On this episode of The PHYS Podcast, Tyson Martin sits down with award-winning adventure photographer and director Krystle Wright for a powerful conversation about risk, resilience, creative obsession, and what it takes to tell stories from the edge of human possibility.

Few photographers have built a career quite like Krystle's.

For more than a decade, she has traveled the globe documenting athletes, explorers, and adventurers operating in some of the world's most extreme environments. From remote mountain ranges and desert landscapes to frozen Antarctic coastlines and vertical cliff faces, her work places viewers in environments most people will never experience firsthand.

Based in Australia, Krystle has photographed assignments across all seven continents and more than 55 countries, creating imagery that blends athletic performance, environmental storytelling, and raw human determination.

Her photographs and films have appeared in publications including National Geographic, Outside Magazine, GQ, The Times, Red Bull, and The Huffington Post. She has also been featured on the acclaimed National Geographic series Photographer, offering audiences a behind-the-scenes look at the realities of working in some of the world's most challenging conditions.

In 2023, Krystle was awarded the overall title at the prestigious Red Bull Illume Photography Competition, one of the highest honors in action and adventure photography.

But behind the awards and global recognition is a deeper story.

A story about preparation.

Trust.

Fear.

And learning how to perform when the stakes are real.

Because photographing elite athletes in extreme environments often means operating in those same environments yourself.

In this conversation, Tyson and Krystle explore the psychology behind risk-taking, the mindset required to work under pressure, and the responsibility that comes with documenting people pushing the limits of human performance.

In This Episode:

• Krystle Wright's journey into adventure photography and filmmaking
• Working in extreme environments across seven continents and 55+ countries
• Winning the 2023 Red Bull Illume Photography Competition
• The psychology of risk and decision-making in high-consequence situations
• Photographing elite athletes in remote and challenging locations
• The role of preparation, trust, and teamwork in adventure storytelling
• Balancing personal safety with creative ambition
• What fear can teach us about growth and resilience
• The realities of building a career in adventure photography and film
• Why extraordinary stories often require extraordinary commitment

Krystle's work reminds us that great adventure photography is about far more than beautiful landscapes or dramatic action.

It's about people.

It's about perseverance.

It's about documenting moments where preparation, courage, and uncertainty collide.

Her photographs reveal the physical and emotional realities of life at the edge, while challenging viewers to think differently about risk, possibility, and the pursuit of meaningful work.

This conversation is an inspiring exploration of adventure photography, filmmaking, resilience, and the sacrifices often required to create work that matters.

Whether you're a photographer, filmmaker, athlete, outdoor enthusiast, or someone pursuing an ambitious creative path, this episode offers valuable insight into what it means to commit fully to your craft.

Because the most extraordinary stories rarely happen inside our comfort zones.

Follow Krystle Wright
Instagram: @krystlewright
Website: www.krystlewright.com

Featured In
• National Geographic
• Outside Magazine
• GQ
• The Times
• Red Bull
• The Huffington Post

Recognition
• Winner – Red Bull Illume 2023
• Featured Photographer – National Geographic's Photographer