Edden Ram, 32, is an excessive sports activities photographer and journey videographer who travels all around the world filming individuals (together with himself) dangling off cliffs and snowboarding down mountains, browsing waves and diving underneath the ocean.

Primarily based in Israel — which he calls “the hub to the world” — Ram tells ISRAEL21c that he makes use of his digicam as “an excuse to expertise the world.”

Three lions on the Serengeti, Tanzania. Photograph by Edden Ram

Ram started taking pictures images of surfers in Israel only for enjoyable in 2014. On the time, there weren’t lots of surf photographers. He purchased particular housing to guard his digicam in water, though “it was costly and I had no concept how I’d make again the cash.”

After asking a number of sponsored Israeli surfers if he might {photograph} them, just one, Omri Hazor, who has since change into an excellent buddy, agreed. As soon as he posted his photographs in social media, Ram began getting requests from Hazor’s sponsors after which from different firms.

“My digicam is my vessel to expertise the world and to permit me entry to unbelievable experiences, locations and folks.”

The identical factor occurred when he began making movies utilizing GoPro.

Downhill skateboarding by the Useless Sea. Photograph by Edden Ram

“At first, I didn’t know what I used to be doing,” he admitted.

However he stored at it and shortly was making motion movies for Israeli firms like Ski Deal in addition to worldwide firms equivalent to Billabong, Lufthansa and even GoPro, the very firm that made the preliminary software of his commerce.

A breakthrough second

Born in California to Israeli dad and mom, Ram turned eager about images when he took a course in highschool. After graduating, he traveled round New Zealand on his personal, studying what it was like to fulfill individuals and in addition to be alone.

He moved to Israel at 19 and joined the military. After his service, he studied communications at IDC-Herzliya (now Reichman College), all of the whereas honing his images craft.

Freediving at Israel’s Achziv Seaside. Photograph by Edden Ram

In a chat for the Israeli Images Conference in 2018, Ram shared an vital expertise that was, for him, a breakthrough second.

He was filming surfers in Honolua Bay, Hawaii. The waves that day had been two instances bigger than typical for the world and “far bigger than waves I’d ever skilled.”

To shoot the surfers, Ram needed to get into the water and keep proper the place the waves broke. Abruptly, he was swept beneath the water and his digicam, which was hooked up to a leash, stored banging on his leg so he couldn’t swim.

Franklin Island in San Blas, Panama. Photograph by Edden Ram

Ram was trapped.

“Fortunately I hit my ft onto the reef and got here up for what felt like my final breath,” Ram recounted. One among his surfer buddies additionally acquired caught in the identical waves and his surfboard was cracked in two items.

At first, Ram was able to name it quits. However he determined to return into the water to take images.

“I knew that if I didn’t return in, I’d give in to concern,” Ram mentioned. He stayed within the water till sundown.

A crater in Iceland. Photograph by Edden Ram

Unearthly earth pictures

Ram’s photos of pure wonders are vibrant and colourful, nearly unearthly.

“I didn’t even know I had a method till one in every of my buddies acknowledged my photograph earlier than he noticed my title on it,” Ram mentioned. “It comes from hundreds of clicks. My model got here to me naturally.”

A snowboarder in Avoriaz, France. Photograph by Edden Ram

“My complete method to images could be very completely different from the classical sense,” Ram mentioned.

“For me, the artwork has all the time been secondary. My digicam is my vessel to expertise what the world has to supply and to permit me entry to unbelievable experiences, locations and folks. I like the artwork facet, however my fundamental drive has all the time been my private growth.”

The stays of a aircraft in Iceland. Photograph by Edden Ram

His 23,500 Instagram followers see solely the enjoyable a part of his photographs and movies, he mentioned. Along with hours he spends in an enhancing room, he additionally endures troublesome moments in actual time.

Whereas taking pictures a industrial on Mt. Kilimanjaro, the very best mountain in Africa, Ram acquired a horrible virus.

Masai Tribesmen in Tanzania. Photograph by Edden Ram

“It was two of the hardest days of my life,” Ram mentioned. “I used to be up at 4,000 meters and I couldn’t transfer. However I made it as much as the summit.”

Like a nomad

Right this moment, he lives a “bit like a nomad.” He mentioned firms name him “and don’t all the time inform me the place I’m going,” whether or not it’s to Indonesia or Iceland. He has traveled to greater than 60 nations on six continents.

Photographer Edden Ram titled this shot “Secret Barreling Wave – Israel.”

Though Israel is a really small nation, Ram mentioned, “we actually have rather a lot right here, which is stunning,” from rock-climbing to slack-lining, kite browsing, wind-surfing, sea-surfing and motor sports activities. He has traveled all around the nation, from Mount Hermon, the place he has snowboarded usually, to wakeboarding within the Sea of Galilee and all alongside the Mediterranean coast.

Ram has frolicked working within the desert, which he calls his favourite place. He needs to remain within the nation due to the standard of life.

An overhead view of Piaynemo Seaside, Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Photograph by Edden Ram

“Persons are spontaneous and all the time up for adventures,” he mentioned.

He encourages individuals who wish to get into images or one other subject — and earn a living doing what they love — to “area of interest it down.”

“Discover one thing small that you simply like and construct a reputation for your self as quick as doable,” Ram mentioned. He began out as a “large fish in a small pond,” and now, he mentioned, he retains pushing himself ahead.

Edden Ram snapped this selfie in an Iceland waterfall.

Ram likes to “encourage individuals to exit and do issues.” One among his Instagram followers in France just lately messaged him to say that due to Ram’s inspiration, he give up his job and desires to pursue what he actually loves.

“I don’t wish to waste a single second of my life,” Ram mentioned. “I don’t wish to get to my 80s and say, ‘Oh, it’s too unhealthy I didn’t stay extra.”

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