Meet Andrew High | Event & Landscape Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrew High and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I have always believed that the classic work week (9-5, M-F) to free-time ratio has been skewed in the wrong direction since the beginning of modern history. With the advent of modern technologies the contemporary human should not have to adhere to the five day work week. During college I realized that I was headed on a path to becoming a regular 40 hours/week employee and the decision not to go into an industry where that is standardized has fundamentally changed my lifestyle and career path. I believe that life should always be more important than work and I try to maintain a healthy relationship with that personal principle. I think it is unfortunate that so many of us spend so much of our lives working and rarely have enough time to get out and enjoy our world; however, that has been the standard for so long that we are used to it and don’t really consider it an issue generally. I think the ratio deserves revision and there is more evidence of the success of a four day work week than many would have anticipated a few decades ago.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
To make a long story short I wanted to make college affordable so I strove to find an in-state scholarship to minimize expenses for my family and I. This led me to Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. While in attendance I spent the majority of my free time exploring the San Juan Mountains and the deserts of the Southwest. The landscapes I was commonly viewing were so beautiful that I decided I needed to start capturing them with a camera. This photography turned into a passion and eventually a profession. In today’s photography world it is increasingly difficult to stand out amongst my peers and this realization has spurred me to explore and adventure further from humanity to try to find new views and capture less seen landscapes. I strive to print my landscapes in large format because I believe that a large expanse captured deserves a large space on a wall. I absolutely love printing large scale images and I am striving to bring them to a larger audience. This is my current professional struggle and the project I am most excited about! In the meantime I pay my expenses via wedding, elopement, and general event/portrait photography. Being my own boss had definitely been difficult and finding clients has been an ongoing effort in diligence, but my efforts are not in vein. I have slowly been evolving my website and business and I am finally on the cusp of realizing my dream and becoming a full time photographer.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Durango is a hub for outdoor enthusiasts of all varieties and a proper itinerary depends on the season. Summer definitely offers the most variety and would probably be when I would encourage friends and family to visit; although the fall colors are spectacular and also worth a visit. When friends are visiting we typically do a hike or bike up Raider Ridge in the Horse Gulch trail system which offers amazing views of Durango and the La Plata Mountain range looming above the West side of town while offering several lengths of loops depending on my visitor’s current ability level. These visits generally involve a float down the Animas river. The Animas offers great rafting and or tubing depending on its current water level and can be placid or adventurous depending on which section is floated. In the summer Durango has several great restaurants with outdoor patios for lounging and imbibing. I always recommend Animas Brewing Company, Fired Up Pizza, Anarchy Brewing, and the Balcony Bar and Grill. For mountain biking enthusiasts the trail riding opportunities are endless and for a long stay I can’t recommend backpacking in the Weminuche Wilderness enough.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This may be a bit cliche; nevertheless, I would not be where I am now without the ongoing love and encouragement that my parents have given me since I’ve had memories. They have always pushed me to live life to the fullest and constantly supported me regardless of whether or not my decisions were wise ones. I would also like to recognize the roles that my great friends Kyle and Jefe have had in my life in regards to the major revelations I have made throughout my adolescence and adulthood concerning my career path and choices. I’m certain that they never meant to guide my decisions, but their passion for adventure and exploration was an impetus for some of my most crucial life resolutions.

Website: https://www.swdurangophotography.com/

Instagram: @slappin_dingers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087811964394