Even when he’s not traveling to new frontiers, Rex knows how important it is to get outside. “Just putting down whatever you’re doing and going for a walk can get you in your body. I spend so much time at my desk, and find myself so much more productive when I’m able to step away from things for a few minutes and get some fresh air.”

From an early age, Rex knew the kind of lifestyle he wanted to live, but didn’t know that he’d wind up as a photographer – in fact he stumbled upon the profession. “I went off to college and didn’t know what I wanted to do,” he says. “But I had a pretty good idea of the lifestyle I wanted to live and knew I’d do anything to make it happen.”

In college he took a few classes in media arts and purchased a camera to use for some of his school projects. “I found myself bringing the camera along when I would travel,” says Rex. “I liked how it made me slow down and appreciate my surroundings in a more intimate way.”

After college he worked for an outdoor brand called Arc’teryx, where he was thrown into the deep end of adventure sports like skiing, climbing, and cycling. “I’d bring my camera along on all of these adventures, and it brought a whole new perspective to what I was doing. I learned how to move around in the backcountry, and before I knew it I was spending all of my time in the mountains shooting photos of my friends on skis and bikes.” And before long, photography became his full-time profession. “I made it my mission to have photography fund my travels, so I started shooting small projects for friends and local brands and just dove in.”

Now Rex is a commercial photographer who specializes in travel. “I spend most of my time documenting landscapes and lifestyle scenes mainly for outdoor brands,” he says. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” he says. “There are so many times that I find myself in a world-class place – I just got back from two weeks in Iceland. I’ll be out there on a glacier or a volcano with my best friends and realize that what I’m doing is work, and I’ll think, what did I do to deserve this? How did everything lead me down this path to this specific moment? Those feelings outweigh all the stresses and uncertainties of freelancing – I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Rex is ever a student of the world, always learning from the places he travels and the people he’s with. “One of the highlights for me is working with people who know a lot more than I do,” he says. “I’m by no means an expert, I’m just trying to learn as much as I can. On my most recent trip to Iceland, I got to spend a few days with a friend who works as a glacier guide over there, documenting changes in the ice over time for climate research. Connecting with people like that is the best way to learn about the environments you find yourself in. There’s no way I would’ve gotten the same experience just by reading about it.”

Surroundings have a big impact on the photographer. “I’m really affected by the elements,” says Rex. “The things that make up the landscape and the weather. You know, feeling the ripples and textures in the cooled lava and the moss that grows on it, smelling the sulfur, the sound of the steam that comes up from the cracks in the rock. That full sensory immersion – it helps you never forget the time you’ve had in that place.”

It’s clear that Rex is moved by his surroundings. You can see it in his photographs – they are imprinted with a love of what he sees in nature. “A lot of people are focusing on giant landscapes, but I find myself more interested in the elements and the intricate patterns that make up those environments.”

His hope is that this unique perspective will speak to people who see his work. He says: “I want to inspire people who may never go to these places to consider their relationship with nature and how important these places are.”

Rex is almost always on the move, and because of this, he is on a constant mission to downsize and refine his arsenal of gear. “Whether it’s camera stuff, outdoor gear, or clothing,” he says, “I prefer to travel fast and light, only bringing what I need. I like to think, what’s the most efficient way I can pack for this specific trip?”

When asked about his most prized possession for travel, Rex laughs and says: “I’ve got this backpack that is the most perfect backpack. I probably have 10 different backpacks but I only use this one. It’s an army green waxed canvas pack called the Journeyman. It’s really cool looking, but not flashy – there aren’t any logos on it. It’s perfectly unassuming, and feels like it was made for what I’m doing.”

Rex himself is a journeyman and traveling has widened his perspective. It’s helped him to have a broader view of the world. “I read somewhere that the most valuable souvenir is a global perspective,” he says, “and I’m a huge believer in that philosophy.”