Meet Zachary Sharpe | Digital Media and Marketing Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zachary Sharpe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zachary, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
Born and raised in Maine and the oldest of three brothers, my childhood is one that I am grateful for. Maine is known for its outdoor culture, and my upbringing was nothing short of spectacular in that regard. My passion for the outdoors began when I was young, going on camping trips and fishing ventures with my family. As I grew older and my responsibilities as a young adult grew, so did my desire to continue exploring.

I took a break from the woods and attended Maine Maritime Academy, where I received my bachelor of science degree in business and logistics. From there I moved across the country, spending a couple of years in San Diego. It wasn’t until I ventured west that I heard about the term “overlanding”. The more I learned about this new way of travel, the more I fell in love with it. The journey being the adventure and never knowing where you’ll end up was always intriguing to me and something I quickly became obsessed with.

My passion for photography and videography grew as I found myself in remote and picturesque locations. I took pleasure in sharing my adventures with those in my friend group and online and decided to further pursue my aspirations of becoming a professional adventure photographer.

I returned to my home state and began to adventure the backyard further, finding solace in the long dirt logging roads and preserved backcountry. I knew this itch to live a life filled with adventure wasn’t going away, but duty called. Reality set in when I accepted a job as a Sheriff’s Deputy and began my career as a law enforcement officer. The time commitment that comes with a job like such left me putting my passions aside and exploring less and less.

In late 2021, I made the decision to not let a job get in the way of my happiness and gave my notice. I sold my house the very same month, purchased a travel trailer, grabbed my camera and hit the road. With no specific destination in mind, I went south, visiting places like the Florida Keys, Georgia, the Carolinas, and eventually made my way west where I explored Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

My travels resulted in me meeting some incredible people with similar stories who have grown to become some of my closest friends. They encouraged me to continue on my photography journey, so that’s what I did. In May of 2022, I attended Overland Expo West in Flagstaff Arizona. I was on assignment, documenting the weekends events for an automotive company when I ran into the team at Summit 4×4 Company.

After speaking with Summit about their media needs, I accepted a job working as their primary photographer, videographer, social media manager, and marketer. It’s been the opportunity of a lifetime to follow my passions this far and I am excited and eager to see where the journey takes me. However, had it not been for the leap of faith those many months ago, it’s hard to say where I’d be today.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I spent my life thinking that it was supposed to be a certain way. I had been surrounded by role models in my upbringing that influenced the decisions I made and careers I pursued. My father, having been in the Navy for 20 years, was someone I looked up to and a career in the Navy seemed like a promising endeavor. My dream was to fly, a dream that was quickly changed when I discovered I was color blind. I was heartbroken but decided my education was important and enrolled in college.

After receiving a 4 year degree in business and logistics from Maine Maritime Academy, I left my home state to work at a shipyard in San Diego. My role there was an environmental, health and safety inspector, a job I worked for 2 years before returning to Maine. I was fortunate enough to transfer to a business unit in my home state where I worked another few years in the EHS world. The job I found unfulfilling and my new found desire to become a police officer led me to apply with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, an office my great uncle once held as Sheriff.

I was thrilled to receive an acceptance letter and before I knew it, my bags were packed, hair cut, and I was on my way to the police academy in Vassalboro Maine. Amidst my training at the academy, we were advised we were being sent home. There was a pandemic spreading around the world and the academy deemed it necessary that we return to our agencies for the remainder of our training. What was slated to take a total of 18 weeks, nearly took a year, but I received my certification and was shortly thereafter working the road.

I patrolled the road for 2.5 years, responding to a variety of calls for service. Some calls would leave you feeling good, like you’ve made a difference in your community, while other calls would leave you questioning the job entirely. Conflicted by this dilemma, I decided to make the choice to turn in my badge to pursue the consistent thread that has run through my life, photography and adventure.

I sold my home in late 2021, purchased a travel trailer, and hit the road. Camera in hand I avidly took pictures of every interesting thing I saw while creating videos which I would share on our YouTube channel and Instagram accounts. The freedom it yielded was relieving to say the least, and I began to reach out to companies throughout the outdoor industry to drum up business. I lucked out and was fortunate enough to work with some incredible brands and people, photographing their products and providing real world feedback as I used their gear on the road.

While I left home having disappointed a few who I hold dear, it was a needed change in order for me to find true happiness in my life. I will always remember those I worked with, helped, and who supported me throughout this entire process and thank them for shaping me into the person I am today.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a homebody at heart. A man who prefers a cold beer and football game to a crowded bar or city life. To me, my favorite spots consist of small coffee shops, libraries and book stores, and most of all, nature. Living now in Prescott Arizona, I have thousands of miles of trails at my fingertips just waiting to be explored. My time is often spent preparing my vehicle for its next outing, helping friends with their rigs, and producing content around our trips and outings. The Grand Canyon, Sycamore Canyon, Prescott National Forest, Coconino National Forest and surrounding wilderness are all places you can often find me when not in the office.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family has always been a strong supporter in all I decide to do in my life. While there were some reservations about me leaving a steady job, home, and state, their encouragement to continue pursuing a life of adventure has never ceased.

Website: https://www.pinestateoverland.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psoverland/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharpezack/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PineStateOverland

Image Credits
I took all the photos attached. Photos of myself were taken either on a tripod or with a drone.