Conservation & Expedition Photographer
Rooted in Wild Places
I work in landscapes where stories matter—places under pressure, places that demand care, patience, and respect.
My work lives at the intersection of conservation, exploration, and storytelling. From the flooded forests of the Everglades to remote backcountry routes and fragile ecosystems around the world, I document wild places not as scenery, but as living systems shaped by time, effort, and responsibility.
I believe photography should do more than show where we’ve been. It should help us understand what’s at stake.
Guided by Experience, Grounded in Responsibility
I’m Cody Meridith—a conservation-focused photographer, wilderness guide, and outdoor educator. I’ve spent years working in environments where access is earned, preparation matters, and mistakes carry weight.
My background includes guiding families and small groups through remote terrain, working alongside conservation organizations, and documenting ecosystems that require careful stewardship. That work has taken me deep into swamps, caves, deserts, forests, and river corridors—often far from roads, cell service, or easy exits.
Every place I enter is treated as borrowed ground.
Conservation Is Not a Backdrop
Some of my most meaningful work has happened behind the scenes—supporting research, restoration, and invasive species management efforts. In the Everglades, I’ve worked alongside scientists and agencies documenting python removal operations aimed at protecting native wildlife and restoring ecological balance.
These aren’t images made for spectacle. They’re made to bear witness.
To show the complexity of conservation work—the patience, the ethics, the hard decisions, and the human effort required to protect what cannot speak for itself.
More Than Adventure — A Way of Moving Through the World
Adventure, to me, isn’t about speed or domination.
It’s about attention.
It’s knowing when to step lightly. When to slow down. When not to take the shot.
Whether I’m guiding a family through unfamiliar terrain, embedded with a conservation team, or documenting a remote expedition, my approach stays the same: move with intention, leave as little trace as possible, and tell the story honestly.
Credibility That Comes With Calluses
My work is shaped by lived experience in the field, not trends.
U.S. Navy Veteran
Former National Park Service ranger
Former Bureau of Land Management recreation specialist
Professional wilderness guide and outdoor educator
Expedition photographer, backpacker, paddler, and cave explorer
Conservationist involved in river protection, cave restoration, coral reef work, and invasive species removal
I understand terrain, risk, logistics, and the responsibility that comes with working in wild places—because I’ve lived it.
Why This Work Matters
We protect what we understand.
We understand what we’re willing to spend time with.
Photography, when done with care, can slow people down long enough to feel a place—not just see it. That connection is where conservation begins.
My goal is simple:
to help people experience wild places with respect—and leave changed.
An Invitation
If you’re working to protect a landscape, document an expedition, or tell a story rooted in conservation and purpose, I’d be honored to help.
This work isn’t about collecting images.
It’s about honoring the land—and the stories it holds.
