We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brennen Duffield. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brennen below.
Brennen , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
My obsession with photography started in college when I had to choose it as a secondary emphasis for my art degree because I thought it would be beneficial for my graphic design emphasis. I ended up loving it more and haven’t looked at graphic design since. Back then it was black and white 35mm film that we had to process ourselves, so this has given me a deep appreciation for digital photography.
Knowing what I know now, I would’ve taken classes or private lessons sooner. I wasted years taking bad pictures because I was too scared to ask anyone how to do it correctly. Now I teach photography workshops so I can help others speed up their process and not waste so much time like I did.
Some skills that are most essential in landscape and astrophotography are planning, technical proficiency not only with your camera and gear, but also editing software, understanding light, and most importantly, patience and perserverence.
Some obstacles that stood in my way of learning more were 1) financial limitation. Let’s be honest…photography is not a cheap hobby. 2) technical complexity – technology is always evolving and so do photography techniques. 3) Lack of guidance. I let my ego and fear get in the way. Once I learned to be humble with my craft, I was more receptive to learning.
Brennen , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My entrance into this world coincided with Earth Day, a fitting alignment considering my connection to nature. Inspired by the Patron Saint of Navigators, I inherited a name that evokes a sense of exploration and discovery. Raised in the beautiful landscapes of Northwest Arkansas, I set out on an educational expedition at the University of Central Arkansas, immersing myself in the arts of Graphic Design & Photography.
Having spent close to two decades navigating demanding professional environments, I arrived at an unshakeable realization—a compelling urge to pursue my true passion: photography. Fueled by a steadfast love for the great outdoors, I merged my creative skills with my affinity for capturing fleeting moments in nature. With epic determination, I have embarked on extraordinary adventures, traversing a total of 35 states, hiking nearly 1300 miles, and capturing over 450 waterfalls. My search for breathtaking beauty led me to explore over 95 State and National Parks and Forests, each one igniting my passion for adventure and photography even more. Along this photographic journey, my dedication is unwavering, enduring countless sleepless nights in pursuit of that perfect astronomical image.
Through my photographs, I aim to inspire others to appreciate and conserve the natural wonders that surround us. I also believe that education and hands-on learning experiences are invaluable in nurturing creativity and enhancing technical skills, which is why I have dedicated myself to teaching photography workshops. In 2021, I had the honor of becoming an Ambassador for Arkansas Tourism, a role I embrace wholeheartedly. I take great delight in showcasing the treasures our state possesses. In addition to exploring the Natural State, I enjoy delving into the hidden nooks and crannies of our diverse country while documenting and advocating for the preservation of our night skies along the journey.
In addition to offering astrophotography photography workshops, I also arrange multi-day all immersive adventure workshops for photograhers, as well as provide private lessons for those who prefer to learn alone. Another amenity I just added is my Adventure Agent Services where I personally plan your photography adventure itinerary customized to your comfort levels, along with composition planning maps, packing list, and there’s even an option where I accompany you as your Adventure Guide and put you in the right places at the right times to get the perfect image!
I also offer prints of my landscape images, hoping to inspire creativity and adventure. I use only the finest materials and printing techniques to ensure that every print is of the highest gallery quality.
By teaching photography workshops and offering private lessons, some problems I am trying to solve for my clients are: technical issues with their gear which can be overwhelming for beginners. I simplify the concepts and break them down into understandable parts to help them navigate the technical aspects. Lack of access to quality education is another problem I am trying to solve. This was my biggest problem when I was learning, and again, I want to help people skip over the awkward photography stage that I was stuck in for so long. Networking and community building is another issue that I want to solve for my clients. It’s hard to find people to explore with, especially for astrophotography. My workshops offer a group setting where like minded individuals can bounce ideas off each other, feel comfortable meeting new people, and developing camaraderie – even making lasting friendships.
What sets me apart are my workshops that combine theoretical knowledge, practical exercises, and mentorship to accelerate the participants photographic growth. I also provide a supportive and inspiring environment to foster creativity and experimentation. My guidance and expertise are beneficial for the participants learning experiences as well.
My biggest accomplishments would be being published as a cover photo for a Colorado magazine, winning several awards for my hard earned photographs, or the speeches and presentations I have been blessed to give.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My obsession with the night sky started with my Papaw and one shooting star. We spent many evenings of my childhood on the front porch swing stargazing. He would always see a shooting star, and I would always miss it. I never saw a meteor until the night he passed away and that one flying fireball would forever change the trajectory of my life. Every night I go out to capture the stars I see a shooting star now, and I know it is my Papaw telling me I am exactly where I’m supposed to be.
I want everyone to be able to experience the magic of watching a meteor fall across the sky, but sadly, over one-third of humanity cannot even see the stars. Not only are dark night skies essential to the rhythms of life on our planet, but stargazing has also been proven to ease our minds and make us more compassionate towards others, which we can all agree, we need more compassion in today’s society.
This is why light pollution is such an important topic to me. Light Pollution not only affects us and our ability to see the night sky, but it also affects wildlife. One of my goals is to bring awareness that light pollution that is slowly causing our dark skies to fade away. It is a topic that is rarely discussed when it comes to our health, and is greatly affecting us and nature and is a form of pollution that is grossly ignored by most people.
There are only about half of the states in the entire country that actually have true dark skies. I want to advocate about the dangers of light pollution to us and animals, offer lighting options that would drastically cut down the pollution and energy waste, and preserve the beauty and awe of our night skies.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I had a vision for quite some time of capturing the Milky Way over an alpine lake with a cluster of wildflowers in the foreground. I knew it would take not only studying advanced techniques for composing such a shot, but it would also take quite a bit of planning to find the perfect time of the year, a lake that aligned with the stars, and one that would have wildflowers. After a year of honing my photography skills, I felt comfortable enough to attempt it.
We arrived to the San Juans after a brutal night of fighting gale force winds and lightning while camping in the Great Sand Dunes, so to say we were exhausted was an understatement. On the barefoot hike out of the dunes, I somehow managed to kick the only rock and cut my toe pretty badly…enough so I couldnt wear a hiking boot – only my water shoes. After a quick breakfast break we started the ascent to the lake, only about a mile up I realized I had forgotten my tripod in my truck. After a quick run 500 ft down the mountain and back up with a wrapped toe, I was ready to continue the trek. We made it to the campsite before dusk and I noticed that in my tiredness, I had only packed a tangerine, a granola bar, and a bottle of water for the next 16 hours. I ate half of my granola for dinner and went to hunt for the perfect cluster of lupines. I set up my camera gear to take a 4-image focused stacked blue hour photo at around 8:30 PM (ISO 100, f/11, 30″ x 4 different focused spots)and then waited for the stars to align over the mountains. About 4 hours later the Milky Way danced over the horizon to the perfect spot, and I was able to take more images to stack (ISO 20,000, f/3.2, 6″ x 25) and blend with my blue hour shot.
The next morning included half a soggy granola bar (from the rising creek fog), a tangerine for energy, and the rest of my water to begin my painful descent down the mountain, but my heart was so full knowing I had pulled off the image I had dreamed about and worked so hard to plan for over a year. 
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brennennicole.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brennen.nicole/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brennennicolephotography
- TikTok: @brennen.nicole
Image Credits
The portrait of myself was taken and edited by Jobe Mclarty All other images were taken by me – Brennen Nicole Photography