When Do You Feel Free?

About Ryland Hormel

Born and raised in the iconic Haight Ashbury neighborhood in San Francisco, Ryland's passion for photography began just as his college soccer career was ending. Realizing athletics had an expiration date after sustaining many injuries, he yearned to dive into a new pursuit, one that he could sustain for the rest of his life. His desire for a lifestyle of freedom and creativity were priorities, and it became clear that the camera could be the right path to both. What started as a hobby slowly began to grow into a professional career. He has worked in both the commercial and documentary space and his photography was featured in Trope Chicago. Today, he describes his approach to shooting as very free, striving to remain in the moment and not let preconceptions get in the way. Ryland's work is focused on asking questions and connecting with humanity. His hope is to invite the audience to slow down, think deliberately and at times confront disconfirming information, all while gaining more access to the human experience. Aside from his photography projects, he designed and led an Artist Incubator Program with the non-profit TA98 where he assisted young artists in developing their personal brand and projects. He is also the co-host of the Live Better Retreats, is producing his first documentary film and holds an MFA degree from CIIS. Josh Mantz is an inspirational speaker and best-selling author focused on consciousness and transformation. He's a West Point Grad and holds a master's degree in Philosophy, Consciousness, and Cosmology from CIIS and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the same.