Meet the award-winning UK photographer who made Croatia home

by croatiaweek
March 21, 2022
in News

Craig Derrick (Photo: Private album)

For the past eight years, multi award-winning UK photographer Craig Derrick has called Croatia home. Like many expats now residing in Croatia, Craig was lured in by the country’s breathtaking beauty.

As a photographer, Craig says he was blown away by the amazing places he saw on his first visit to Croatia back in 2011. Not long after that holiday he decided to return and set up home in Orašac, a village just 15 km north-west of Dubrovnik.

After four years living the Dalmatian life, Craig decided it was time for a change of pace and he moved to the capital Zagreb.

“I loved Orašac and Dubrovnik. It was a great place to be in the summer time, but when winter falls there are limited options. I have been in Zagreb now for around three years and I am loving it, it is a great city that has it all, whilst not being too big,” Craig tells us.

(Photo credit: Craig Derrick)

Craig has been a photographer for over 25 years, winning many international awards and recognition. His images, which include the British Royal Family and A-list celebrities, have been published in many international magazines and publications.

“Nature photography is my biggest passion, and Croatia is a great place for that. I am lucky work is my hobby,” he explains.

(Photo credit: Craig Derrick)

Before moving to Croatia, Craig had a successful career in the UK running photography courses and classes and when he decided to move he moved his business with him, launching Adriatic Images.

“In Croatia, I specialise in 360 Virtual Tours of which I have been doing for over 20 years, and whilst the concept still seems new within Croatia, I believe that this will soon become the norm. 360 Virtual Tours can be used in many industry sectors but primarily in real estate, rental and selling property,” he explains, before continuing.

“The main difference we offer is that our service is 100% in-house using our own specialised equipment and software and processing, whereas most other companies “buy into” a service that provides the equipment to do the work and the processing and hosting is done by someone else. What this means in real terms is that we are can fully adjust/customise our tours to whatever level is required and we and/or our clients have complete control over the content and quality…and quality is THE most important thing we pride ourselves on.”

(Photo credit: Craig Derrick)

With his deep and extensive knowledge in all areas of photography and after having photographed the 2019/20 Formula 1 season, Craig has also become a photogrammetric specialist providing his expertise and knowledge to industries looking into high-level measurement and analysis. His photographs are used to provide accurate automated measurements and precisely calculate the geometry of an object.

(Photo: Private album)

GigaScan Technologies founder Patrik Folkesson explains that “having met Craig during 2019 Formula 1 season I quickly realised Craig’s skills as a photographer and how they would be extremely beneficial to the development of the photogrammetry technology that I have been developing over the past 11 years which is unique in today’s current manufacturing process.”

(Photo credit: Craig Derrick)

Craig’s company was also one of the first to introduce the Magic Mirror Photo Booth to Croatia – an interactive photo booth where guests at events can take photos which they can put messages on thanks to the touch-screen technology in the mirror.

“It has been extremely popular, with clients including Emmezeta, Auto Hrvatska, JTI and many private weddings, parties and events,” Craig explains. “We are also in discussions, through GigaScan Technologies with Leonor Stepić, who is CEO of The Montessori Group, about becoming a strategic partner by way of donating time and services to this excellent organisation.”

(Photo credit: Craig Derrick)

Craig tells me that when he does get time for himself he puts his camera in the back of his BMW Motorbike, which also came with him from England, and takes the scenic route out towards Marija Bistrica, through Stubičke Toplice, up into Sljeme and back down to Zagreb.

“I found a great route that is fun to ride and when I get to Sljeme I stop for a break to take a few photos then head back home,” says Craig, who has no plans to leave Croatia anytime soon.