Meet R.D. Kratz | Hiker & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with R.D. Kratz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi R.D., is there something you believe many others might not?
I disagree with the socially-accepted concept that you have to have a degree or be highly trained in your field to be successful.

I believe that by following your heart and staying true to your passions, you’ll be successful every time, even when you may fail.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I began studying film and 3D animation in high school, and all I really wanted was to be a filmmaker. The dream became a reality 3 years later when I drafted the concept of a music documentary based in Cortez, Colorado.

The project was greenlit in November 2012. Principal photography took place February through September 2013.
Entitled “Montezuma Rocks!”, the documentary featured several local bands and venues, and was the first of its kind to showcase prominent artists in Montezuma County and the surrounding Four Corners area. It premiered November 1, 2013 and received generally positive reviews. The total budget for the film was less than $100 dollars, and about 75% of total footage was shot on a cell phone.
Because I lacked the proper equipment and software to direct, shoot and edit a feature-length film, the post-production process was incredibly difficult. Multiple technical issues ensued during editing, and the film almost didn’t meet the deadline for the release date. After the premiere, I decided maybe editing film was not for me after all.

Over the next couple of years, I began hiking in the San Juan mountains of southwest Colorado and started taking pictures of the incredible landscape views. Hiking became my passion and photography became my newest hobby. I started studying photo composition, and shooting scenery was a great way to experiment with different styles and techniques. As time went on, I noticed by skills becoming better.

July 5th, 2017, I began section-hiking the Colorado Trail, spanning 486 miles from Denver to Durango. I had originally planned on completing the trail on a thru-hike, which typically takes 4-6 weeks, but due to scheduling and inclement weather I had to call off the hike after only completing about 70 miles from Denver to Kenosha Pass.
5 years passed before I finally made it back to the Colorado Trail on July 5th, 2021, marking the anniversary of my original start date: I hiked northbound on the trail out of Durango on a life-changing adventure and completed another 75 miles to Silverton, CO.

It was on this trip that I captured some of my best photos to date. I found myself thinking, “If only I could do this full time and make a living doing it.” But obviously that’s anyone’s dream, to make money doing what they enjoy. I knew it was going to be more complicated than that.
After spending the rest of the summer going through 7 years’ worth of photos and compiling a portfolio of my top 100, I decided to put my skills to the test.
In October 2021, I started up R2K Productions, LLC.

The initial goal was to travel and photograph landscape scenery, though I started doing portrait photoshoots for clients.
By January 2022, I had produced a line of photo merchandise, including bookmarks, postcards, coasters, calendars, and multiple sizes of framed prints.
In the following months, I was featured in a multiple-artist photo exhibit at the ZU Gallery in Cortez, as well as two personal art shows in Durango and Dolores CO, respectively. I began traveling more frequently to capture different settings, including several trips across the southwest, and a week-long photography adventure in Puerto Rico.

I relocated to northern Colorado after traveling for most of the 2022 summer.

I am currently still doing landscape and client shoots. After almost 9 years, I am coming back around to filmmaking and cinematography, bringing 7 years of photo composition experience with me.
My newest concept is currently in the pre-production phase; a music video featuring The MoeTones of Cortez, CO, who were members of the main cast in the 2013 documentary “Montezuma Rocks!”
Singer/Guitarist frontman Moe Cooley greenlit the project for a music video in early September 2022. The release date is yet to be determined.
The MoeTones are currently one of the longest-surviving local bands in the Four Corners area, having formed in 2009. I have worked with them a lot over the years, and it’s exciting to be drafting a new project that takes me back to my roots in filmmaking with some of my original colleagues.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Having moved recently from the Four Corners region and traveling far and wide across Colorado, I would take my best friend to all the iconic places in the state. I would include everything from a show at Red Rocks Amphitheater to a hike on the Manitou Incline, and let’s not forget about a weekend on the Colorado Trail in the Collegiate Peaks near Buena Vista. I would take some time to make a loop out west to see Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Mesa Verde National Parks, and visit some other culturally-significant indigenous sites like Canyons of the Ancients. Finish it off with a couple of days exploring in the San Juan mountains, perhaps a 14er or two, and then celebrate it all with a trip to Durango’s speakeasy, The Bookcase and Barber (but only if you know the password).

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to the ZU Gallery of Cortez, Colorado. For years, Cortez was lacking a proper venue to showcase local artists, musicians and other creatives, but through the hard work and dedication of ZU Gallery founder Jodi Jahrling, the community has a solid foundation on which to gather, celebrate each other and share recognition.

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