In 2006 Derek started Flyboy Aerial Photography based out of California's beautiful Sonoma County, which now has become TRIAX | AERIAL after moving to north west Washington. Derek graduated from art school in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in media arts and animation. With a long standing passion for photography, videography and remote controlled aircraft, Derek decided on a whim to combine his love for the three as an experiment.

For the next three years Derek spent all his free time developing new hardware and techniques for capturing digital images and video using a specially designed remote controlled helicopter as well as honing his aerial imaging skills.