Brandt Ryder is a conservation biologist, adventure seeker, and talented photographer with a deep-rooted passion for capturing nature’s untamed beauty. Based in Colorado, Brandt merges his scientific expertise with his love for the outdoors, creating breathtaking images that inspire and advocate for wilderness conservation. Brandt's work tells stories of resilience and wonder, from the rugged peaks of the Rockies to the stunning vistas of Patagonia. Discover how Brandt’s unique perspective and Really Right Stuff gear come together to push the boundaries of landscape and astrophotography.
How did you first get started in photography, and what sparked your interest in it?
Growing up I was always enamored with arts and crafts but as I grew older my creativity waned and was largely replaced with analytical thinking and science. In 2019 I was feeling pretty dissatisfied with my professional life and as a lifelong learner, I was looking to dive into something that would challenge me mentally and physically. Photography was ultimately what I chose largely because it had formulaic elements (exposure triangle) and it got me outdoors exploring. Little did I know that what started as a simple hobby would soon be an obsession. It ended up being a pursuit that built upon my love of logic, order and process while also sparking that long lost childhood creativity.
Can you share a memorable or inspiring moment from your early days in photography that motivated you to pursue it further?
Shortly after getting back into photography I saw my first Aurora and Milky Way images on instagram and I immediately knew that my new found hobby was about to become an obsession. I dove into landscape and astrophotography with the zeal of a kid doing a fifth grade science project. Those first couple years I literally read anything and everything I could about how to become a better photographer. I spent countless hours under the stars and learning how to post-process astro images. Through these experiences I fell deeply in love with the creative process from the identification of a unique composition to the creation of that final image.
What inspired you to specialize in landscape and astrophotography?
Since I was a kid I had always loved being outdoors. Finding a love for photography provided me with a new outlet and medium with which to explore the outdoor world that I loved so deeply. It enabled me to share what I loved with others in a way that was deeply personal. I hope that seeing the world through my lens motivates others to protect the wild places and the dark skies left on earth and maybe just maybe inspires them to pick up a camera. I really want my images to tell a visual story, one you don't want to put down. I want my images to draw people in - transcending time and space as if they were there!
You’re a Conservation Biologist by day, how do you feel like your profession has influenced the way you approach photography?
I’ve dedicated my life to science and conservation as a way for me to be an ambassador for the things that have no voice but need protection. My job as a conservation biologist and photographer have so many parallels. Science is process driven and so much of photography is as well. I often approach my field based photography using a clear logical process oriented approach. Specifically, I plan my photoshoots much the way I would plan an experiment - do the back research on the location, scout the site, find and plan the composition and rely on those formulaic elements of the shot. Unlike science however, so many variables are out of your control in photography, you can control the light, the clouds, the wind conditions, etc. Once I'm back at home I let the creative process take over and while I have a workflow for my editing every image has a life of its own once that process is underway. Ultimately I do hope my photography can serve as a medium to build a conservation ethic for the natural world. I believe photography can be a form of visual stewardship.
Living in Colorado with so much access to beautiful scenery and nightscapes, do you find yourself visiting a lot of the same places? Or are you always on a new adventure?
Over the last 5 years I’ve spent so much time exploring Colorado and I still feel like I have barely scratched the surface. Although I do frequently visit certain places (like the San Juan Mountains) I’m always looking for lesser known spots or compositions that haven’t been shot. I know that photographers often flock to the iconic locations that everyone shoots but I really want my work to stand apart and be truly unique. If I do shoot the same spot you can be sure I’ll try something new or to frame it in a way that will tell a new story. While I do shoot in Colorado frequently I'm also an adventurer at heart. My wife calls me “Brandt the Adventurer” and I’ve always had that spirit. There are still so many places to see and you can be sure I have a long list of adventures planned in the coming years that will both challenge me physically but also hopefully enable me to capture images we have never seen before.
Can you share a little bit about your creative process before, during and after a trip?
When I plan a photography trip I almost always have at least 3 or 4 compositions in mind.These may be rough sketches or just elements of an image that come into focus when I'm scouting. All of my images are driven by high dimensionality so each image begins by marrying a compelling foreground that will draw the viewer into the image. I often use flowers, wood, textures, etc as leading lines or to create symmetry in my image. I have a love affair with mountains and so they often serve as the stylistic backdrop of my images. There are some trips where a singular image will be the driving force but I almost always go into trips with ideas and creative vision. During a trip I try to spend as much time scouting as possible and I normally try to do this while hiking or exploring with my family. They are extremely tolerant of my regular stops and side forays to check for cool comps. When I find something truly special I have been known to come back to a spot or wait for the right conditions. Having said that I'm not a purist and also very much enjoy composite based work using time blending techniques. Once I'm home, I edit meticulously, often spending 3-4 hours and as much as 10 hours editing a single image. My family often pokes fun at me saying “Brandt you know no one is going to see that blade of grass or flower petal you are dodging and burning”.
When you go on trips, what’s in your camera bag? Is there any specific gear that is crucial for the type of photography you do?
I typically carry two mirrorless full frame Sony camera bodies (one normal and one astro-modified) both of which are outfitted with RRS L brackets. Astrophotography has become a true passion and having an astro-modified camera allows me to capture greater detail and color in the night sky. I almost always have a couple fast prime lenses and an ultra wide angle. I almost always carry a star tracker which allows for longer exposures while adjusting for the rotation of the earth. Because so much of my work is long exposure based, I almost always have two tripods strapped to my bag. My RRS TVC-24 and BH-40 ballhead are rock solid for shooting at blue hour and tracking the stars in all conditions. More recently, I have fallen in love with my super light yet versatile Ascend 14 tripod is my go to for longer hikes where every ounce matters.
Your work has taken you to Latin America quite a few times, specifically Patagonia, what was it like to shoot out there? Did you find your approach changed versus being here in the states?
To be honest, Patagonia felt truly wild in the way the US has never felt to me. Although I had traveled all over Central and South America for work, Patagonia had been a lifelong dream. Nothing could have prepared me for the sheer size of the mountains even having spent time further north in the Andes. The scale and grandeur of everything literally took my breath away. I am pretty accustomed to shooting big mountains here in Colorado but ultra wide angle was king in Patagonia. I rarely feel like 14mm is wide enough shooting in the US but there were times I wished I had a 10mm or even fisheye lens to capture the mountains down there. Being there in fall was totally surreal and a real photographer's dream. I captured some of my favorite all time landscape and nightscape images in less than two weeks.
What was your favorite photo from the trip? Can you tell us how you got the shot?
Honestly it’s so hard to choose as so many of my Patagonia images are the top in my portfolio but the most memorable image was the Milky Way setting over Laguna Sucia. Getting to this lake was no joke and nearly resulted in both me and my friends getting lost and seriously injured (luckily neither of those things happened). We started out hiking late afternoon and hiked about 6 miles up to a campsite rest spot. We only brought sleeping mats and slept under the stars. At about 3am I woke up and hiked part way up to the lake to capture the setting Milky Way. My friends met me at about 4:30 or 5 am and we hiked/ bush whacked the remaining way through thick beech forest and over the gnarliest boulder field I’ve seen in my life. One friend spent part of the hike dry heaving from dehydration and overexertion. Just before blue hour we made it above the lake to capture the fall foliage and Mount Fitzroy. All in all it was 14 miles roundtrip of some of the hardest hiking I’ve done but it resulted in the image of a lifetime!
What was your favorite part of the trip and what was one of the biggest lessons you learned?
Seeing the night sky in Patagonia was second to none. Living in the west I'm spoiled with dark sky locations and I spend close to 100 nights a year under the stars shooting here in the states. I had heard tales of the horrible weather and wind in Patagonia so while I dreamed of shooting the southern Milky Way I wasn’t sure it would actually happen.I was lucky enough to get multiple clear nights and captured some truly out of this world night sky. The photos straight out of camera looked better than most of my edited Milky Way images from the states. Although it was a lesson I knew from all my photography here in the states going to Patagonia reinforced how important putting in the work is. Getting good photos in a place like Patagonia is easy but getting that truly transformational photo that tells the visual story of a lifetime takes incredible hard work and dedication to the craft. You sometimes have to push your body to extremes both physically, mentally and emotionally to tell the story of a lifetime.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve overcome in your photography career? Any words of wisdom you can share?
Self doubt is by far the greatest challenge to overcome in photography. I have always been self critical but early on when I got into photography I had very little belief in myself or that my work could ever be good enough. In a world of social media, comparing your own work with others can completely rob your creative spirit. I have been lucky enough to develop a great community of photographers who have supported my growth and visa versa. As I improved, my confidence grew slowly at first and then blossomed. When I truly became proud of my work is when things really took off for me and I realized that not only was I good but that I could be great. I don't say that to brag but because when I look back my accomplishments in photography are one of the first things I’m truly proud of in my life. Yes the serotonin rush of likes on social media may feel good but nothing feels better than loving the creative process and the outcome.I think the second really important lesson I’ve learned is don't let yourself become static or too confident that you can't continue to learn. Build community, support others and keep learning because photography is evolutionary.
What tips would you have for anyone that wants to get into landscape or astrophotography?
For me I think one of the most important pieces of advice to give someone starting in photography is to celebrate your successes and learn from your mistakes. In the age of digital photography it's so easy to delete bad exposures but take time to understand what went wrong. Why did the exposure not come out right and what could have been adjusted to potentially fix the problem. I have learned so much from the mistakes I’ve made. There is nothing worse than thinking you got a sharp shot only to download the image and realize something didn't go right. Don't let these moments discourage you but rather learn from them so they don't happen again. Second, invest in your post processing skills. So often people see incredible photos and they assume it was all done in camera. In my opinion the best landscape and astrophotographers have learned the craft of editing images to create painterly fine art pieces. Finally, and while it may seem cliche, invest in good gear and learn how to use it!