Derrick Connell

In 2021, I set out to pursue one of my Twenty One Summers, and somewhere along the way it became a new way of living.

What started as an idea has taken me across Vietnam, France, Mexico, New York, Botswana and Cuba—chasing images and stories

After decades in technology, I chose to step into something far less certain. Not because I had arrived, but because my own story wasn’t yet told

It forced me to confront a simple question: was I living my dreams or had I become comfortable?

Most of what held me back were blind spots of my own making.

I am not even close to my own destination. I’m on a new journey and one that I hope has many turns or pivots

If you want to learn more about Twenty One Summers and Blind Spots learn about our upcoming book - Twenty One Summers - link in my bio

This image was a dream for me - capturing a beautiful mechanic at work in Cuba - showing the power, capability and resilience of the Cubano

Model @acanda_97
Producer @karla_batte_producer
Art @loe_art_
Style @gabriela.lopez_producer