Derek Nielsen Photography

06/23/2026

The Ying to my Yang. I need to constantly go bank and fourth between the city life full of culture and connection and nature full of peace and rejuvenation.

06/22/2026

Camping in the Upper Peninsula on the longest daylight weekend of the year

06/19/2026

This one goes out to those who don't believe climate change is real and to those who endlessly want to consume until there is nothing left 😅 happy Friday.

Also, sometimes it's just fun to flick off a friend.

06/18/2026

https://luma.com/v2np2ue4

From Joy Vision Studios

​How do images shape the way we understand our changing world?

​Join our conversation with Derek Nielsen exploring the intersection of climate, conservation, and visual storytelling.

​Derek is a well-known professional wildlife photographer, who travels internationally for assignments and conservation-focused work. He has been featured in BBC Wildlife Magazine and Oceanographic Magazine, and has built a strong audience of more than 35,000 followers across social media. He recently returned from a photography trip in Costa Rica and would bring a strong perspective to the discussion.

​As part of Chicago Climate Week, Climate in Focus brings together voices from across photography, documentary film, environmental advocacy, and the creative industries to discuss how imagery can deepen public understanding, inspire action, and connect people to the places and issues that matter most.

​We'll explore topics including conservation photography, environmental storytelling, ecotourism, climate communication, urban nature, and the evolving role of visual media in shaping cultural conversations around sustainability.

​Whether you're a photographer, filmmaker, environmental professional, student, or simply curious about the power of storytelling, this event offers an opportunity to learn, connect, and engage with Chicago's creative and climate communities.

​Presented by Joy Vision.

​Space is limited. Registration required.

How do images shape the way we understand our changing world? Join our conversation with Derek Nielsen exploring the intersection of climate, conservation, and…

06/16/2026

What if I told you there were only 73 of these beautiful animals left on the planet? Would you call you call congress to act? Because that's exactly what is happening to the Southern Resident Killer Whales. 73.

Call 202-224-2621 and ask to speak to Senator Patty Murray
Call 202-224-3441 and ask to speak to Senator Maria Cantwell
Call 360-902-4111 and ask to speak to Bob Ferguson

Tell them to support policy and legislation that supports salmon restoration and dam breaching.

06/15/2026

(passage from The Wild Within)

The Thin Line We Draw

Science tells us chimpanzees share roughly 98–99% of our DNA. But it is the lived experience of being near them that makes this statistic feel real. The way they study you as you study them collapses distance. For a moment, the observer and the observed blur. The line between species feels less like a boundary and more like a gradient. I felt this in that quiet moment with the female chimpanzee.

The discomfort in that realization is instructive. If the line between them and us is thin, then so too is the moral distance. Respect becomes less about charity toward wildlife and more about acknowledging kinship. They should have the same rights to the planet as we have.

https://www.dereknielsen.com/the-wild-within/

06/10/2026

An absolutely beautiful and powerful storm blew through Chicago this afternoon, bringing strong winds with it. I decided to take it all in at the Planetarium. 6-10-2026


Cheryl Scott ABC7 Laura Bannon

06/10/2026

A quick powerful storm blasted through Chicago this afternoon bringing 80mph winds and hail.

I hope everyone was safe but man was it fun to photograph.

06/09/2026

When the weather hits Chicago, it's beautiful. Lake Michigan creates such a dramatic ecosystem for Chicago that as a photographer, my camera never gets put away.