Beauty in the Unexpected

Born in Southern California and raised in Denver, Colorado, Denise Wylde's family loved traveling, road trips, outdoor activities and had a respect for National Parks and the outdoors. From a very young age, she developed a spiritual connection and appreciation for the mountains and nature, incorporating photography into that practice.

She has pursued photography since she was nine, after purchasing her first camera—an old Brownie box camera. She has worked as a freelance photographer since 1990.

She lives with her husband Chris, and their two dogs, who occasionally accompany her on trips to work on the book or explore Jeep trails in and around Colorado and nearby states. 

Denise is an avid skier, adventurer, photographer, and proud member of an all-women’s 4x4 club. She loves traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

What is this Roadkill Across America book all about? Is it really roadkill?!

Why Yes! It is indeed real animals who are no longer living! But it is much more than that. It’s about a fantastic life journey around the US, exploring, unique places, meeting people, expanding personal boundaries while capturing beautiful and intriguing images of wildlife who have perished due to collisions with vehicles.

Roadkill Across America is a compelling photographic collection that explores the complex relationship between humans and wildlife on roadways across the United States. Through beautiful, thought-provoking images of fallen animals from every state, readers are invited to see the American landscape in a way that has never before been documented quite like this.

The creation of this book has been a long journey spanning over 16 years, well over fifty-thousand miles  and countless hours of travel around the US to gather images for this book.  While my primary goal was to document roadkill, the project has evolved into something far greater. What began as a desire to capture the animals I encountered along my journey, transformed into a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between humans, wildlife, and the environment. Each trip has shown me the resilience of nature, the beauty of the landscapes, and the unintended consequences of our constant movement. This journey has nourished my spirit, strengthened lifelong friendships,  created new connections, and deepened my understanding of the unique places and historical sites across our nation.  

Roadkill Across America is my way of honoring the relationship between animals and humans and how our lives collide at time - literally - and how that impacts both lives. Through this collection of photographs, I hope to raise awareness of the impact our roads have on wildlife. Some images may evoke sadness, while others may inspire contemplation, but all serve as a testament to the complex and often overlooked interactions between humans and animals on the road.