Meet Chayden Bray | Cowboy, pilot, photographer

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

Hi Chayden, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I can’t say my creative endeavors are a full time career, but started as more of an outlet; a break from the grind of work. I learned photography just by taking as many photos as I can and learning one by one what looks good and what doesn’t. And while that can be completely subjective, there are ones that better tell the story of life on this ranch, which is the main way I use my photography professionally.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Creativity is how I interact with the world in a way that makes sense to me. I like using photography to show life as lived on a ranch and in the rural west. I learned to fly airplanes years ago. Seeing an overhead view of the world I had once only known from the ground trained me to look at nature in as many different perspectives as I can. I try to capture those perspectives one shutter click at a time.

There’s an innate draw to creation; a story looking for a way to be told. The medium of the story I use the most, photography, is based largely on convenience. Smartphone cameras are wonderful for this when out on the ranch on horseback or on foot; a pocket-sized device used to capture a moment that otherwise would slip away to memory. I do have my mirrorless Canon in the seat next to me when I drive, at the ready to capture the moment that begs to live on.

I think storytelling is the biggest driver of what I do. How I do that may vary over time; there’s the written word, which I may employ more in the future. I’m always wanting to learn more, whether it’s to improve my craft or learn a new one.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
An areal tour would be high on the list of things to do. From the high peaks of the Rockies out one window to the desert canyons etched into the terrain out the other, there’s a fun variance of terrain to explore in a short distance. Hiking the canyons and exploring the remnants of the ancient civilizations who once lived here exemplify how parts of the world have drastically changed, and others remain nearly untouched and eerily primitive.

An evening at the lake next to a campfire under a blanket of stars with a serenade of coyote chatter is a must. For anyone craving culture or civilization, a festival in Telluride is a short step away.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My loving girlfriend and my family are instrumental in everything I accomplish. They’re always there to bounce ideas off of and are usually first to view many of my photos good, bad or otherwise.

Website: https://chayden-bray.pixels.com/ brayranches.com

Instagram: @brayranches

Twitter: @therealbrayniac

Facebook: Bray Ranches

Youtube: @brayranches

Image Credits
All images are my own.