Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryony Richards. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Dr. Bryony Richards was born in the United Kingdom and has spent her adult life studying, working, and taking photographs across Europe, Oceania, Africa, and the USA. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in geology from the University of London, with her subsequent research and publications focusing on complex geological datasets across six continents.
Among her research interests, advanced imaging including remote sensing of the Martian landscape has continually led Bryony to reevaluate her photography practices, honing her work to include a scientific narrative. Bryony’s professional photography is focused on landscape and astrophotography with an emphasis on how these photographs can not only look beautiful but also be a valuable scientific tool. Bryony is passionate about women in astrophotography and about educating young people through photography. Her photographic work is commonly featured in international publications with many pieces having won international photography awards.
Eric was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah before moving to Oregon to attend the University of Portland. He graduated from the University of Portland in 2007 and remained in Portland for an additional 7 years. In Portland he continued his education and training in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Oregon Health and Science University, working in Biomedical Research at the Oregon Stem Cell Center until 2014.
In 2014, he moved back to Salt Lake City and began working at the Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Facility at the University of Utah where he remains today. His work currently focuses on developing novel cellular and non-cellular therapies for a wide variety of diseases and injuries in a cGMP facility doing cutting-edge research.
In 2012 He bought his first camera, a Canon t3i, and began his journey into the world of photography. Growing up, he was exposed to the hobby through his father, ultimately deciding that he highly disliked the hobby due to the absolutely annoying process of having to stop whatever they were doing on family trips just so he could spend 15 minutes setting up his old film cameras and snap a photo. 20 years later Eric found himself with a DSLR in hand trying to take a picture of the Milky Way on an Oregon Beach.
After the first exposure, he was addicted and the rest is history. There were plenty of ups and downs along his path to where he is now, but there’s never been a fading of that excitement and addiction to seeing a new exposure displayed on the back of his camera. Eric is currently working on creating high-resolution panoramas of the night sky as well as deep space astrophotography through the use of equatorial tracking mounts, his experience has allowed him to grow and develop techniques that are becoming more and more popular in the night photography community.
Bryony and Eric connected through a mutual love of astrophotography in 2018 and ended-up dating, marrying, and having a daughter. They continue to develop new methods in astrophotography (both nightscape and deep space) and now take their baby girl along to stargaze with them.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Bryony – I first taught myself how to take astrophotos in 2015. I had recently emigrated from Namibia to the USA and had bad insomnia so would take night drives where I discovered my passion for the stars!
In 2018, I, unfortunately, got a traumatic brain injury (with a few broken bones!) and subsequently had to relearn how to take and process astrophotos. I met Eric while I was recovering from the TBI in late 2018 and started taking photos again in 2019 with his encouragement. Interestingly my photos are much better after the TBI!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Bryony – I grew up in southern England and was lucky enough to have a view of Orion from my bedroom window. As a teenager, I spent a lot of time sick and would stare at Orion for too many hours to count dreaming about leaving England (a great place to visit, not to live!) and being able to explore the world by stargazing. I attribute my desire to leave England as a driving force behind completing a Ph.D. in New Zealand and London at 25.
A brief adventure with malaria, dengue fever, and typhoid partway through my Ph.D. during a trip to Malawi only strengthened my desire to leave England! I like to think I was ‘bitten by Africa’ during my foray into the world of tropical diseases and that Africa ended up in my blood. I guess that would be one way to explain heading back out to the African continent as soon as I could.
After a few years in South Africa and then Namibia (and a lot of crazy adventures), I ended up in Utah (of all places). I have been in Utah for the best part of 10 years now and continue to be fascinated by the clear, dark skies and amazing geology.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I think I covered most things – let me know if you would like me to expand on anything!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.utahastrophotography.com
- Instagram: @utahastrophotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/utahastrophotography
Image Credits
Bryony Richards and Eric Benedetti
