Derek grew up in New York, while spending part of his summers in Maine, where he developed an appreciation for its wild landscape and natural beauty. Moving from a metropolitan area to the wide-open spaces of Maine felt like an escape to an earlier time when life was simpler, he says. The air seemed pure and the dark night skies were both quiet and alive. After graduating from the University of New England in Biddeford, Derek started his photojournalism career at a newspaper in White Plains, NY. In 2004, he moved to Scarborough and joined the staff at the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. He lives with his wife and three children in Scarborough. His favorite assignments are photographing the outdoors of Maine, especially along the coast, and covering local sporting events.
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PublishedMay 2, 2022
In photos: Muslims around Maine come together to celebrate Eid al-Fitr
There was laughter, dancing and smiles as hundreds gathered to pray and celebrate the Muslim holiday, Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan.
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PublishedApril 25, 2022
In photos: The Great Bridge Switcheroo
As the sun set Friday, construction workers began an engineering feat designed to demolish a four-lane highway bridge and replace it over a weekend. Pittsfield-based Cianbro hopes to have the I-295 bridge demolished by Saturday afternoon so it can start moving the replacement spans into place.
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PublishedApril 24, 2022
‘Like giant Legos going together’: Watch a time lapse of the I-295 bridge replacement
Watch the first 400-ton bridge section being rolled into place Saturday afternoon. Drone footage by staff photographer Gregory Rec.
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PublishedApril 18, 2022
In photos: Slowly, slowly, signs of spring
Officially, the first day of spring in 2022 was March 20. In Maine, March and April bring snow, frost, rain, mud and summer-like warmth within the space of a few days. Our signs of spring, like opening day at Red’s Dairy Freeze or the first Sea Dogs game, are celebrated whatever the weather. And nothing is as sweet as hearing the birds sing and seeing the first daffodils bloom halfway through April.
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PublishedApril 8, 2022
In photos: The best of March photography
March is the month when winter officially ends, spring takes hold, and daylight savings time, well, saves us. This year, it also brought us the start of spring high school sports outdoors, our first ice cream at Red’s Dairy Freeze, and, the heartbreaking news from the war in Ukraine. Here are some of the best photos of the month by Press Herald photographers.
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PublishedMarch 28, 2022
In photos: Sweet spring sugaring, a celebration of Maine Maple Weekend
Maine Maple Sunday is always the fourth Sunday of March, and this is the 39th year of the annual event, which features open sugarhouses throughout the state, farm tours, pancake breakfasts and sales of all kinds of maple products. This year was fully open, after a canceled year in 2020 because of the pandemic, and a modified event in 2021. Maine Maple Sunday is more than just a sales event, though. It’s a harbinger of sweet, sweet spring, after a long, cold winter.
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PublishedMarch 17, 2022
St. Patrick’s Day in photos: With pandemic restrictions lifted, Mainers say ‘sláinte!’
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PublishedMarch 7, 2022
In photos: A memorable February
It snowed, and thawed, and sleeted and thawed, and snowed some more. On the 23rd, we claimed spring for a day, breaking records when the temperature soared to the mid-60s. It was a month of bad ice, high energy costs, good skiing and great high school sports. Here are some of the best photos from the month by Press Herald photographers.
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PublishedFebruary 24, 2022
Photos: Thursday’s Maine high school basketball tournament games
High school basketball players made the shots and our photographers caught the action. Here are some of our favorite photos from Maine’s high school basketball tournament, February 24, 2022.
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PublishedFebruary 24, 2022
Photos: Maine high school basketball tournament
High school basketball players made the shots and our photographers caught the action. Here are some of our favorite photos from Maine’s high school basketball tournament, February 23, 2022.