Meet the Artist: Ryan Hiebendahl

Meet the Artist: Ryan Hiebendahl

  1. Where’d it all start?

My photography journey started at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. I was working full time at a food and beverage company and we needed to produce some more content of our products to use for our social media channels and to boost our e-commerce sales since a lot of our retailers were closed. I had recently gotten a camera for Christmas before and dove head in. After several months I started to find my niche in what I enjoy photographing most.

  1. Favorite photo you’ve taken and why?

My favorite photo I have ever taken to date would have to be “Almost Heaven”. While I was on the trip I was dreaming about getting to go to the top of Glacier Point to see the half dome. Our trip was almost cut short from going to Yosemite because of the wildfires happening in California at the time. Luckily enough we were able to make it in time to go, and I wish I was able to go back to that moment and just stand there looking at that landscape.

  1. Where do you feel the most inspired?

I feel most inspired when I am out hiking or just walking around a city. Being able to be in your head while looking at the environment around you is not only peaceful but lets your mind wander into a creative space of what could be.

  1. What advice do you wish you could give your younger self?

Looking back now, I wish I could tell my younger self to try and pick up a camera at a younger age. I am still young now, but after learning the craft and I feel that I would have enjoyed photography much more than other hobbies or activities I was doing in my teen years.

  1. Favorite photographer or artistic inspiration?

I draw a lot of inspiration from a ton of different photographers, but here are a few:
Samuel Elkins, Tyler Shields, Mike Gray, Riley Harper, Joe Greer, Evan Ranft, Ian Hippolyte, and many more.

  1. Favorite book, TV show, or movie from the past year?

Photography Book: Accidentally Wes Anderson
TV Show: The Blacklist
Movie: The Batman

  1. Last meal on earth? (food, setting, people, etc.)

A home-cooked meal with my closest friends and family.

 

Shop Ryan's Photos Follow Ryan on Instagram