My Unexpected Photography Journey
Determined to capture the morning light as I was chasing the sunrise at Bryce Canon, UT
My name is Shayar, and I’m a self-taught photographer on a mission to capture the raw, surreal beauty of nature and wildlife—before it disappears, before we forget how to look, and before we forget how to feel. For most of my early life, I did what I thought I was supposed to do. I got a finance degree. I landed a good job. I followed the structure and security of a conventional path. But deep down, it never felt right. I was disconnected from myself, from meaning, from the world around me. In 2020, I walked away from all of it. No more suits. No more pretending. Just a camera, a car, and a quiet sense that there was something out there worth chasing.
Always trying to push the boundaries of of photography. This Egret photo was captured in January 2025 in the Central Coast of California
A Gateway to Expression
What began as a spontaneous escape turned into something bigger—a personal and creative commitment to seeing the world differently. To being present. To searching for light, shadow, movement, and stillness. To capturing fleeting, untamed moments that most people never notice. Over the past few years, I’ve devoted myself to this path, traveling across the country and photographing the coastlines, forests, storms, birds, and wilderness that move me.
Taken in a slot canyon in Page, Arizona in March 2024
A Leap of Faith
In 2025, I set out on a solo expedition across the American West with nothing but my camera, my camping gear, and the road ahead. No permanent home. No plan B. Just a deep belief that the only way to do this right was to go all-in. This isn’t a vacation—it’s my work. It’s my purpose. And every day I spend outside, I’m sharpening my eye and listening more closely to what nature has to say.
Taken in Mammoth, California in December 2024
I’m not interested in going viral or chasing trends. I’m not trying to copy what’s already been done. I’m here to make timeless work. To become one of the most unique and honest nature photographers of my time. For me, that means more than just making beautiful images—it means telling real stories. It means finding emotional truth in the wilderness and capturing it with patience, precision, and depth. I want my photographs to stop people in their tracks. To make them feel something they didn’t expect. To remind them what it means to be alive.
Surreal sunset at Rocky Mountain National Park in June 2025
The Journey Continues
In the long run, I plan to turn this work into large-format books, gallery shows, and a visual archive that outlives me. Not content for the algorithm, but legacy—something worth holding in your hands, hanging on your walls, passing down to future generations.
Until then, I’ll be out there—off-grid, in the fog, under the stars—doing the work. Waiting for the right light. Missing it sometimes. Getting it sometimes. And always coming back for more.
If my photography has made you feel something, I hope you’ll follow the journey. And if you’re interested in supporting the mission, collaborating, or reaching out, I’d love to hear from you.
With unwavering excitement for the chapters ahead, catch you soon.
- Shayar Gilani