at sunrise or sunset, during the golden hour when the light is soft and warm, add depth and drama to the scene.
Another tip is to step farther away from your camper and zoom in. This compresses the image and makes the backdrop appear larger and more prominent.
Changing your perspective also helps. Try getting lower to the ground or finding a higher vantage point. I often look for interesting foreground elements like trees or rock formations to frame the composition.
Historically, Calendar Contest photos could only be submitted if they were taken during that calendar year. What do you think about this year’s ‘no-holds-barred’ and ‘any year counts’ rule?
I think, at least for me, it’s going to make it a lot harder. I don’t know how I’ll be able to narrow down all of my photos to just three submissions. But now I get my chance to submit that photo from the year I missed the deadline!
If you could line up all of the elements of the perfect Truck Camper Magazine Calendar Contest photo, what would that be?
From what I’ve experienced, you can’t plan for the perfect photo. The rocket launch photo from last year is probably one of the best photos I’ve ever taken. It had everything: timing, a unique event, interesting lighting, and the camper perfectly positioned in the scene.
For a few years, I’ve been visiting the Blue Angels training ground in El Centro. I have a vision of all six jets banking right over my camper and presenting the perfect shot. Maybe next year.
Do you see yourself truck camping for a long time?
Definitely. I have my home base in Pennsylvania, but when I’m home for a couple of months, I start getting bored and feel the itch to get back on the road. There are still so many places I want to see. Even after nine years of traveling the United States by truck camper, it still feels like I’ve only scratched the surface.
Matt’s Rig:
Truck: 2017 Ram 3500
Camper: 2007 Arctic Fox 990
