One night in Antarctica, beneath the soft glow of the Southern Lights, Jeremy Clark stood near the world’s most southerly active volcano, Mt. Erebus, watching the sky ignite in a way few people on Earth ever will. It was humbling, breathtaking, and a long, long way from home.
Jeremy is one of Fishpond’s go-to creatives, a gifted photographer, a passionate fisherman, and a hands-on dad. Whether he's capturing the light in a South Island river valley or sharing a quiet morning with his kids in South Carolina, Jeremy brings the same care and attention to everything he does. But behind the beauty of his images is a life shaped by the choices that put his family first. It’s a commitment to family that informs every decision he makes.
Every year, Jeremy spends a couple of months in New Zealand, helping to manage air traffic between the mainland and Antarctica, a demanding job that helps keep things running smoothly on the ice. The rest of the time, he’s home in South Carolina, raising two young children with his wife and shooting for clients across the Southeast. It’s a life of contrasts, with months spent in remote, high-stakes environments followed by the immersive work of parenting young kids, full of noise, mess, and all the joy that comes with it.
"I don’t think I’ve made peace with all the time away," he admits. "I’m just accustomed to it. But even when I’m 18 time zones away, I’m thinking about my family. I try to find those rare windows to connect. It doesn’t make the distance disappear, but it helps us stay close even when we’re far apart."
Jeremy had already been living a life of service and sacrifice before he became a dad. He and his wife became parents through adoption, a path born from years of uncertainty and hope. "We were on a photoshoot when the agency called to tell us we’d been matched. Everything changed in that moment," he recalls. "It was the beginning of a whole new chapter, the one where I became a dad."
For Jeremy, fatherhood is defined by showing up every day in whatever way he can, consistently and with heart. The concept of "Dad" can take many forms, but the love, effort, and sacrifices are something all dads can relate to.
It’s not just the big milestones that matter to him. "It’s the everyday gestures that define fatherhood," Jeremy says. "Like my daughter picking flowers for my desk, or my son telling a friend about an adventure we shared. These moments might seem small, but they’re everything."
He credits his children with reigniting his creative spirit. "Wonder isn’t just waiting out there. You have to notice it, choose it, create it," he says. "Watching my kids experience the world, seeing their eyes light up over things I might’ve overlooked, has reminded me not to take life for granted."
Together, they explore the little wonders in their backyard. "Whenever the kids discover a new bug in the garden, they come running to find me. We grab the camera and take close-up photos, then research what we’ve found. It’s one of our favorite things to do."
For Jeremy, photography doesn’t pull him away. It helps him see more. "The camera doesn’t take me out of the moment; it draws me deeper in. I get to be fully there, noticing the little things others might miss, and then I have the gift of preserving those moments."
His advice to other fathers balancing creative lives and family time? "Trust your instincts, they’re rooted in a deep understanding of your family and what they truly need. Be fully present whenever you get the chance. And don’t be afraid to turn down more work when it comes at the expense of that time. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it."
Jeremy plans to retire from air traffic control in the next few years. He’s looking forward to spending more time in the Lowcountry, raising his kids near the water, with sand between their toes, and showing them the world through a lens of curiosity.
Even when Jeremy is half a world away, he works to build a life filled with wonder, security, and love for his family. That’s the kind of fatherhood Jeremy lives out, steady, thoughtful, and rooted in love. It looks different for every dad, but the heart of it is the same: being there in the ways that matter most, even when it’s not easy or convenient.
This June 15, we celebrate Jeremy and all the dads who juggle the demands of life to support their families. Your presence, sacrifice, and steady love shape the lives around you in ways that matter. Happy Father’s Day.
If you're looking for ways to celebrate the dads in your life, explore our Father’s Day Gift Guide. This year, get dad the gear that helps him make the most of every adventure.
