Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Aylsworth.
Hi Ryan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It started as an unexpected hobby. My first camera as a high school graduation gift was the entry point to a journey I could not imagine. I photographed buildings at first, Architecture caught my eye as I started to develop a basic understanding of photography. I’d drive by myself through the night with my tripod and experiment with long exposures and found the whole process very meditative. It was years before I moved onto shooting people and eventually evolved into fashion, fine art, and street photography. Music being first love kept me in proximity to musicians and I was then and still am shooting lots of performers and bands. How I got to where I am today is an ongoing story which is still being written. I’ve traveled the world and wear several hats in this industry, but all of them stem from that first camera and developing my eyes.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It’s been a completely flat smooth road and everything has been handed to me without effort, I recommend everyone become an artist especially to easily make money and have everyone like you! Really though for most of what I can recall even after I was finally earning a living with photography, it felt like rolling a slippery bolder up a steep mountain in the rain. Once in a while came a landmark or some respite from failure but the crushing blow of rejection put me very close to walking away from pursuing art more times than I’d care to admit. For every small triumph or gem of accomplishment as an artist, I’ve felt an equal amount of spiritual devastation. Trying to live off of any art form can really take a toll on your mental health and self-worth. I feel very lucky to have made it this far and to still be growing into new adjacent avenues.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve been struggling with categorizing what I do most and what I do best at the 16 years mark of my journey into the imaging world. I am a Photographer, retoucher, DP, Editor, Drone Pilot, and also a Director. After surfing the waves of the freelance world for so long, I feel as capable as a whole production company. I am most proud whenever I can make something that is narrative alternative comedy, but I think if you ask others, “What does Ryan Aylsworth do?” Photography might likely be the answer I’d expect. My biggest break was in 2018 when I shot what became P!NK’s album cover and she then took me on a world tour through Australia and New Zealand capturing personal images backstage and off days. I’ve also done drone work for Morgan Stanley in Fiji and Photogrammetry capture for award-winning VR directors in Japan and Warsaw. I feel my greatest sense of accomplishment if I can travel to another state or country for work no matter what role I am playing on the production. What sets me apart from others is my crooked nose, green eyes, and beautiful hands.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’ve been a risk-taker without knowing it most of my life, and I am just now coming to terms with it. I can not abandon a practice I love because of a painful learning experience. The same could be said for one trying to survive as an artist in a world of fierce competition. The rewards can be absolutely worth the risk in my opinion. One must apply what they’ve learned and keep themselves safe from repeating the mistakes of the past to survive. In my opinion, Risk is the engine of success.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.ryanaylsworth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan.aylsworth/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryan.aylsworth
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ryan_Aylsworth
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChV27t1uIKRr-Q8GC78505g
- Other: https://vimeo.com/ryanaylsworth
Image Credits
1388212_1099_178a9b -PINK DF3I7057 -Krystall Schott 1430178_1920_370957 -Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy 1340543_1920_04b096 -Annie Montgomery 1340549_1920_91ba8e -Tiffany Keller 1436294_1099_24ce30 -Dinah Rankin 1182859_1920_c4290b -Hanna Doerksen
