New Zealand artist Trey Ratcliff didn't discover his love for photography until his 30s, but once he did, he immediately picked up a camera and set out into the world, creating the blog 'Stuck In Customs' to document his travels since early 2004.
Later, in 2021, some of these photos became part of his first NFT series, and his work was exhibited at the renowned Smithsonian Museum, highlighting his groundbreaking HDR photography techniques.
His NFT series, such as (Beautiful Cities of the World) and (Earth Landscapes: Genesis Series), is filled with images and short animations from the places he has visited.
Thanks to Ratcliff's bold use of color and unique perspectives, each snapshot seems to invite viewers to immerse themselves in the scene, imagining themselves standing atop a skyscraper overlooking the skyline of Shanghai, or at the center of Milan Cathedral, gazing up at the stars. This is all possible and even easy to achieve.
Here are six things about Ratcliff's journey as a creative and NFT artist.
Trey's images are inspired by Burning Man but cover locations worldwide.
Ratcliff attends the week-long Burning Man festival held in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada almost every year. His deep connection to Burning Man led him to create his first NFT series.
Ratcliff minted his 'Burning Man' series as open editions. In Ratcliff's case, NFTs are available only within 24 hours or 15 minutes after purchasing 25 NFTs (whichever comes first).
On OpenSea, you can find more of Ratcliff's NFT collections, including (1K1K Project - 1,000 Stories from 1,000 Places Around the World), (Beautiful Cities of the World), and (Earth Landscapes: Genesis Series).
In all of his works, you'll find images related to his travel experiences and his fascination with architecture and landscapes, capturing breathtaking sights across all seven continents.
In 2022, Ratcliff launched the 1K1K series, which includes 1000 one-of-a-kind NFTs, each containing a picture and a text explaining the story behind the image.
As Ratcliff says, 'In each story, I might talk about place, adventure, drugs, hardship, love, personal breakthroughs, personal embarrassments, struggles, or just some random funny and unbelievable things that happened.'
Ratcliff's technique resembles a digital trompe l'oeil, a French term meaning 'deceive the eye.' In today's society, this technique is often achieved using Photoshop; however, the visual illusions in Ratcliff's photos are created using real photographic techniques, making them appear like clever digital manipulations, but they are true works of art.
His background is in computer science.
Trey Ratcliff's photography journey is as unique as his work. Before becoming a household name in the art world, Ratcliff spent years in the tech industry. He holds a degree in computer science and mathematics from Southern Methodist University and initially worked in the tech sector. This technical background profoundly influenced his photographic creations, allowing him to seamlessly blend art and science.
Ratcliff's expertise in computer science laid the groundwork for his groundbreaking use of high dynamic range (HDR) photography techniques, which combine multiple exposures into a single image with stunning detail and depth, becoming a signature feature of his work.
His technical abilities have also enabled him to create digital artworks highly sought after by art collectors. Ratcliff’s ability to merge technology with art has led to some of the most captivating and innovative images in contemporary photography.
His photography style and techniques are stunning.
Trey Ratcliff's photography is captivating, especially known for his mastery of HDR techniques, which allow him to capture richly detailed, vividly colored, and breathtaking images. His photographs often leave viewers in awe, immersing them in extraordinary landscapes and surreal scenes that are stunningly beautiful.
A major highlight of Ratcliff's work is his use of digital trompe l'oeil techniques, which create visual illusions that give images a three-dimensional quality, adding extra complexity and intrigue to his photos, making them not just photographs but experiences.
As a visionary artist, Ratcliff possesses a unique ability to observe the world through the lens, revealing its hidden beauty. His work continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the globe.
He has built a strong online influence and community.
Trey Ratcliff's influence extends far beyond the physical world, thanks to his online presence. His website, StuckInCustoms.com, serves as a hub for his photography, art, and writing, where you can find travel stories, resources, tutorials, equipment recommendations, and carefully curated books and podcasts that have shaped Ratcliff's artistic journey.
Ratcliff is also a prolific content creator on YouTube, where he frequently shares various tutorials, vlogs, and behind-the-scenes looks at his work. His engaging and informative videos attract a large following, drawing in both fans and art collectors eager for his content.
Smithsonian Magazine recognized his work.
Early in his photography career, he rose to fame by winning a photography contest hosted by Smithsonian Magazine. The piece, titled (July 4th Austin Lake), showcased a firework display against a summer sunset. In 2006, this award-winning photo became the first high dynamic range (HDR) photo displayed at the Smithsonian Museum.
In simple terms, HDR images combine different versions of the same image, each with varying brightness levels, which need to be merged to create a viable image. Nowadays, iPhones can automatically provide this feature to everyday photographers, but professional photographers often combine their favorite cameras and processing software to manually achieve this.
He believes creativity can be sparked anywhere.
Ratcliff explains on his blog that his motivation for sharing his work and creative process is 'to spread awareness and mindfulness to the world.'
He added: Teaching billions of people to meditate is hard, but you can help them learn photography and creativity. I believe that when people express their creativity, they become focused and attentive, and that's the best thing we can do for the world.
Ratcliff's work is sought after by numerous distinguished clients, including knights, professional athletes, and celebrities.
In addition to linking his NFTs with community activities around creativity and the creative process, fans of Ratcliff's work can find free resources on his website, where he offers various tutorials covering everything from which camera to choose to which editing software creatives should use.
Like many other NFT creators and collectors, Ratcliff also uses a Creative Commons license that allows other creators to use his works, provided they are not used for commercial purposes.
Ratcliff's photography journey has been quite winding, but the audience is pleased that he has captured some incredible photos, YouTube videos, and diaries documenting how he reached this point.
OpenSea content you care about
Browse | Create | Buy | Sell | Auction
Collect and follow OpenSea Binance channel
Stay updated