Derek Israelsen Blog

The weather is almost consistently warm and the snow is finally melting with little hope of returning until November. This means that Summer is upon us and let's not forget a good Summer Adventure.

If you have not been following my Instagram, then you would be happy to know that I recently bought a new bike. This means that this summer will be filled with mountain biking and tackling the Wastch 50 and Logan to Jackson Race, which I need to start training for. 

It was only natural that before I took this beauty out for its first ride, that I commemorate the moment with a photoshoot! These are just a few beauty shots of my Pivot Mach 429 SL with DT Swiss Wheels, Maxxis tires and Float Fox Shocks... She is a beauty and rides like a dream, just in case you were wondering.

There is something about sneaking into an abandoned plant that really gets the creative juices flowing. 

I could always do a shoot of a working plant but, where is the fun in that?

How much do I love Mother Earth? I love her very much. I appreciate everything that she provides, water, food, shelter. The things that we need to survive.

At every turn I try to capture her beauty, her spectacular views, her innocence and feelings. She shows us love at every turn, even during the harshest winters and the toughest rains. All of which we endure because we love the earth.

I am happy to be a landscape photographer. I get to capture Mother Earth from the forests to the deserts, the rivers and the lakes. I have flown the skies to capture aerials and crawled in the mud to capture macro.

I do my best to take care of Mother Earth just as she takes care of me.

It's starting to get warm in Salt Lake City! This is exciting because it means more time on the bike, more outdoor adventures with my son and colorful photography.

I would say that the most important thing in April is the showers, or the rain. We have been getting enough to probably refill the Great Salt Lake. Most importantly, all of this rain is helping give life to all of the beautiful flowers that you can find in Utah. 

Recently, I have been asked questions like, "how can you focus on commercial photography" and "isn't that boring?" To these folks I say, commercial photography is NEVER boring. 

What starts as a simple project can become something complex, something beautiful, artistic. You might not know what the above image is, but you do not that is nice to look at, right?

I get to work with all types of companies and together we create photos that highlight their product, their company, and sometimes just out right fun!

There are so many ways to live that it becomes difficult to choose just one way. If you like spaces that are modern, you might like the crisp clean lines and the contrast between light and dark. Sometimes you might like vintage, which would include older designs. What if you like rustic? That means that there is an abundance of wood and inspired by nature.

No matter your preference, your living spaces are yours to enjoy and feel comfortable in. These are just a few of my favorite living spaces that I have captured with my camera. 

So many people talk about having your head in the sky as something negative. To me it is the same thing as having your eye on the prize. In my case, the prize is usually amazing clouds that I can capture for just a brief moment. 

The clouds in this collection represent storms coming in and out of our lives, which are almost always for the better. These were also my experiences during the season changes and anywhere that I could take a picture while on the road or on my bike. This year we have seen our fair share of storms and I look forward to keeping my head in the clouds to bring you more of nature's masterpiece.

My head could also be in the clouds because I live in Utah... you know, where life is elevated!

I don't know about you, but this really is the most wonderful time of the year. 

It is great not because of the stress of having to find the difficult items or because of the giving, it is wonderful because it is during this season that the mountains are covered with snow, that the air becomes crisp, almost like breathing in a mint... or peppermint.

After Thanksgiving, this is the time that I get to spend some time with my family, maybe even hit the slopes of Brighton. You never know, you might catch us up there during the next fresh powder.

Winter is a little cold to ride my bike. However, when the weather and the roads are clear, I get to enjoy the trails, with very few riders on it. 

It's that time of the year again!

Not just when I showcase some of my photography, but for us all to give thanks. I have started to look back on the year and I can tell you all a few things that I am thankful for.

I am thankful for my family 

I am thankful for my wife and my children as they continue to inspire and support me, as I live my dreams.

I am thankful for my bike

This may seem odd to some of you, but I had the opportunity to ride in the LoToJa or the Logan to Jackson 206 mile bike race. I am happy to say that I completed the race and am currently training for my next ride.

I am thankful for photography

I love photography. It is a great way to express myself and showcase how I see the world. It is the process of capturing a moment of calm or chaos and just letting it express itself. I have traveled this year to a few different places and cannot wait to share the photos and the experiences with you all. 

You might have seen this image on Facebook or Instagram. It comes from a recent Birds Eye View series of aerials that I shot.

I have had the unique opportunity to hop in a crop duster and get a broader view of the landscapes. 

In case you didn't know this, I love the times I get to just photograph and try to capture the purity of life. Athletes often have a lot to express when they compete. 

A while ago, I had the opportunity to attend a high school wrestling tournament. It was an unforgettable experience capturing the passion and intensity of these wrestlers.