Justin grew up in Wichita, Kansas, where his parents fostered his love for nature and wildlife rehabilitation. Family trips to Colorado’s Rocky Mountains sparked his fascination with the outdoors, shaping his future in ecology.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with an emphasis on ecology from Sterling College in Kansas, publishing a thesis on black-tailed prairie dog behavior. He later pursued a master’s in marine science at Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography in Florida. During college, summer jobs at a camp near Yosemite introduced him to California’s Sierra Nevada range, where he spent every free moment hiking and camping. After graduation, he became a backcountry and photography guide in Yosemite, combining his passion for ecology with visual storytelling.

Justin has traveled to five countries, over 30 U.S. states and 16 national parks. Now based in Oakhurst, California, just 15 miles from Yosemite, he spends his free time backpacking, fly fishing and converting a van into a tiny home for future adventures.