Kerry Drager is an outdoor photographer and author based in the California Central Coast town of Morro Bay. He enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for photography and the outdoors through teaching, writing and exhibiting.

Known for his friendly and engaging teaching style, Kerry has extensive experience in online education, in-person classes and seminars, and field workshops. He is an online instructor at the Bryan Peterson School of Photography (BPSOP.com) and an instructor at Cuesta College Community Programs. Kerry also is the author/photographer of the nationally published book Scenic Photography 101 and the co-author of two other how-to books – The BetterPhoto Guide to Creative Digital Photography and The BetterPhoto Guide to Photographing Light. All  three werepublished by Amphoto/Random House. 

Kerry moved to California's Central Coast in 2014 with his wife of 33 years, the late landscape oil painter Mary Summers (1948-2023). They often scouted out new locations and revisited old favorites, while also engaging in lively discussions about their approaches to art. 

In addition, he is the co-author of three more nationally published books: the photo-essay book The Golden Dream: California from Gold Rush to Statehood, the coffee-table book California Desert, and the photo book Portrait of California. His work has also appeared in national magazines, Hallmark cards, Sierra Club calendars, an American Express advertising campaign, and in the books BetterPhoto Basics and Daybreak 2000.

Kerry has been profiled in Outdoor Photographer and Shutterbug magazines, as well as in the book The Photographer's Market Guide to Building Your Photography Business. Lastly, check out his Facebook and Instagram pages, where he regularly posts photos, complete with shooting insights, tips and techniques.

Main Camera:  Nikon Z8 (FX full-frame mirrorless). 

Lenses:  Nikkor Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR. Nikkor Z 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VR S. Nikkor Z MC (macro) 105mm f/2.8 VR S.

Tripod: Carbon-fiber Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 legs with a Really Right Stuff BH-55 Ball Head. An L-plate set by Really Right Stuff is attached to the camera for ease in switching from horizontal to vertical format.

Imaging Software:  Photoshop CC & Adobe Camera Raw, plus Nik software filters (primarily Viveza)

Photo at left: Kerry is shown while photographing the unique EMP building in Seattle, WA. Photo by Jim Miotke.