NATE RYAN




ESPN - COVER STORY, JUSTIN JEFFERSON 

November 2022

Taking the record for most yards in his first three seasons, Viking wide receiver Justin Jefferson has cemented himself as an all-star within the NFL. Photographed during a bye week, just after the cover shoot, Justin made what could be the most iconic catch of the season against the Bills. While on the field, Justin becomes “Jets”, a ‘swaggy’, confident persona. But off the field, Justin is a quieter guy who loves to spend time with family - including his brother Jordan, a former LSU quarterback, someone whose backyard throws helped shape Justin into an icon of the NFL. 

Editors: Nick Galac, Rob Booth
Art Direction: Cornel Beard
Styling: Chanelle Whimper and Darnell Booker
Grooming: Robb Kelly
Digitech: David Anderson
Assistants: Evan Frost, Greg Addison
Studio: Studio Q




Minnesota Makers


Minnesota Makers is a collection of editorial and commercial projects featuring makers in Minnesota. Blending portrait and documentary approachs, this has been a series I’ve really enjoyed working on.

The chance to showcase makers—artists, artisans, and even athletes—doing what they do is what inspires me as a photographer. I find the juxtaposition of workmanship with the digital world to be interesting. I also enjoy learning about the particulars of each maker’s process or technique.

On most of these assignments, it’s only me, the subject, and minimal lighting equipment. My challenge is to capture and supplement the natural light in the space while staying respectfully out of the way. 

My goal for every session is to create a series of images that honor the maker’s work as well as their personalities. Most of the images in this gallery were featured in magazines, including Minnesota Monthly and Midwest Living. Several were part of a campaign for Red Wing Shoe Company.





 




Red Wing Shoe Company

June 2021:

Jamie Kvamme - Marketing Manager
Ani Djaferian - Art Director


The Red Wing Shoe Company is an iconic American brand with a history that stretches back more than 100 years. In June 2021, I was brought in to shoot a mix of portrait and documentary images as part of the brand’s “Red Wing Made” campaign.

My work involved spending two days at Red Wing’s factory and tannery in Red Wing, Minnesota. The campaign’s objective was to spotlight the people of Red Wing as well as the process behind their heritage boots. Totaling more than 200 steps, Red Wing’s time-honored process starts in their own leather tannery and goes all the way through cutting, stitching, and lasting each boot. Our primary focus, however, was on the hands that do the work.

We were up against a tight timeline: there was much to capture in two short days. Plus, the space we had to move around within the factory was limited. To streamline our shoot, I brought in a nimble crew who could work without impeding the manufacturing process and scouted the location ahead of time to target our approach. To allow our art director to see images in real time, without tethering to a large digi cart, I was able to bring a new streamlined wireless system, sending images to the AD’s iPad.

Our photography shot list included both stills and motion shots. The goal was to achieve consistency—i.e., no difference in aesthetics—between the two. This was one of those times where my photography and videography capabilities came into play. I was able to shoot both stills and motion, which helped us achieve the aesthetic consistency we needed. 

The final product I delivered to my client was a library of more than 100 final images, including motion clips that were used as gifs and carousels, primarily on Instagram. It was an honor to showcase the people behind the products, some of whom have worked on the factory floors for decades.









   

WeTransfer 

November 2021

WeTransfer is an online file transfer service based in the Netherlands. To celebrate the creativity of its users, the company decided to launch a “Creative Hub Index,” which spotlights 10 U.S. cities as “Emerging Creative Hubs.” (WeTransfer used survey and user data to compile its list of cities.)

NYC-based ad agency Triptk, part of the multinational Havas Group, contracted me to capture images that authentically showcased the top three hubs: Madison, Wisconsin; Atlanta, Georgia; and Norfolk, Virginia.

The goal for the images was a candid, editorial feel. With only two days to spend in each city, I did a lot of research and put together a lengthy shot list in advance of my trips. My goal was to accentuate a city’s artistic side—and not end up with postcard shots. To make the most of my time on the ground, I sourced a photo assistant in each city. We knew we nailed it when local crew members saw the images and recognized their hangouts.

In addition to capturing natural moments in urban landscapes, my mission was to feature a “city insider” in each town. I arranged for extended portrait sessions with these individuals, photographing them doing what they do over the course of a couple hours.

The shoot took place in November 2021, in the midst of COVID-19. Keeping everyone healthy and safe was my first priority, and we followed my COVID-19 policies and protocols closely. Our crews were tested before we traveled to each city.

At the end of the assignment, I was able to deliver 750 rough images that uniquely featured each city. I also worked with Triptk to select stock images for the remaining seven hubs. Each hub is featured on a microsite, which is formatted as a mini-magazine. Collectively, they provide a continuing look at creativity in the U.S.





89.3 The Current at Minnesota Public Radio

2010–2020


For nearly 10 years, I had the privilege of being the staff photographer at 89.3 The Current at Minnesota Public Radio. That station’s world-class recording studio, located in downtown St. Paul, attracts countless local and national touring artists. My responsibilities were photography and video production. And yes, telling someone you’re a full-time photographer at a radio station will often get you a puzzled look.

The studio saw more than 100 recording sessions a year while I was there. During most of these, I was the only staff member in the studio besides the DJ—a candid fly on the wall.

As you might imagine, I heard some phenomenal raw singing, filling the room without passing through a microphone. Some of the artists who performed in-studio (and were subsequently photographed by me) include legends such as Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols, Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, and Brandi Carlile. Lizzo was a frequent studio guest when she called the Twin Cities home from 2012 to 2016,

Visiting artists typically would play a three-song set and sit for an interview. My job was to grab the artists for a portrait after the recording session or interview, depending on time. These were classic celebrity portraits, shot within three to five minutes. I had to be prepared to act quickly; my window was usually limited to the time it took for the band or crew to pack up or prepare for a sound check.

This gallery is a small taste of the archive—my personal favorites.


All images on this page are © Minnesota Public Radio - The Current, while staff photographer 2010-2020.



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