Instagram Pix Storyteller – ry_guy_chi

Author: The Printique Team

Every person has a story to tell of how they capture the magic they see before them with their photography. We are celebrating this with our Instagram PixStorytellers. Each week, a new photographer will join us on Instagram sharing their ideas, tips, and tricks for getting the best shot. This week we introduce you to Ryan Woitas aka @ry_guy_chi on Instagram who specializes in landscape and nature photography.

How did you start in photography?

My penchant for photography grew when I realized how much it helped me live in the moment. Being from Chicago, I am so used to being constantly on the move and I am sure this holds true for many. Photography helped me slow down and look at things we see every day from new angles. With that came the appreciation of things that surround us that I was moving to quickly to notice previously. When I have a camera in my hand a patch of flowers is no longer just a something I walk past unnoticed. It is the potential foreground to an immersive background such as the sky or interesting architecture.

How did you find your photography groove?

My groove in photography came from realizing that there will always be something I can improve upon. Whether it be composition or how to utilize light, and even post-processing refinement. There is always something I realize I could have done differently when I look back at photos I took months ago; however, I don’t think of that in a negative sense. I see it as a challenge to push my abilities. Photography is a life-long developmental process and once you establish your liking for it you will soon find that it has an unlimited number of creative possibilities.

What’s in your camera bag?

For most of my photos, I use a Sony Alpha 6000 and most recently I have been using the Sigma 14mm f1.4 lens. I also use an iPhone X and I like using the Lightroom app to capture and edit raw photos on the go. Lastly, for aerials, I use a Phantom 4 Advanced.

Advice for others starting out?

If you are looking to get into photography I would say that now is a great time to start. I think that modern cellphones have great creative potential when combined with apps like Lightroom and the ability to capture photos in raw. Once you reach a point where you think that you need a camera to achieve what you are after then make the investment. I find that something un-intimidating for beginners like a small mirrorless camera is perfect and easy to carry around. I find that I still really enjoy using my A6000 and it has yet to let me down. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get fantastic results. Your gear does not define you, its how you use it that counts.

Thank you, Ryan! Make sure to follow us on Instagram for his takeover. Click HERE to follow along! And give him a follow on his Instagram account @ry_guy_chi and check out his website HERE for more inspiration!