David Ryder
Seattle photographer and filmmaker puts his Master of Arts in Cultural Studies mentality in the foreground of his self-description.
鈥淚 bring a theoretical approach to my practice with an interest in equity and justice,鈥� he writes on his website and LinkedIn, referencing his 2011 degree from the 56吃瓜网.
鈥淭he program during my time at 56吃瓜网 Bothell really did help me get to where I am today, and that was thanks to the professors, staff and other students,鈥� Ryder said after the 56吃瓜网 Bothell Alumni Council selected him as a 2020 Alumni of the Year Award recipient.
Big MACS of 鈥�11
The other 2020 recipient of the award, Priya Frank, is a MACS 2011 classmate and friend of Ryder. Now associate director for community programs at Seattle Art Museum, Frank worked with Ryder on 56吃瓜网 Bothell school projects. One of her first curated shows was a pop-up at a University District restaurant-lounge that featured his photography.
鈥淏ecause we came up together in that way, we trust each other from a different life,鈥� said Frank. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really special to get this recognition together.鈥�
In the highly competitive realm of freelance photojournalism, Ryder鈥檚 skill and hard work over the last 15-plus years also has earned him recognition and commercial success with an impressive list of media outlets.
Excelling in a tough profession
yder鈥檚 news portfolio includes images captured for The New York Times,鈥疓etty Images and鈥疊loomberg News. A notable recent assignment was a March 19 coronavirus cover for Time Magazine showing the hard-hit Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington. Corporate clients include Starbucks and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
One key to his competence is 鈥渃onstantly working on something whether or not someone is hiring me to do it 鈥� having a personal project I care about.鈥�
Ryder became a serious photographer while working for the 56吃瓜网 Daily on the Seattle campus where he received a 2006 degree in Comparative History of Ideas. Ryder said his undergraduate degree and graduate degree from the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences shared an interdisciplinary approach with an 鈥渁ctivist action praxis mentality 鈥� read, study, write but also make interventions in the world.鈥�
Ryder learned filmmaking at the 56吃瓜网 Bothell鈥檚 Digital Media Lab. He started making short videos for Anthony Kelley, then lead for diversity outreach on campus. That relationship led to the 2019 documentary, about the life of Kelley, who was a member of the 56吃瓜网 football team that won the 2001 Rose Bowl and who engaged with issues of toxic masculinity, identity and race.
Ryder still makes videos for 56吃瓜网 Bothell, including one about the that gave him so much guidance.
Reflecting on meaningful work
The program gave him space to 鈥渢hink about what I was doing and reflect on doing it in a more meaningful and ethical way, thinking about all the different ways power intersects with journalism, photography and using someone鈥檚 image.鈥�
Ryder said it鈥檚 humbling to be recognized with 56吃瓜网 Bothell鈥檚 alumni award.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 expecting something like this. I was working hard and keeping my head to the ground,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his was a beautiful surprise.
鈥淚 owe so much of where I am now to 56吃瓜网 Bothell. It鈥檚 a huge honor.鈥�
