About Drake
Photographer. Writer. Podcaster.
I’m Drake J. Dyck, a Vancouver Island–based creative driven by curiosity — about places, people, ideas, and the stories that connect them.
My creative journey has taken me from photography, to podcasting and now writing fiction. One thing that has stayed the same through out is curiosity.
Stay curious. Pay attention. Find the story.
A Creative Life
My interest in photography began in high school, with film cameras and time spent learning the craft in the darkroom. Decades later, the tools have changed — mirrorless cameras, drones, action cameras and digital editing have joined an occasional roll of film — but the curiosity behind the camera remains much the same.
That curiosity eventually led beyond making photographs. Shutter Trails grew from a desire to talk with other photographers about their work, their experiences and the places photography takes them — and to share what we learn along the trail with others who share that curiosity.
More recently, writing has opened another path. Science fiction gives me a different way to explore many of the same things that have always interested me: discovery, unfamiliar places, technology, people, and what might exist just beyond what we know.
Based on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is home, and much of my photography begins here. Its coastlines, forests, mountains, wildlife and communities offer endless opportunities to keep exploring, often returning to familiar places to see what has changed.
That connection to place also shapes the way I work. Whether I'm photographing close to home or travelling farther afield, I'm interested in discovering what makes a place distinctive and finding my own way of seeing it.
Photography Adventures
One-to-one photography experiences on Vancouver Island.
Photography Adventures are personalized outings built around you, your interests and your photography. Rather than following a fixed workshop itinerary, we can explore locations and subjects that suit what you want to photograph and the skills you want to develop.
Whether you're looking to improve your landscape photography, explore long exposures, get more from your camera, or simply spend time photographing Vancouver Island with someone who knows the area, each adventure can be tailored to your experience and interests. Choose a half-day or full-day adventure, with multi-day experiences arranged on request.
Creative Work
My creative work crosses photography, podcasting and writing. My photography has been published and exhibited, and selected work is represented by Station Street Gallery in Duncan, British Columbia.
Through the Shutter Trails Podcast, I talk with photographers about their work, experiences and the places photography takes them. My newest creative path is science fiction, beginning with The Caelum Directive and the continuing Caelum series.
Beyond the Work
I’m based in Sooke, on the west coast of beautiful Vancouver Island, a place that keeps me close to the landscapes and communities that have shaped much of my photography.
Curiosity tends to lead the way in most of what I do. I enjoy travelling, exploring unfamiliar places, learning how things work, and following ideas wherever they happen to lead. Sometimes that means standing beside the ocean with a camera. Sometimes it means a conversation with another photographer, or sitting at a desk imagining what might exist around another star.
The subjects change, but the motivation is much the same: keep exploring, keep learning, and see where curiosity leads.
Perhaps that’s a holdover from Bill Watterson’s final Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, which has stayed with me all these years: “It’s a magical world, Hobbes, ol’ buddy... Let’s go exploring!”
Contact
Have a question, an idea, or something you'd like to discuss?
Whether you're interested in a Photography Adventure, the Shutter Trails Podcast, my writing, or another creative project, I'd be happy to hear from you.