Adventure Calling

Scott Krycia of Bethlehem had only amateur photography skills in 1993 when he enrolled at Northampton Community College (NCC). But knowledge gained at NCC, combined with grit, a strong work ethic and a thirst for adventure, has led him to capture rock stars, multi-million-dollar homes, iconic guitars and some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.  

Krycia’s current passion is photographing the night sky. He has traveled to many remote locations to capture its beauty, such as Iceland’s glaciers, California’s deserts, South Dakota’s eroded pinnacles, and Montana’s mountains.   

“As an artist, I aim to create minimalist images, reflecting man’s relationship and eternal struggle with the elemental forces that shape our world and the intangible search for fragments of human meaning within that environment,” he said. 

Like many self-employed artists, Krycia has had an exciting and varied career that has morphed from one phase to another. His work has been featured on CNN, NatGeo Traveler and Discovery Networks. 

“I think I’ve been lucky,” Krycia said. “But if there’s an opportunity, I’ll take it. “  

Surprisingly, right out of high school, Krycia thought he wanted a career in information technology (IT) but soon realized it wasn’t his calling; so, he quit. A couple of years later, in his early 20s, he enrolled at NCC, majoring in radio and television. Here, he met lifelong friends with whom he would collaborate throughout his life. Over the next two years, Krycia practically lived in the media laboratory, using what, at the time, was the most up-to-date technology. 

“We were on the cutting edge,” he said. “We were the first class to edit photography on a computer.” Meanwhile, Krycia absorbed everything he could from his professors. 

“The teachers at Northampton were amazing,” he said. “They cared a lot about their students. There was a lot of room for creativity. No matter what you wanted to do, everyone – the professors and other students – were willing to help. At Northampton, I learned if you applied yourself, you would do well.” 

Krycia graduated in 1995 with an associate’s degree in applied science in radio and television production and quickly garnered a reputation as a product photographer working with companies, including Majestic, NorthFace, CableVision, Vanity Fair, Harley Davidson and Martin Guitar.  

With classmate Sean Tiedeman, he formed K Studios, a video production company. Soon, they worked with WZZO Radio to produce The Stage. Airing on Service Electric Cable TV and Blue Ridge Communications, the program covered local, regional and national music and featured WZZO DJ Chris Line.  

As producers, the pair covered new music, rock concerts and music festivals. The show also featured interviews with popular bands, such as Hall and Oates, Breaking Benjamin and the Flaming Lips.  

Krycia and Tiedeman worked well together for many years. Eventually, their interests diverged, and they amicably ended their partnership. Krycia entered the second phase of his career, landscape photography. Krycia traveled to remote places in the U.S., Ireland, Germany, Scotland, Iceland, Czech Republic, Austria, Nova Scotia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, which he found exhilarating. 

Despite a fear of the dark, or rather “critters of the dark bigger than him,” the photographer has since entered the third phase of his career, astrophotography. “I’ve seen a lot of black bear, elk and deer at night,” he said. “In the early morning in games lands, I’ve seen a field full of deer.” Krycia still travels extensively, now in search of skies free from light pollution. 

To finance his pursuit of capturing the beauty of the night sky, Krycia participates in art shows. He also does commercial photography, including product and real estate advertising. But, his true passion will always be fine arts photography. He’s planning to open an art gallery in Milford, NJ, across the Delaware River from New Hope, PA.  

Krycia advises students pursuing a career in visual arts to expect to struggle and be ready to identify and capitalize on opportunities. “Work hard, and don’t give up. You’ll never know where life will lead you.”   

Krycia’s work will be displayed during Dark Skies – An Exhibition of Night Photography, from November 15 through December 12 at the Bethlehem Town Hall Rotunda Gallery in Bethlehem. You can meet him during the artist reception from 2-4 p.m. on November 19.