Meet Blayne Ippolito | Photographer, Videographer, & Adventurer

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

Hi Blayne, what role has risk played in your life or career?
The first question that pops in my head when asked this is, “What have I done this week that pushes my level of comfort?”. You see, to me risk is a necessity of life- it’s the absolute uncertainty of what’s to come next- the freefall into the unknown. It makes me feel alive. I could lock myself in a padded room to feel safe, but that level of safety and mental comfort does not allow a life worth living. The question that precedes this is: “Am I truly living?”. The stark reality of this metaphorical scenario is that I would simply be existing. The truth is none of us get out of this thing alive- so my philosophy is to live for each moment as it comes. Make your dreams become a reality, love without bounds, and lead with your heart forward. What else is there to life but a collage of genuine experiences with others and the world we are a part of? I am product of “the moment,” whatever that moment may be, and they come with risks. I climb mountains, Rock climb, ice climb, have skydived 3 times and plan to go more. I jump off cliffs into water, I love deeply, and most importantly I don’t hide who I am, or my heart based on what I think others may think of me. All of these have risks, the obvious risks in the physical activities and the risk of leading with my heart forward are all things that continuously provide my life with fresh and new experiences. I may get injured on the crag, people may hurt me, but the pain endured makes the bliss burn brighter.

I have lived in fear before. It’s a dark place filled with anxiety, self-hate, and survival.

When I moved to Colorado, I left everything behind. Did I know I was going to start a company or even where I would end up? Do I know much more of what the future may hold even now? No, I don’t. But I jumped. I took a leap of faith into the unknown to follow the one thing that I know is true to my heart- my bliss. Through all the uncertainty that comes with a life full of risks, the one thing I do know is my heart is full and that feeling grows daily. I get to meet new souls and serve this life as the opportunities arise. My life is exciting, full of love and risk, but to live a full life- the life of my dreams, I need to be willing to risk it all.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have a passion for illuminating the world through the lens of a camera. I indulge myself into the most wonderful natural beauties of the world and exhilarating outdoor activities. My passion lies in videography as I feel you can capture the full essence of the moments with video.

Photography does the same and is fun as it can inspire a story within the viewer- whatever the story the is created in their minds is a reflection into their hearts. I love capturing precious moments for others and sharing the experience of triumph over obstacles in the outdoor activities that we all enjoy together.

With a lens I believe the world can be inspired- inspired to break free from a life of fear. It can invoke hope in the hearts of the broken or lost. It can liberate people. It brings the wonders of our beautiful to the eyes of all who care to look, to those who may never have the opportunity to go out and see these wonders in person.

Easy to get to where I am? I don’t believe there’s ever a destination. Easy to jump into the unknown sure. Scary, but in its turn effortless as I am truly following my bliss. There are obstacles sure- it wouldn’t be life without them. I have struggled, but those moments are always growth opportunities. It does take commitment, and work to follow your dreams- but every single second of commitment is always worth it.

There are so many things I have learned. Don’t look at failure as a bad thing- for it’s a growth opportunity. Don’t take yourself too seriously- as life is to short to live in angst. Let go of the past- and don’t get caught in the future for all we have is right here right now. Lead, and love with your heart forward- nobody is more perfect than your authentic self. Don’t ever compare yourself to others- you lead a unique journey.

Don’t base your worth on the opinions of others- or what you believe others will think.

I wish for the world to know that my passion for my work comes from the heart. That any service you may come to me for I will complete with my heart forward. That I will show up as authentically as possible and continue to give my all in all that I do.

My story is a long one- full of pain, tears, joy, and bliss. and without goin into too much detail- it is a gift that I hope my actions in this world show my gratitude.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is a tough question as there is so much to do within Colorado itself.

I love food so there would be many food stops- Bacon Social House for breakfast is a must. Chop Shop for a chicken sandwich is definitely a solid lunch or dinner choice, and you got to at least try the rocky mountain oysters.

As for activities- if I’m being honest I’d bring them straight to the mountains because that’s where I find the most joy and bliss. If we were to stay in the city though I would definitely take them to Meow Wolf, because that’s a great place to feel some childhood joy. We would have to scooter around downtown Denver of course as that’s always fun. Then I’d probably take them to some of the wonderful parks all around the Denver Metro area.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?                                              Ahhh a shoutout. The list of all the beautiful people along my path that have helped me on this journey is literally endless. I just so happen to have the honor and privilege to be accompanied by so many who make it their job to help others.

With that being said the encouragement from my family (mom, dad, sisters, brother, uncle, and grandfathers) is always there. My mom tells me she’s happy if I’m happy, my sisters and brothers all share humor to make light of mistakes, my grandfathers inspire me with real words of encouragement, my father continuously tells me to keep chasing my dreams, and my uncle is always there to not answer questions but guide me so I learn along the way and get excited with me about the things happening in my life.

Then there’s the broken souls who I get the honor and privilege to connect with and learn with along our journeys in this wild ride of life. The ones I walk with hand and hand, my friends that are much more than friends for our relationships are built on honesty, vulnerability, love, and service.  The once zombified humans to the brightest lights I have ever come to know. The treasures of our shared pain and our triumph over futility. The cries of joy and the shared tears that come with life connect us on an indescribable level.

But there is one person who came to mind immediately- without hesitation. His name is Jamie Graziano. This man was placed in my life in the darkest hour that I have ever experienced. When our roads intersected-  I was an active heroin addict, 110lbs soaking wet, a shell of a person- living to be numb or to be dead. I remember his eyes, bright and full of passion for existence. The futility of my existence at this point was based within anger, fear, resentment, self pity, morbid reflection, and shame. He had something that I wanted- and that was life.

The first time we met he looked me dead in my eyes and said “you’re not the person your mind makes you out to be, your life is worth it, your past actions do not define you, you are enough, and you are loved.” These words pierced through the hardened shell I had built around me and cracked a hole within the fear of which I had been consumed in since my earliest memories. He was speaking the language of the heart- the only language that would be able to capture my attention long enough to make a difference in my life. He spoke directly through his own experience. Using his past pains to level the playing field between us and create an understanding that he knew what I was going through. He sat before me as an equal. Being on parallel ground with someone was a feeling I couldn’t recall ever experiencing before that moment. At this point he spoke of a life that was unimaginably more beautiful as time went on and that I could have the same if I wished. Boy was he right. Through the last 5 years he has been there for me- sitting with me as I have cried, guiding me through my troubles, laughing at ourselves and the silly situations we have found ourselves in, and being a vessel through which I was able to be liberated from my fears. Without our paths crossing my life (if I were to even be alive) would most likely still be dark and dismal. The life I live, and lead today has been taught through him, and we continue to grow within this journey- even though we are now separated by 2,000 miles of earth. I can picture his reaction to this part of the article- he’d probably be full of joy but conflicted because we both know that we are all but vessels to whatever the power may be that’s larger than all of us. The reality in my eyes though is that my life forever changed by his presence in it. The selflessness of his actions, his willingness to always show up, and the vulnerability of the words he spoke to not only me but the others around us was enough to strike a spark in the once a dark shell of a human, with tired broken eyes, and ignite a fire, burning as bright as the sun, and illuminating the world with passion for life.

Jamie I thank you for being a guiding force in my life, the container for the power which has liberated me, never giving up on me or judging me, telling me the truth no matter what, loving me until I could love myself- along with the unconditional love that continues to pour from you onto me, holding space for my tears, helping me find my flavor for life again and showing me how to live a purposeful, fearless, and glorious life. Today I can be a son, a brother, a friend, and most importantly a servant. May we continue to love and serve the world together for as long as we are here.

Website: www.transcendentadventures.com

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