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Behind the Lenz : Ryan Kirk
Website: www.RyanKirkPhotography.com
Current Town: Bozeman, Montana
Digital or Film? Digital
What kind of equipment are you on?
Currently rockin a Canon 5d Mark ii, Canon 16-35 f/2.8, Canon 24-105 f/4, Canon 70-200 f/2.8, (2) Canon 580ex ii’s, (3) Pocket Wizard plus ii’s, Sandisk memory cards, 17-inch MacBookPro, miles of cables and the F-stop Tilopa pack keeping the gear safe and sound.
How long have you been Shooting?
I originated from a film/video background and made the switch to photography a couple of years ago. The independence of photography is what attracts me to it.
What is your favorite subject to shoot?
Swimsuit models, someone has to do it.
Proper education, or self taught? If so, where?
Currently enrolled at Montana State University with one semester to go. I’ve learned valuable drinking skills there and most of the photo skills on my own.
What is the best or favorite shoot you have ever done? Why?
The most memorable shoot to date has to be at the Sea Otter Classic and the pro dual slalom. The competition was so close every round and no one was safe from elimination.
Who are your mentors or influences?
I’m always looking up to other photographers in all sports. Chase Jarvis is kicking some serious ass right now in the commercial world. Dan Carr, a Whistler based ski/snowboard photographer is exploding like none other on that side of action sports. Bozeman local photographer Reid Morth makes me feel better because I know I’m getting more sleep than at least one other person in the world. I look up to a lot of the bike photographers for inspiration and ideas such as Brad Walton, Sterling Lorence, Ian Hylands, and of course Harookz.
Tell us the funniest story from your shooting career:
I was recently in Cooke City, Montana on a ski trip photographing a backcountry booter with Toy Soldier Productions and I was beyond hungover. The sled ride in was just over 6 miles and my head felt every bump. I fell off right at the landing and didn’t move more than twenty yards for the next 7 hours. “You didn’t move the entire day and got the best shots”(Justin Brodin). Sometimes it is what it is.
Tell us the most tragic story from you shooting career:
This story is beyond tragic so make sure your sitting. I was shooting Ray Storm for a rider profile story for Freehub and I ended up throttling myself in a poison oak bush. I didn’t know it at the time but it spread faster than a Lindsay Lohan rumor on TMZ. Nothing beats poison oak puss while photographing in the desert for a ten days.
Best advice to up and coming photographers?
I’m a huge fan for nice glass and pro body equipment. It’s a rough and dirty world out there. Also, don’t wait for the phone to ring or that email to show up in your inbox.
What are your plans for the future?
For this season I’d like to get up to Whistler for Crankworxs then Red Bull Rampage in the fall. There’s always the random photo shoots and trips then hopefully the full World Cup next year. In the fall I plan on taking as much flash equipment to the North Shore as possible and creating a body of work.
