In the series First Take With Chris Burkard, the Sony Artisan is joined by a different creative in each episode to explore different parts of Iceland. The series is back with Episode 6 where adventure photographer and videographer, climber, and alpinist Ted Hesser (@tedhesser) hops in the car with Burkard to discuss their past trips and adventures before going on an ice cave mission and watching the aurora borealis.

The adventurous series First Take With Chris Burkard is back with another episode. Watch as he’s joined by adventure photographer and videographer Ted Hesser.

Hesser hasn’t always been creating content from the sides of mountains. He went to grad school at Stanford and ended up working in new energy finance, but realized he didn’t want to follow that trajectory. “I just found that I am an adventurer,” he says. There’s no other way to say it. My heart sings when I’m up on the mountain and it’s really windy and rainy and gnarly. Or I’m really cold and have limited food rations and I’m out there adventuring. I need that edge to feel really alive.”

What happens when you get two adventurers like Burkard and Hesser together in Iceland? An ice cave adventure, of course. The two head to the Sapphire Cave in Iceland to explore its beautiful crystal blue walls. That isn’t their last exploit during the trip. The two also head out to capture the Northern Lights, a dancing ballet in the sky. To capture them, Burkard uses his Sony Alpha 7S III and Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master combination, and Hesser uses the Sony FX3 with the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master to capture the aurora borealis. So much of the content Hesser creates is from his trips, showing breathtaking places and views that are often difficult for others to reach.

“It’s been licensed and that’s some of my proudest work,” Hesser notes. “I’m so happy with how those photos have turned out and I think there’s something to that – just pursuing what your natural interests are and really going for it. And finding amazing photos as it all happens and just letting it all unfold and getting after big adventure. Then let the rest fall into place.”