Today’s guest on the Not Real Art Podcast is Rick Saez, an author, speaker, and adventurer, as well as an incredible photographer whose work largely focuses on the natural world and his travels. He has led expeditions and photo trips across the world to places like Alaska, Nepal, and Mexico, and has taken his camera to 25 countries on six different continents. On his podcast, The Outdoor Biz Podcast, Rick collaborates with leaders from global organizations like JanSport, Dometic, and Fishpond to provide over 4,000 monthly listeners with fun, entertaining stories related to career development, adventure, and the great outdoors.
In this episode, Rick shares his love for his own backyard in the Eastern Sierra and describes how he is profoundly moved and inspired by nature and the outdoors. We also touch on topics ranging from personal photography versus commercial photography and the strong community of creators in Inyo County to our shared passion for podcasting, the outdoor theme that weaves itself throughout Rick’s life, and more!
“I didn’t realize until I was probably over 50-years-old, but I’ve always been a visual and auditory person. Sound and color and shapes and textures; they always capture my soul. Oftentimes, as I’ve gotten older, I’m frequently by myself, out taking pictures, and I just feel the vibe and the energy. It’s visual through photography because, when you’re out there shooting fall or you’re freeing your ass off on a cold winter morning here and the light is just coming up over the White Mountains to the east and the Sierras are starting to [turn] red, it just moves you. I don’t know how it cannot move you. That is what I look for.” — Rick Saez [0:14:10]
If you want to learn more about travel, adventure, and landscape photography, create a podcast of your own, or even if you’re just looking for inspiration, this is the episode for you! Make sure not to miss this wholesome and down-to-earth discussion with this fantastic human and artist, Rick Saez.
“I don’t feel like inspiration is my challenge. A lot of it is because of where I live. A lot of it’s because of the space I’m in and the people I’ve been fortunate enough to grow up with in the industry. I’m inspired by what these people do every day. You get up here and see the sunrise and the sunset and you’re inspired every day. For me, [the challenge] is just to continue grinding on the entrepreneurial side [of things], trying to make a living. Unfortunately, I still have to have a day job to pay the bills, but my big goals are to covert all of this [creativity] into that living.” — Rick Saez [0:59:24]
Key Points From This Rick Saez Episode:
- Which came first for Rick; travel or photography.
- Some insight into Rick’s background and his childhood in Fontana, California.
- The three major themes in his photography work: travel, adventure, and landscape.
- Rick shares some of his favorite places in the world, including his own backyard.
- What led him to settle in the Eastern Sierra and what he loves about the region.
- His experience as a deeply sensory photographer and how he is inspired by nature.
- Rick shares his perspective on making the transition from making art to selling art.
- Hear about his almost seamless shift from film to digital photography.
- What the creative community in Bishop is like and how they support themselves.
- Discover how Rick sells and licenses his work and his focus on selling prints.
- How Sourdough and Rick initially bonded over their passion for podcasting.
- Rick’s podcast, The Outdoor Biz Podcast, and how it is also inspired by nature.
- Why he believes that the outdoor industry isn’t as racially diverse as it should be.
- Some of Rick’s favorite guests and how his podcast has evolved over 315 episodes.
- Sourdough and Rick reflect on the times they have spent in Salt Lake City.
- Find out why Rick chose to pursue an education in outdoor recreation.
- The joys and trials of aging and the importance of taking advantage of every opportunity.
- How Rick will stay inspired and achieve his entrepreneurial goals in 2022.
- Rick emphasizes the importance of being opportunistic as a photographer.
“I didn’t realize until I was probably over 50-years-old, but I’ve always been a visual and auditory person. Sound and color and shapes and textures; they always capture my soul.” — @rick_saez [0:14:10]
“There’s a strong creator community [in Bishop] now, like there is everywhere. I think the creative side of the world has gotten more formalized.” — @rick_saez [0:23:03]
“Once I learned you could get a degree in outdoor recreation, everything else was over. I was like’ Are you kidding me?’ That’s what I’m doing!” — @rick_saez [0:47:50]
“I don’t feel like inspiration is my challenge. A lot of it is because of where I live. A lot of it’s because of the space I’m in and the people I’ve been fortunate enough to grow up with in the industry. I’m inspired by what these people do every day.” — @rick_saez [0:59:24]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
- Rick Saez — https://ricksaez.com/
- The Outdoor Biz Podcast — https://ricksaez.com/listen/
- Rick Saez on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricksaez/
- Rick Saez on Twitter — https://twitter.com/rick_saez
- Rick Saez on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rsaezphotos/
- Outdoor Writers Association of America — https://owaa.org/
- The Tim Ferriss Show — https://tim.blog/podcast/
- NOT REAL ART Creators Conference — https://notrealart.com/conference/#conference
- smARTalks — https://notrealart.com/conference/#smartalks
- Not Real Art — https://www.notrealart.com/
- Scott “Sourdough” Power — https://www.notarealartist.com/