Biologist, photographer, painter and musician combines outlets to create magic

Written by Jessi Bang
October 22, 2022

ST. GEORGE —From landscape photography to an extensive bug collection, one soon-to-be Natural Science Biology graduate proves that various art forms can work together seamlessly.

Brady Iverson poses in front of his photograph, location and date unspecified | Photo by Khalob Freeborne courtesy of Brady Iverson, St. George News
Brady Iverson poses in front of his photograph, location and date unspecified | Photo by Khalob Freeborne courtesy of Brady Iverson, St. George News

“Every hobby or interest I pick is picked up because it’s a beautiful expression of how weird the world is, and I love that because it’s just huge and endlessly complicated,” Brady Iverson said.

With the same major as most National Geographic photographers, Iverson said his goal is to bring science communication through photography. His love for biology, evolution, ecology, chemistry, geology and anything “outside,” has led him to photography, watercolor art and even putting out his own album inspired by sounds he personally recorded in nature.

Iverson’s interest in photography started at age 11 when he got a “gnarly” Walgreens point-and-shoot camera. As he continued to shoot and moved on to digital photography, he said most of what he originally shot for 5-10 years was “garbage.” 

After high school graduation, he took a backpacking and photography trip to Europe. The trip went from Iceland to London, where he took trains and buses to Rome, then on to Germany, Prague, the Netherlands and Denmark. 

A mill deep in the Rocky Mountains is photographed by Brady Iverson, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Brady Iverson, St. George News
A mill deep in the Rocky Mountains is photographed by Brady Iverson, date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Brady Iverson, St. George News

Being enveloped in nature and different cultures inspired him and two years later, he backpacked a large chunk of the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevadas. Two years after that, he was living in a van full-time, traveling all over “this side” of the Rocky Mountains with the intention to capture and experience every national park. 

During his 2018 van life experience, Iverson said his photography went to the next level. Inspired by his love for the outdoors and biology, he also carried around the field guide to trees and tried to learn about every tree he saw.

“Just having the camera that whole time is what lit the fire and also that freedom, too,” Iverson said. “The freedom with a camera is just the best feeling I’ve ever experienced and I’ve been chasing that ever since.”

Iverson’s photography business, Aperture Artworks, made its public debut at the St. George Downtown Farmers Market in 2020. At the booth, Iverson sold his landscape prints on glass, while his roommate, Steven Anzardo, sold his landscape paintings.

“People seem to love it,” Iverson said about the community’s reaction. “It’s kind of amazing. I’ve never had so much encouragement before. There are couples in town that have become enamored with my work and decorated their houses with my photos. I just never would have thought it would come to this. Kind of makes me blush talking about it.”

A photobook by Brady features a variety of landscape photography, St. George, Utah, Oct. 10, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
A photobook by Brady features a variety of landscape photography, St. George, Utah, Oct. 10, 2022 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

Iverson currently enjoys two styles of photography: street photography, which he shoots with film, and landscape, which is shot digitally. He processes his own film inside a darkroom in his backyard shed and develops the film in his bathroom.

“With film, it’s so much more accessible, so I love doing street photography with it,” he said. “It’s just right there, I just click it, and that’s some magic. There’s these little moments of humanity that you’re abe to catch.”

Adding to his creative outlets, Iverson’s put out his first album, “The Water Cycle” this year. Performing under the name “Hideous Gomphideous,” Iverson said he used the sound of running water such as streams, waterfalls and rain in each track along with the drums, guitar and more. 

Where did “Gomphideous” come from? “It’s a common name for a mushroom,” Iverson said. “To include hideous in the name is so liberating. I can do whatever music I want because if the baseline is hideous, then we’re just going up from there.”

As he sees many common traits interlinking the expressive mediums he’s tapped into, Iverson is constantly exercising his creative side through new avenues. As for future goals, he plans to either purchase another van and travel after December graduation or go on a backpacking trip through Europe or Southeast Asia.

For more information on Brady Iverson and his available photography, see his website or visit @the_swampmonster on Instagram.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessi Bang was born and raised in Utah and has a passion for nature and the great outdoors. She graduated from Kaplan University in California with a degree in criminal justice. She has extensive experience in marketing, content creation, photography and copywriting. You can find her showcasing outdoor adventures through her blog, “The Rambling Raccoon.” In her free time, she enjoys climbing mountains, trail running, working out and cuddling her two lovable pups.

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Twitter: @STGnews

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