We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Guy McCutcheon a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Guy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was photographing the Ring of Fire Annular Solar Eclipse in October 2023. It wasn’t just a case of showing up, pointing a camera at the sky, and calling it a day. This took months of planning, calculating, and, of course, a ridiculous amount of driving.
The eclipse’s path was slicing right through some of the most stunning national parks in Utah, and I knew I wanted a truly iconic backdrop. Bryce Canyon has always fascinated me, especially the Navajo Loop Trail in winter—those hoodoos covered in snow look straight out of a fantasy novel. But I didn’t want the same shot as everyone else. While most photographers were setting up along the rim, shoulder-to-shoulder like it was the front row of a rock concert, I wanted something different. The funny thing? Of all the photographers who showed up that day, only one other person had actually done their homework and knew exactly where the totality would be in the sky.
The second challenge was figuring out exactly where in the sky the eclipse would be relative to the landscape. If I set up in the wrong spot, I’d end up with an amazing photo of… nothing. So, I pored over astronomical tracking apps and topographic maps to make sure I had the alignment dialed in.
Then came the third challenge—actually capturing the shot. The sun is, well, bright. The canyon? Not so much. The exposure difference was huge, and a single shot would either leave me with a glowing white ring and a black hole of a foreground, or a nice canyon and an overexposed mess where the eclipse should be. I spent weeks before the trip experimenting with stacking two gradient neutral density (GND) filters, which worked wonders in balancing the exposure between the sky and the canyon. Bracketing shots was also a must, allowing me to blend multiple exposures later so both the eclipse and the foreground had the right level of detail.
But before any of this even happened, there was one more thing: the drive. A 12-hour drive, one way—just to set up, shoot for a few minutes, and then turn around and head back. People often think photography is all about clicking the shutter, but sometimes, the driving takes longer than the actual shooting. And then there was the hike. To secure my planned composition, I hiked down into the canyon in the dark, navigating the switchbacks of the Navajo Loop Trail. This meant hauling my gear through the quiet, pre-dawn landscape, carefully making my way to the exact location I had scouted in advance—away from the crowded canyon edge and perfectly aligned with the eclipse’s path.
But when the moment arrived, it all came together. The annular eclipse aligned beautifully with the canyon, the exposure blending worked like a charm, and for a few fleeting minutes, I got to witness one of the most incredible sights nature has to offer—all framed exactly how I envisioned it.
This project wasn’t just about the final image. It was about the challenge, the planning, the problem-solving, and the sheer determination to make it happen. And, of course, the fact that it’ll be a long time before another eclipse like this happens at Bryce Canyon again. I’d say that’s worth the drive.
Guy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Yes, my name really is Guy, and my motto has always been “To capture the essence of life.”
My journey into photography started long before the age of social media, reality TV, or the constant stream of trends we consume today. It all began in a high school darkroom, where I first learned the magic of transforming light into something tangible. I still remember rolling film into the canister in pitch black, carefully pouring the developer, stopping, fixing, rinsing—each step revealing an image that had been hidden in plain sight. That process felt like alchemy, and I was hooked.
But my story didn’t stay in the darkroom. Technology evolved, film gave way to digital, and my passion grew with it. I embraced the new tools and techniques, but my goal remained the same: to find and capture the beauty that’s all around us—whether in the vastness of a desert landscape, the fleeting moment of a missile launch, or the intimate details of a wedding day.
What I Do
I specialize in fine art photography, adventure photography, and capturing once-in-a-lifetime moments. My work spans from weddings to fashion shoots, from capturing the raw power of nature to documenting celestial events. If there’s a story to be told through light and composition, I want to tell it.
What Sets Me Apart
Photography is more than just pressing a shutter button. It’s about anticipation, patience, and vision. I don’t just take pictures—I craft images. Whether I’m planning months in advance for a celestial event like the Ring of Fire Annular Eclipse or scouting locations to ensure a bride and groom have the perfect backdrop for their big day, I take the time to do it right.
I also thrive on technical challenges. Exposure stacking? Neutral density filters? Tracking the movement of the stars to get the perfect long exposure? Those are the kinds of things that get me excited. I approach every shoot—whether it’s a fashion or a wedding—it’s an opportunity to push my skills and create something truly unique.
What I’m Most Proud Of
There have been a lot of moments that made all the hard work worth it, but if I had to pick a few:
Capturing the Minuteman III test launches with the perfect streaking effect. Those shots take a lot of planning, and seeing it come together is incredibly rewarding. Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Fashion and nature mashups—blending movement, style, and rugged landscapes, like photographing boho-style fashion and expressive dance poses inside a cavern, using light painting to bring out the textures of the rock walls and create a fusion of motion and stillness.
Documenting the 2023 Ring of Fire Eclipse—because it was a 12-hour drive, a pre-dawn hike, and months of preparation, all for a fleeting moment that I was able to preserve forever.
The Dream: Backcountry Destination Wedding
One of my biggest goals is to capture an intimate wilderness wedding—a couple exchanging vows deep in the backcountry, far away from the crowds, surrounded only by towering peaks, endless desert, or a quiet alpine lake. No city noise, no distractions—just raw, natural beauty and a moment that belongs only to them. If you’re planning a wedding like that, I want to be the photographer who helps tell your story.
What I Want People to Know
Photography isn’t just my profession—it’s my passion. I believe every image should tell a story, evoke an emotion, or capture a moment that would otherwise be lost. Whether I’m working with a couple on their wedding day, a fashion brand looking for bold imagery, or standing in the middle of nowhere waiting for the stars to align (sometimes literally), I put everything I have into creating something extraordinary.
So if you’re looking for a photographer who doesn’t just take pictures but chases the perfect shot—whether it’s in the middle of a desert, beneath a sky full of stars, or on the biggest day of your life—let’s make it happen.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Balancing my active duty Air Force career with my passion for photography was never easy, but it was a challenge I embraced. My duty to my country always came first, yet photography became my way of seeing and appreciating the world beyond the uniform. It wasn’t just a hobby—it was a way to capture moments, emotions, and landscapes that reminded me why I loved this craft in the first place.
When I was stationed in Wyoming, I built a strong clientele base, focusing on portraits, families, couples, weddings, and senior sessions. I refined my style, developed my artistic eye, and learned how to bring out the best in people through the lens. But then, like all military assignments, change was inevitable. I received orders to California, and with that, my business model had to shift.
At first, it felt like starting over. The client base I had worked so hard to establish was suddenly out of reach. But instead of seeing it as a setback, I saw it as an opportunity—to rediscover the “why” behind my love for photography. California’s landscapes were unlike anything I had experienced before. The golden sunsets along the coast, the rugged cliffs of Big Sur, the towering peaks of the Sierra Nevada, and the endless deserts of Death Valley became my new studio. Instead of focusing on portraits, I turned my lens to the natural world. I spent those six years driving more, exploring more, and photographing more than I ever had before.
That time in California reshaped my perspective. It reminded me that photography wasn’t just about clients or business—it was about chasing light, capturing beauty, and telling stories through images. And then, another major transition: retirement from active duty and a new life in Utah.
Now, in this new chapter, I get to bring everything full circle. I have the freedom to blend my love for nature with my skill in portraiture, adventure photography, and creative shoots. The journey is still unfolding, but one thing remains the same: the camera is still in my hands, and the story is still being written—one frame at a time.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a photographer isn’t just capturing the perfect shot—it’s seeing the reaction of people experiencing my work for the first time. There’s something special about that “wow” moment when someone sees an image and truly connects with it, whether it’s a vast landscape bathed in golden light, a portrait that captures the essence of a person, or a scene they never imagined could be framed in that way.
It’s not about pride or recognition—it’s about sharing a perspective, an emotion, a moment. Photography has a way of freezing time, revealing details we might otherwise overlook, and inviting people to see the world through a different lens—sometimes quite literally. When my work resonates with someone, when it sparks inspiration, curiosity, or even just a sense of wonder, that’s what makes all the long drives, early mornings, and technical challenges worth it.
At the end of the day, I create because I love the process, but the real reward comes when someone else sees an image and feels something—a connection, a memory, or a new way of looking at the world. That’s what keeps me going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.guymccutcheon.com
- Instagram: @guymccutcheon
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GuyMcCutcheonPhotographer/
- Twitter: @guymccutcheon
