On May 3rd, 2024, Derk Jager lost his 4-year battle with leukemia. Derk was born in a small village in the Netherlands. As a child of just 10 years, he developed a passion for photography in the makeshift darkroom that his father created in the family’s home. Following mandatory military service in the Dutch Air Force, he pursued that passion, studying photography in The Hague. There, he met his future wife (an American) and eventually married and emigrated with her to the U.S.
Derk’s professional career began in the photo department of an East Coast advertising agency. Over the ensuing 12 years, he photographed in the studio and on location for a multitude of clients. He became known for his attention to detail, ability to compose on camera, and for his ingenuity. Following a desire to move west, Derk and his family moved to Seattle where he continued his photographic career, eventually starting his own studio.
During this time, Derk also pursued many other interests, including hiking with his family in the Cascades, kayaking, traveling with his wife, Aikido, Iaido (Japanese sword technique), bonsai, and stone carving, among others.
Years later, Derk and his wife began building their home on Orcas Island. Always very capable with tools, Derk spent months helping the builders construct the house. After their final move to Orcas, Derk worked for several years at Island Hardware. However, he continued photographing for the occasional artist client, including performances of the Orcas Chamber Music Festival.
Early on, Derk met several other Orcas photographers who were also very serious about their art. This group has been meeting regularly for many years. During these years, Derk had the time and encouragement to expand on his own interests and to experiment with the medium, including in-motion photography, abstracts, and post-production “dinking around” (his words). His personal work reflected his love of nature, trees, mist, texture, saturated color, and the occasional oddball thing that struck his fancy. He was always enthusiastic about learning and sharing insights and knowledge with his “photo buddies.” This group has also been instrumental in arranging a show of Derk’s photographic work at the Orcas Library in either March or April, 2025.
In 2019, Derk and his wife moved to Anacortes. Soon thereafter, the cancer that had been waiting on the sidelines for years, established itself. On May 3rd this year, Derk lost that battle. He is survived by his wife Alison, son Marten, and daughter Lauren, as well as his sister and brother in the Netherlands – all of whom hold him forever dear in their hearts. He shall always be loved and sorely missed.
