Acacia Fike-Nelson

North Carolina Nature & Golf Photographer

Capturing quiet moments in nature through photography and conservation storytelling.

I’m Acacia Fike-Nelson, a North Carolina–based nature and golf course photographer passionate about turning everyday scenery into timeless images. My lens often finds the small details—the curve of a lotus leaf holding morning dew, the golden light across a green at dawn—that transform ordinary places into extraordinary experiences. Alongside my fine art prints and commissioned golf photography, I share my adventures and tips on my YouTube channel, helping others see and appreciate the wild beauty around them.

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That Sense of Peace

In early April 2019, only weeks after moving to North Carolina, a dense fog drew me to Pilot Mountain State Park for the first time. Standing at the overlook with heavy fog drifting below me, I felt as if I were walking among the sky, suspended between earth and air. This moment sparked my ongoing love for photographing North Carolina’s wild places and quiet, fog-filled mornings.

Self-portrait taken April 9, 2019 at Pilot Mountain State Park. Nikon D7000 at 18mm: f/13 , 1/200 sec, ISO-400

Quick Facts

  • Volunteered on four Adventure Scientists Timber Tracking projects, collecting field data while monitoring Eastern Hemlock, Tulip Poplar, Green and White Ash, and Eastern White Oaks across the Southeast in national and state forests.

  • Completed two seasons of the Bumble Bee Atlas Project, collecting field data on wild bumble bee populations across North Carolina.

  • Featured in a citizen-science exhibit at the Asheville Museum of Science.

  • Special interest in native plant and pollinator habitats throughout North Carolina and the Southeast.

  • Passionate about blending photography with conservation storytelling through fine art prints, commissioned projects, and YouTube videos.

  • Always exploring new wild places and capturing moments of quiet natural beauty.

Surveying Eastern Hemlock trees as part of the Adventure Scientists Timber Tracking Project, monitoring Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in national forests across the Southeast.

Education & Certifications

Northwest Piedmont Master Naturalist
-North Carolina Cooperative Extension - Forsyth County

Bachelor of Arts, Communication
-University of Wyoming

Master of Science in Education, Specializing in Leadership for Higher Education
-Capella University

Photography Courses

Black and White Film Photography
-University of Wyoming

Digital Photography I
-Colorado Mountain College

Camera Gear

Cameras
Nikon Z6

Lenses
Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4
Nikkor Z 17-28 mm f/2.8
Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8
Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8
AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G

You can view a complete list of all the gear I use on my Gear Page.