I tell stories

As a freelance photographer, filmmaker, and writer, I work with outdoor brands, guiding outfitters, non-profits, and publications to produce digital media content and tell engaging stories.

Because of my background in outdoor sports and international travel, I specialize in location shoots that are tough for many photographers and videographers to reach. I am ready to take my camera anywhere, whether it's a remote river canyon, steep couloir, or an urban street. 

I am available for hire, so please get in touch!

Instagram: @d_spiegel

Still looking through photos from seven weeks in Alaska this summer. This was a beautiful morning at Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park. The sight and sound of ice calving from the face of a tidewater glacier will leave you breathless, but soon experiences like this will live only in photographs and memories. For scale, look closely for the gull flying at the very bottom left of the splash zone. • • • • • • #lindbladexpeditions #natgeoexpeditions @lindbladexp #glacier #glacierbaynationalpark @glacierbaynps #natgeo #climatechange #climate #margerieglacier #ice #ourwild #canonusa #canon5dmarkiv #landscapephotography #earthpix #earth travel #naturelovers
November 2011: Black browed albatross on the nest in the Falkland Islands. These beautiful sea birds only come to land to nest. Other than that they live their entire lives on the sea and in the air. • • • • • #lindbladexpeditions @lindbladexp #natgeoexpeditions #natgeo #albatross #birdphotography #birdsofinstagram #wildlifephotography #blackbrowedalbatross #canonusa #5dmarkii
This is T87, a transient killer whale known for traveling solo in Glacier Bay National Park. Earlier this summer I woke up early and spotted him cruising along right in front of Margerie Glacier at 5am. Transient killer whales are different than residents—whereas residents eat fish, transients hunt other marine mammals. He was probably up here looking for harbor seals to snack on. Check out the second photo for a closer look at his distinctive dorsal fin notch. • • • • • • #natgeoexpeditions #lindbladexpeditions @lindbladexp #natgeo #ourwild #instanature #wildlifephotography #travel #alaska #tongassnationalforest #glacierbaynationalpark #killerwhale #orcawhale
Beautiful bees! I don’t have the patience for truly detailed macro work, but I do love doing some occasional “run’n’gun” handheld closeups. This bumble bee was covered in pollen while it crawled over a thistle blossom today. Diffuse light from all this smoke haze helped with typical macro contrast issues. • • • • • #backyardphotography #bumblebee #bee #thistle #macroworld #macrophotography #naturelovers #nature #instanature #climatechange #ourwild #pnw #PacificNorthwest
Sand piper in a mud puddle! Beauty in the intertidal zone. • • • • #tongassnationalforest #lindbladexpeditions @lindbladexp #natgeoexpeditions #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #sandpiper #canon5dmarkiv #audubon #ourwild #wildlifephotography #alaska
1) For scale. Motoring around in front of the epic blue face of South Sawyer Glacier in Tracy Arm Fords Terror Wilderness. 2) A large splash from a relatively medium-sized calving event from the glacier’s face. • • • • #lindbladexpeditions @lindbladexp #natgeoexpeditions #natgeotravel #glacier #tracyarm #ourwild #tongassnationalforest #wilderness #alaska #wildalaska #travel #getoutside #climatechange #glaciercalving #canonusa #canon5dmarkiv
10/10 on the cuteness scale AND they’re a crucial keystone species. Sea otters were hunted to near extinction for their fur, but reintroduction efforts have helped sea otters to bounce back in Southeast Alaska. • • • • • #lindbladexpeditions @lindbladexp #natgeoexpeditions #natgeotravel #wildlifephotography #seaotter #marinemammals #ourwild #wildoceans #ocean #naturephotography
Just a few SE Alaskans heading in opposite directions on their morning commutes, both in search of fish. We stopped to watch this pod of resident killer whales in Peril Strait before breakfast. Fishing boats cruised by, going about their business. • • • • • #lindbladexpeditions @lindbladexp #natgeoexpeditions #natgeotravel #celebratewild #ourwild #killerwhale #orca #whale #orcawhale #marinemammals #alaska #eaethpix #wildanimals #justgoshoot #travel
It was a pleasure to watch this mother bear teaching her cubs to fish for salmon. She caught most of the fish while the cubs ate enthusiastically. Gulls lurked on the sidelines, waiting for scraps to be discarded. The salmon run has been small this year and drought has delayed the run. It was great to see fish heading upstream and the bears getting their protein! Bring on more rain! • • • • • #lindbladexpeditions @lindbladexp #natgeoexpeditions #natgeotravel #brownbear #grizzlybear #bear #alaska #ourwild #wildearth #wildlifephotography #celebratewild #natgeo #canonusa
Yesterday in Southeast Alaska: Humpback whales exploded from the surface less than 100 yards from the ship, mouths agape as they swallowed their meal. Up to nine whales at a time were working together to create “bubble nets” to trap schooling fish. Their mouths and lower jaw expand enormously as they take in massive gulps of water and fish. Some of those fish are visible if you look closely at these images. Each whale can eat up to 1.5 tons of food per day. Truly one of nature’s most impressive wildlife behaviors to observe. Viewed from the National Geographic Sea Bird. • • • • • • #lindbladexpeditions @lindbladexp #natgeoexpeditions @natgeoexpeditions #natgeotravel #alaska #pnw #PacificNorthwest #earthpix #wildlifephotography #canon5dmarkiv #canonusa #tongassnationalforest #whales #humpbackwhale #ourwild #wildearth #exploreearth #natgeo #celebratewild #whale
A few panoramic crops and stitches of scenery of the stunning scenery in Glacier Bay National Park. Glacial silt gives the water it’s turquoise hue. Calm conditions and sunny skies really highlight the beauty of the landscape here. • • • • • #lindbladexpeditions @lindbladexp #natgeoexpeditions #natgeotravel #tongassnationalforest #alaska #ourwild #canon5dmarkiv #wildearth #oceans #travelphotography #panorama
A little sea weasel! Always fun to watch sea otters in the Inian Islands. This one was chowing down on a basket star. • • • • • #lindbladexpeditions #natgeoexpeditions @natgeoexpeditions #wildlifephotography #alaska #inianislands #ourwild #tongassnationalforest #marinemammals #earthfocus #wildanimals #canon5dmarkiv #canonusa #seaotter

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Recent Work:

Protecting Sanjianggyuan: A marketing and conservation advocacy film for Last Descents River Expeditions, produced in Qinghai, China. Guests with Last Descents experience the Daqu River on the Tibet Plateau. As the headwaters of the Mekong, the Daqu is also the site of Chinas first centrally managed and recognized national park. Through the lens of this river trip, guests consider how to manage the park for conservation.

The Boatman: Derik Spice, a river guide and trip leader for Arizona Rafting Adventures, spends over 140 days per year in the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River, which gives him a unique incentive to preserve the canyon he calls home.