My Artist's Story
Drake Fleege
Artist & Photographer
"Let Nature's Tranquility
Welcome You Home"
As a Wisconsin landscape photographer, each photograph I capture is nature's expression of the moment - an inanimate scene that often feels like a quiet song.
The clouds billowing overhead, the soft wind whispering through the leaves, and the gentleness of the waves washing ashore all contribute to the harmony within the frame.
To quote John Denver:
“I don’t want to just entertain people, I want to touch them”
My intention goes beyond showcasing beautiful sights; it’s about inspiring emotion and creating a conscious connection that lingers within the viewer.
When you view my photography, I want you to be present in the moment - to breathe in the fresh air, and feel the warmth of the sun resting on your shoulder.
To touch you - that is purpose of my photography.
Early Influencers
(Not who you might imagine)
John Denver and John Muir are more than familiar names in the world of nature to me—they’re the north star that breathes life into my landscape photography.
Their deep love for the natural world resonates within me and shapes the way I see, feel, and capture the environment in which we live.
Just as John Muir’s devotion to preserving wild places and John Denver’s melodies honoring the land continue to inspire me, I try to carry a bit of their spirit into every photograph.
When I look through the viewfinder, I hear the music created from the scene — each element an instrument adding its voice to a larger, living song.
My photography connects nature in a way that feels personal to you.
Perhaps you too, will hear music, to be touched by the breeze you may feel, as you "step into the scene" of my photography.
Self-Taught in Nature's Classroom
In the early ’70s, while stationed with the Navy in the sun‑washed expanse of the California Mojave Desert, I discovered my love for capturing the land.
What began as a way to pass the time quickly became something deeper—a way of seeing.
The towering Sierra Nevada Mountains rose in the distance, their rugged silhouettes catching the light in ways that stirred something inside me.
That breathtaking backdrop ignited my creative spirit and set me on the path I still follow today.
As I moved on from military life, my interest in both landscape photography and the natural world never waned.
With a natural science degree behind me, I spent years on the road in my sales career, constantly noticing scenes that would have made beautiful photographs - constantly capturing images, though without the camera.
A conversation in Denali became the turning point.
On Friday, October 13, 2006, I moved on from my previous career and followed the path I’d been drawn to for so long - and became a full‑time landscape photographer.
Your Print
The Ultimate Expression of My Vision
As an artist, I value the freedom to shape the images that come to life in my mind the moment I press the shutter.
From the instant I step into a scene, every decision is intentional.
While post‑processing helps enhance my vision, it’s the initial capture—the moment looking through the viewfinder—that sets this vision in motion
From creating the image to personally printing and hand‑signing each print, only when I am completely satisfied will the print leave my office.
When you bring home a print from Powder Hill Photography, you become an integral piece of my creative journey - the way I see and share the world in which we live.
Why do I personally print your print? This short video explains.
Powder Hill Photography
"Let Nature's Tranquility Welcome You Home"
"The Power of Imagination
Makes us Infinite"
~ John Muir
A Quiet Invitation
What is the Artist's Journey?
I believe the vision of an artist grows from this inner self—our own experiences, our beliefs, our way of seeing.
This is the heart of The Artist’s Journey, and it's what I'll share along the way.
Join The Artist’s Journey for an intimate view of my photography, the stories behind images, the philosophy that shapes my photography, and the vision captured at the click of the shutter.
Enjoy the Stories - Without Promotion
The Artist's Journey is not, and never will be, a promotional email filled with discounts, seasonal promotions or special offers.
Rather, it's a quiet, thoughtful journey - meant to be enjoyed.
Join the Artist's Journey
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Totally Free!
"Come dance with the west wind and touch on the mountain tops
Sail o'er the canyons and up to the stars
And reach for the heavens and hope for the future
And all that we can be and not what we are"
–John Denver (Eagle & The Hawk)
Thought for the Day
"If you do what you can do,
and I do what I can do,
together, we can make a difference.”
~ John Denver
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