In this episode, Ron and Jason shift focus away from wildlife photography and welcome Chris Dickinson, a Western lifestyle photographer, to discuss the heart behind photography and the stories that drive his work. Ron and Jason first met Chris at a pictureline.com PhotoX event and were inspired by his talk. Chris’ photography is nearly cinematic, and his ability to capture the emotion of ranch life is breathtaking. In this episode, he breaks down elements of his process when entering a chaotic environment, remaining calm and capturing incredible images that tell the story in almost more detail than what is apparent to the naked eye. Chris and the BTW crew explore the importance of building relationships within the ranching community, the significance of giving back through photography, and share personal outdoor experiences that have shaped their perspectives. Chris emphasizes the emotional connection to ranch life and the value of capturing moments that tell a story while highlighting photographers’ need to do good with their craft.

Takeaways

- Your passion comes through your images.
- Ranch life is a broader sense of family to me.
- Cattle branding events are a unique sensory experience.
- You have to be a self-starter, self-motivator.
- There's no happy accidents in great images.
- Always do good with your camera.
- It's not about you, it's about them.
- Building relationships is key in photography.
- You have to look at the larger picture.
- Do good with your camera, whatever that looks like.

Sound Bites

"It's not about you, it's about them."
"Always do good with your camera."
"You done good up there."

Chapters

01:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage
03:55 The Heart of Photography: Chris's Journey
07:14 Understanding Ranch Life and Its Stories
10:04 The Passion Behind the Lens
13:14 Building Relationships in the Ranching Community
16:11 Capturing the Essence of Brandings
18:49 The Importance of Storytelling in Photography
22:07 Navigating Challenges in Ranch Photography
24:49 Finding the Picture Within the Picture
33:13 Exploring the Art of Photography Retreats
39:04 Building Relationships Through Photography
42:12 The Importance of Giving Back
55:25 Memorable Outdoor Experiences and Cowboy Traditions

Chris Dickinson Links

WEB: www.CDPhotog.com
IG: @CDPhotog.com

Thanks for listening to another episode of Beyond the Wild Podcast. To see more of our show and to watch the hosts, as well as the photos and videos that they discuss, tune into their Beyond the Wild Podcast YouTube channel.

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Beyond the Wild Podcast is sponsored by Pictureline.com and Canon USA.