BIO

I'm Derek, a landscape photographer and aspiring conservation biologist whose love for the natural world has been both a calling and a compass. I found my way back to the outdoors during a period of deep uncertainty in my life, when I wasn’t sure who I was or where I was going. It was the wild, open spaces of the American West—from the rugged peaks of the Sierra Nevada to the towering groves of coastal redwoods—that gave me room to breathe, quiet to reflect, and peace to begin again.

Out there among granite peaks, alpine lakes, and desert skies, I rediscovered a part of myself I’d long forgotten. These landscapes didn’t just inspire me—they helped me heal, and ultimately led me to find a sense of purpose rooted in conservation and curiosity.

Photography became a way to hold onto those moments of clarity and wonder. It’s how I connect with the land and invite others to see what I see: a world worth exploring, and certainly one worth protecting. My hope is to preserve these places both on and off camera—to honor their wildness and ensure their stories don’t fade. Your support means the world.