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Capturing the Beauty of Nightscape Photography with Brandt Ryder

Explore the natural beauty through the lens of Brandt Ryder, a passionate photographer who captures the Earth’s landscapes in their raw state. Since childhood, Brandt has loved discovering the wonders of nature, and his photography reflects this deep connection. Each image reveals the stunning diversity of our planet, showcasing majestic landscapes that are essential to life. As a conservation biologist, his understanding of the environment enriches his artistic vision. He creates captivating compositions that harmonize beautifully with the night sky, providing a sense of scale in the vast cosmos. Read his story and discover his passion for nightscape photography in this inspiring new episode of “Lens Stories”.

What is Lens Stories?

Photography is an art form that captures the world through the lens, with each photograph telling a unique story. Behind every breathtaking image is a passionate and talented photographer with their own story. Through “Lens Stories,” CYME aims to uncover these captivating narratives while highlighting the techniques, philosophies, and advice that have guided these artists on their photographic journeys. As a software developer focused on improving photographers’ workflows, it is essential for us to share these experiences and provide tools that support and enhance the work of these visual creators.

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Creating Emotional Connections Through Nightscape Photography

I did my PhD in Ecology and while I have always been passionate about then outdoors most of my life was focused on studying it in detail rather than truly enjoying it. In 2019 I decided I need to challenge myself physically and emotionally. I immediately embraced the formulaic nature of capturing photos but as I grew with the craft I fell in love with the art of creating, capturing the beauty of our natural world and bringing it to life for others. My photography aims to create emotional connections with the natural world and inspire people to protect wild places and dark skies.
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Brandt Ryder’s Secrets for Stunning Nightscape Photography

I love high dimensionality in my photography. I want to draw people into my images using techniques like focus stacking to create incredible depth of field. As such, most of my photos feature a prominent foreground and Im particularly fond of wildflowers and mountains as the star of my images. While landscape photography is what got me started it is night photography and astrophotography that truly defines my creative style. I love showing the beauty of the night sky paired with incredible foregrounds of locations rarely shot deep in the mountains of the intermountain west and beyond.

Do you like Brandt's story?

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Brandt Ryder's Advice for Perfecting Your Nightscape Photography

The biggest lesson is that you are going to make mistakes. While photography can be formulaic (exposure triangle), there is no exact science to editing. You need to use trial and error and develop processes that fit your creative vision. That means you might delete layers or even have to completely re-edit images. It is these failures that help you hone your craft.
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Nightscape Photography: Capturing Mount Fitzroy Under the Milky Way

I traveled thousands of miles to capture this image of Mount Fitzroy with the arching Milky Way in Argentinian Patagonia. Because of many challenges the photo I dreamed of was in some ways technically impossible. Despite so many hurdles I followed through on my vision and created not only the most technically challenging but the most rewarding photos of my life.
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The Key Lesson from Inspiring Photographer Brandt Ryder

It’s so easy to let self-doubt drive your creativity, or lack thereof, early on. You can literally spend all your time beating yourself up without celebrating the little steps. Build yourself up and realize that progress may be slow, but it all starts by believing in yourself. Look back at your work month to month and notice something you are doing differently or better, and use that as your creative guidepost.
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Show Your Support for Nightscape Photographer Brandt Ryder

Let’s come together to celebrate photographers and their remarkable contributions! I encourage you to dive into the captivating world of nightscape photography with Brandt Ryder on his Instagram. Your encouragement is invaluable to these skilled artists who craft mesmerizing stories through their unique perspectives.

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Team CYME
We have a deep passion for photography, meticulously designed software, and seamless user experiences. We're also enthusiasts of cutting-edge gear... and we absolutely ❤︎ the Mac.
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