Evan Ruderman

Introduce yourself

Hey there. My name is Evan Ruderman - I'm a photographer based on the beautiful Central Coast of California. Since I was young my mom has told me that I burn the candle at both ends and many years later that still rings true.

I spend much of my time on the road, shooting images for a wide variety of outdoor and lifestyle brands and finding excuses to travel. I love to be outside and photography has allowed me to work with many amazing brands, like Nocs, and to meet tons of incredible people from all different walks of life.

Do you find that these passions blend, merge or complement your work?

I think it all blends together. As I said above the lines between work and play have blurred for me which I'm really grateful for. My original interests and passions are the things I photograph most, and anytime I become passionate about something new my mind begins to dream up scenarios of ways I can shoot it. I recently got a dirtbike and on my first ride all I could think about were all the things I wanted to photograph. That said, I've come to learn that this can be unhealthy, and that it's really essential to be able to do things entirely for fun without any pressure of work or else I'll burn myself out. As I've learned this I've been intentional to do certain things and separate them from work entirely which can be a refreshing reset.

Do you have any "heroes" to speak of? How are you inspired?

I've always been a big fan of Anthony Bourdain. His travel shows and writing pieces are a large reason I've been so inspired to travel and see the world far and wide - not just the touristy places but the real nitty gritty too. I've also always loved his mantra that at the end of the day the world is mostly filled with good people doing the best they can each and every day.

A key ingredient to building a sustainable future?

Holding corporations accountable! I studied Environmental Communications in college and could go on a long rant about how frustrating it is that corporations convinced the general public that climate change is an issue of individuals. The entire idea of your personal "carbon footprint" was a campaign designed to take pressure off of corporations and put it on the shoulders of everyday people. I'm sure the exact stat has changed but something like 100 companies are responsible for 71% of global emissions. Although any positive action is a good action, it's not your plastic straw or commute to work that's ruining the environment, it's these corporations and their wild disregard for sustainability and they should be held accountable for this. Be intentional with how you spend your money and the companies you support, and vote anytime you can with this in mind.

A book that shaped your life?

The first that comes to mind is Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan. It's an incredible memoir that's well written and incredibly interesting, following Finnegan's relentless desire to travel and surf as he grew up. After spending his youth chasing his dreams, Finnegan went on to have a successful career in journalism, working at The New Yorker. This book was a big inspiration for me to follow my own path, pursuing photography and outdoor adventures instead of taking an easier, more traditional path which was a theme of the book. It's a fun and inspiring read, especially for anyone who likes to surf.

Favorite artist currently?

Oh man, so many! I'm absolutely obsessed with Jessa Gilbert's work - her paintings and illustrations are amazing. In terms of photography, I'm a huge fan of Jay Kolsch and draw a lot of inspiration from him.

Most sublime moment in nature?

I was recently on a trip in Peru backpacking the infamous Huayhuash Trek. On the fourth day of the trip we took an alpine route which brought us right into the heart of this incredible mountain range. When we climbed over the pass we reached the highest altitude I've ever been at, 17,200ft, and we were below these 22,000ft peaks. We could see the whole mountain range in front of us and below them were a series of glaciers and glacial lakes. I took a moment to stop and take it in and thought to myself that it had to be the most beautiful and grandeur landscape I'd ever seen. To be so close to it was definitely sublime!

What have been your biggest challenges?

Pursuing this unconventional path has been a challenge in itself. I never really thought pursuing a career in photography was realistic and no one in my family has been in the creative field in general. I have no trail to follow or guidebook to look to for answers as I navigate this career - it seems like everyday there is a new challenge to learn and overcome, but that's part of what makes it so fun and rewarding.

What keeps you going?

I think a lot about the fact that you really can do anything you want in this world. As I said earlier I never could've imagined being able to make a living doing what I'm doing. I frequently dream up different trips and adventures and am so grateful that brands support these ideas and I know so many other people doing such amazing things in so many different industries too. I guess this idea that you can do whatever you want to do if you're willing to put in the time and effort keeps me going. I also know that so many people out there have jobs and lives that are so much more difficult than mine. When things feel hard I also try to remember how lucky and fortunate I am.

A personal style?

This is ever evolving but the older I get the more I learn about myself and my personal style. I love greens and blues. I'm a sucker for symmetry and simplicity - I like things neat and clean. This applies both to my photo work and other aspects of my life like my clothing and interior design.