Trey Ratcliff — Guru of the HDR Photography

StuckInCustoms.com is the best resource you can ever find to get an idea about the HDR photography. For me it is still hard to image how Trey Ratcliff, a photographer, blogger, creative producer at WebWars and family man, manages to travel around the globe and discover the world for us in a totally different way – in the High Dynamic Range (HDR). Driving inspiration from the works of great Impressionists, Trey Ratcliff tries to capture the moment as he sees it — dramatic, exciting, everlasting and fleeting at the same time.

You have a really descriptive and informative About page on StuckInCustoms. I wonder how you would summarize it all about Trey Ratcliff in one sentence. :)

Well, honestly, I do not like talking about myself very much, so let’s just say I’m a guy that likes to tinker.

What’s your most memorable project and why? (please attach photos if possible)

I don’t know if I do things in «projects». I do have periods I go through. I do like a lot of the recent landscape work I have done from Patagonia in Argentina, however.

The Violent Volcano

I’ve reached the end of the world

I’ve heard Impressionism is your big passion. Is this what pushed you into exploring HDR photography? What or who first got you started in photography in general?

I first got into photography when I took a photo with a nice camera and was shocked at what I saw! It looked boring. That’s not how I see the world! So, my background in Comp Sci and Math made me start thinking about the processing in terms of algorithms.

A big part of your life is devoted to traveling. What was the funniest story from your travel experience? In one of your interviews I read you were not too excited about your trips to Ukraine and Russia. Could you tell us more about your impressions?

I think Ukraine was a very fun and different experience. Luckily, I am in my own world when I travel, like an alien visitor. I found it shocking how dour and melancholy the average Ukrainian is. I think the artistic community is probably quite different… but walking around the streets, getting «severe» looks all the time, well that could tend to take the wind out of your sails.

However, when I did make some Ukrainian friends, they were quite open, humorous, and friendly! It’s like a whole new world exists behind the unfortunate facade.

Ukrainian Homes

The Old Russian Streetcar (still in operation…)

Do you agree with the statement of Thomas Edison «Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration»? Do you consider yourself a talented photographer? Do you ever doubt what you are doing?

The only reason that I might think I am talented is because others say this. I am just more curious than most. That much is clear, either fortunately or unfortunately. I find a lot of people give up and stop asking questions.

What if you could be invisible for one day with your camera?

I’d probably go into a sorority house. Any dude that tells you different is probably lying or a eunuch.

People often overrate…

The importance of traditional education.

What do you think about the situation with HDR photography today? Don’t you think this genre is often heavily abused? Will it leave a sharp mark in history of photography in your opinion?

I don’t know. I would never use the word «abuse», because that is sort of a judgmental term… as if one artist can alone dictate what is reasonable and what is not. I hear this sort of thing a lot in the states — they they like HDR if it is «subtle». This, too, seems overly judgmental. My answer is, who cares? If you like it, you like it.

However, in general terms, I think photography is evolving and HDR is a big direction. It is just too exciting, too real, too fun, and too satisfying to be a fad. It is almost universally appealing to photographers and the public alike.

Hong Kong from the peak on a summer’s night

5 words your friends would use to describe you

White, human, male, not female, and sexy

A Neo-Rockwellian Christmas

You’ve published a book “A world in HDR” not so long time ago. Is it the first book you’ve created? Who’s taking care of the shipping, promoting and all the business stuff? Do you plan to write another photography book or publication?

Yes — this is my first book. It was published by Peachpit, the biggest in the industry, so they took care of all the logistics of the publication. This one sold out on Amazon in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, so I think there will almost certainly be another book.

Fourth on Lake Austin

What’s your main goal for 2010?

StuckInCustoms.com has turned into a media company, and these things tend to grow on their own as demand increases. We will see.

What camera/lens combination do you use most often? What about DSLR with built-in HDR function, did you try any of those?

Most often, I use my D3X with 14-24 lens. But, of course, anyone can do HDR (follow my HDR Tutorlal — link) — with almost any kind of camera. The in-camera HDR function in some models is no good, currently

Trey, you are into photography, creative developing at WebWars, drawing, blogging and probably, many more activities. And you are pretty successful in all these. Tell us, what’s your secret? Do you plan to fulfill any new creative aspirations in the nearest future? If so, in what field will it be?

I am not successful at everything — in fact, I like to say that I do not limit my mistakes to any one part of the world. I have no secrets… I am just curious and fearless and I forgive myself quickly for mistakes and move on.

This is Nathaniel

When did you first understand your photography is a success? Was it a surprise for you or logical result of your hard work?

I started getting the feeling it would be successful about two years ago when we started licensing photos — it has only grown since then.

What’s your favorite destination so far? (please share some photos from there)

My favorite place is probably Iceland… it’s so wonderful for landscape photography.

On Frozen Pond

An Icelandic Horse in the Wild

The Icy Pit to Hell

If not a photographer, I would be a…

Space explorer

In the whole arsenal of your photography equipment, what’s really indispensable besides the camera and lens?

A tripod for HDR, of course!

The Veins of Bangkok

Farewell India — The Taj Mahal

What would you refuse to shoot even for million dollars?

A Scott Bourne hottub weekend.

What are your main sources of inspiration both online and offline?

Online, I get inspiration from all sorts of designers, artists, and photographers. Offline, I get a lot of inspriation from the great impressionists.

The Setting Sun and the Farm

The Lonely Trinity

Do you think tips and advice from peers are important for budding photographers? If so, what would you advise to the beginners?

I always advise that people guess at how something is done, try it, fail, forgive yourself, then try again. I think this is much better than trying to learn the ‘right» way to do something

You can learn more about Trey Ratcliff by visiting:

Trey’s blog: StuckInCustoms

PhotoInterview

Trey Ratcliff — Guru of the HDR Photography