Meet Derek Waksmunski — Florida Keys Photographer

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Not Just a Photographer

Certified Dive Master + FAA Drone Pilot + Visionary

Real ocean experience. Real access. Real moments.

I’m Derek J. Waksmunski, the creative force behind Derek J Waksmunski Photography LLC, located in the stunning Florida Keys.

My journey began in the serene backwoods of Pennsylvania, where I cultivated a profound appreciation for stillness, nature, and the mesmerizing beauty of light. Some of my earliest inspirations came from photographing stars with my dad, and capturing my first solar eclipse profoundly shifted my perception of photography and the world around me.

Today, my work is enriched by adventure, conservation, and a purposeful approach. Excursions to reefs in Australia, Bonaire, and South Florida have broadened my perspective as both an artist and a marine conservationist.

As an FAA Part 107 Certified Drone Pilot and PADI Divemaster, I specialize in both drone photography and underwater photography, crafting imagery from unique vantage points above and below the water. My portfolio features stunning underwater photography, captivating aerial imagery, landscapes, golden-hour portraits, milestone sessions, and long-exposure light painting.

Light painting is a technique of long-exposure photography performed in low light with handheld light sources. Each image is produced as a single photograph, fully in-camera, without the use of Photoshop, AI, compositing, or digital manipulation.

Whether I’m documenting life beneath the surface, chasing colors that stretch across the horizon, or illuminating mangroves under the night sky, my goal remains to create images that feel authentic, timeless, and unmistakably my own.

I embody what I shoot—whether above the water or below the surface, I’m perpetually chasing light.