Meet Ryan Watters | Professional Photographer

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

Hi Ryan, what role has risk played in your life or career?
As a photographer who specializes in outdoor and action photography risk is enmeshed into every aspect of my business. Being a new business owner is a risky proposition; there is always the unknowns of how successful will this be, when will I feel the success, how do I stay afloat when work is slow, and all the doubts that come along. My risk is two fold when coupled with the activities and locations I bring my camera. Most of my work is spent taking photos of rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, and the beautiful landscapes where these activities bring me.

As a climber risk taking and risk management is built into every action I take from making breakfast at 4am, to driving to an objective, to the climb and the photos, and all the way back home, often long after the sun has set. We eat and hydrate to stave off exhaustion. We acknowledge that the drive is statistically the most dangerous part of the day. When we climb we are using ropes, helmets, ice screws, cams and nuts, bolts, and redundant systems. We plan for emergencies, have an itinerary for someone at home, and in general do all we can to mitigate the myriad of risks in the mountains. On January 3rd 2024 I had a serious climbing accident that shook my perception of who I am and what I want to accomplish. I was on a first ascent objective in southern Colorado when a rappel anchor had a catastrophic failure and I fell 20-30 feet onto a ledge, landing on my back. I was lucky. I was able to walk out of that mission (after another 2 rappels and a 3 mile walk) on my own two feet. Broken ankles are all too common in ice climbing accidents because the crampons get caught up in a fall, but I landed on my backpack narrowly missing my head on an exposed rock. I walked away from the type of accident that kills climbers every year, and I reevaluated who I was and what I want. I want to capture human perseverance surrounded by beautiful landscapes. I woke up the morning after my accident (so stiff I had to roll out of the bed) and began work on starting a professional photography business.

As a business owner I have to take financial risks to provide the equipment and processing programs necessary for me to be a successful photographer in addition to all the supplemental equipment that allows me to be a successful mountaineer. Often times this has meant strict budgeting and jobs for supplemental income while I make a name for myself in the creative space. I take enormous financial risk starting this business and work long hours advertising, editing, promoting, surviving, and climbing; and I love every second of it.

Risk is there everytime I do a photoshoot in the mountains, but I don’t let the fear of what could go wrong control me. Instead I focus on what I have to gain; the obstacles I see overcome, the joy of nature bringing out the best in people, and the memories that I capture. If you’re not failing you’re not learning. I never ask myself what will happen if this goes wrong, instead I assess the risk versus the consequences. Falling in low risk terrain can still have high consequences, just as high risk terrain can have low consequences (which is why we use ropes). Anything low risk feels “safe” as both a climber and business owner, but we can’t grow unless we find those situations we allow ourselves to fall. I am going to fall, repeatedly, but I am prepared for it and excited to see what I will learn along the way.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
One of my favorite things about adventure photo shoots is that my camera comes with me to incredible locations where I can also capture landscapes, macros, fine art, and anything else my lense lands on. I’ve gotten to capture iconic landmarks from unique perspectives solely due to a photo shoot bringing me well beyond the parking lot. The urge I have to adventure exposed me to many different types of photography when I purchased my first camera and has shaped the artist I am today. I am just as excited to shoot ice climbing as I am to capture a beautiful sunrise at a cross country race or the athletes there running. As a kid I NEVER claimed to be an artist, I could play instruments well and still play saxophone and piano today, but I never could hash out the visual arts. When I discovered photography color theory, perspective, subject, framing, everything that drives what a good painting is made sense I found that I am artistic, I just had to find the right medium. Don’t get my wrong though, there has been a lot of learning along the way. Learning how to edit is something I still feel I get better at after every shoot. In the beginning it was more centered around what are highlights versus shadows or vibrance vs saturation, and now it’s more about being efficient and evolving “my look.”

One of the biggest things I have learned as a photographer is that there is no right way to edit. I have done re-edits of older photos that look nothing like the first draft, but some of my first photos shot on my first DSLR are of my all time favorites. This also goes to show that gear doesn’t make the photographer. I bring my cheapest camera and lenses on big missions because it won’t hurt as much (financially) if it breaks, it’s much lighter and being a DSLR the battery lasts longer, AND I still produce amazing shots with it.

The professional photography space is full of amazing people who all want you to make it as a creative. My biggest initial hurdle has been asking, asking for help, asking for jobs, inquiring about prospective opportunities. The worst that will happen is you get a “no” and move on. However, even when it’s not a strict yes you are still able to make positive connections with people. The hardest part of being an artist isn’t the art, it’s the business.

My business, Generally Up Photography is built on a very simple premise; sometimes life gets you down but if you stay positive and keep fighting for the life you believe in you will, in general, keep moving up. Generally up, sometimes down.

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?
On of my favorite parts of living in rural southern Colorado is that I’m not in the “city” as it were. Alamosa is still moderately sized at about 10,000 people, but the entirety of the San Luis Valley is at less than 50,000 people in an area two and a half times the size of Massachusetts.

If you want night like, you won’t find it here, but if you want insane mountain vistas with plentiful outdoor activities, no crowds, and to die for locally owned restaurants then this is the place. Authentic hispanic cuisine is abundant with Ninos Del Sol, Calvillo’s (hands down best margaritas), Juanito’s, Oscar’s, Mi Taquito (they have amazing breakfast burritos), and Taqueria y Antojitos Los Lopez. Authentic asian cuisine can be found at Thai House (my personal favorite – try the Lad Nah), Luck Bamboo, Siam Cuisine, Thai Hut, and Hunan Chinese Restaurant. Pizza and/or bar food can be found at the Purple Pig, My Brothers Place (not literally my brother), San Luis Valley Brewing Company, Rubi Slipper, and Three Barrel Brewing Co. Grab breakfast at the Campus Cafe (they have a gigantic cinnamon roll), Milagros Coffee House, the Roast Cafe, the Sunflower Cafe, and the Don Thomas Bakery. SLV Brewing, Three Barrel Brewing, the Spare Keg, and the Colorado Farm Brewery all produce local craft beer. All of these location are family owned and operated.

As for activities in the San Luis Valley the list is endless, but I will highlight a few. There are several wildlife refuges; the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge, San Luis Lakes, the Blanca Wetlands Area, and Smith Reservoir to name a few. Platoro Reservoir and La Jara Reservoir are tucked in the mountains on the west side of the valley. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Zapata Falls are major attractions in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range and is a dedicated dark sky area perfect for stargazing. There are nine 14ers in the SLV, several like Little Bear and the Crestone Needle are much more technical. For hiking I would recommend the Old Spanish Trails area outside of Del Norte, Penitente Canyon, the town of Crestone has many trails leading up into the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range, Alamosa has its own trail systems at the Alamosa Riparian Park and along the river on the north side of town. Other points of interest include the La Gaurita Natural Arch, the Rio Grande Natural Area, the town of Creede, Wolf Creek Ski Area, Sand Dunes Recreation (aka Hooper Hot Springs), Valley View Hot Springs (clothing optional resort), and Joyful Journey Hot Springs.

For those interested in climbing there is rock climbing at Penitente Canyon, the Manassa Dike, Stone Quarry Climbing area (and many other locations in the Old Spanish Trails), and technical alpine climbing on many of the 14ers. Ice climbing can be found at Zapata Falls, along Wolf Creek Pass, and throughout the Sangre de Cristo and San Juan Mountain Ranges during the winter months.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate this to Curt Howell at Narrow Ridge Outdoor who has my first mentor in climbing. Tristan Porco who inspired me to pursue photography. Logan Hjelmstad a long time friend, ski partner, outdoor mentor, and general badass. And Stephen Cline my climbing partner and constant inspiration to be a better human and a more competent mountaineer.

Website: https://generallyup.com

Instagram: @generallyup

Image Credits
All photos are taken by Ryan Watters – Generally Up Photography