Featured Galleries

Alaska Images : These pictures were taken in July 2009 in the coastal area of the Katmai National Park in the Hallo and Kulak Bay region. This area has the highest density of brown bears (AKA grizzly bears) in the world. More importantly they have not been hunted since the 1940’s and have been treated with respect by the few visitors that come into their home. It was a privilege granted to a small six person party including me me by these magnificent creatures. Over five days we often spent five hours just sitting still and taking pictures – honoring the bears right to feed and occupy the space we were visiting. I am pessimistic this sacred relationship between mankind and the bear will persist into the future. Day trips are now being offered by light planes that land on the beaches and discharge “day visitors” with inexperienced guides who are more interested in the fee they collect than the sanctity of the land and the creatures that inhabit it. I have included some landscape pictures so you can appreciate the unspoiled scenery for which much of Alaska is noted. You will also find birds and some other residents of the area. Pictures were taken with a Cannon Rebel xti using a Cannon 100-400mm zoom l type lens or a Cannon EFS 17-85 mm lens.

Alaska Images

These pictures were taken in July 2009 in the coastal area of the Katm ...

Updated: Aug 28, 2009 11:59am PST

Butterflies Alive : The following photos were taken in September 2009 at the Butterflies Alive exhibit at the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum. The exhibit is held every-other-year and features North American butterflies. Great care is taken to prevent escapees since the displayed butterflies are non-native to the region and could transmit virus that would infect the native population. Comments are not complete as I do more research on identification. The photos were taken with a Canon XSi camera using a Tamaron MACRO 1:1 AF 90mm lens.

Butterflies Alive

The following photos were taken in September 2009 at the Butterflies A ...

Updated: Sep 11, 2009 4:19pm PST

Your Bio

Hi there
Welcome to my photo galleries, a place to share in my adventures in pictures and learn about the natural world from a fresh perspective. My focus is on the animal wildlife, birds, scenic visions and flora (aka flowers) nature has entrusted to we humans. As you view these pictures I hope you will renew your commitment to protect these precious resources. Their beauty is there for us all to enjoy but once lost we will never be able to again find them.

This is a work in progress and as time goes by there will be photos of new places and wildlife like my soon to be trip to Yellowstone and the Lamar Valley photographing wolves and other creatures..

I hope you have as much fun looking through my photographs as I had taking them.

If you are interested in learning more about my travels or using my images for personal, education or commercial use, feel free to e-mail me at lreed20@opusnet.com. Include Photo Informatioin in the subject line.

Lester

Galleries

Africa Wildlife 2008 : Southern Africa provides an unparallel opportunity to slip into the past. Large game reserves let us experience Africa as we think of it – an untamed land populated by exotic animals. Although this is far from the reality of Africa, let me share my pictures with you of a land that soon may be lost. Visit with me the magnificent animals that now roam these game reserves, the last islands of “old Africa”. The pictures in this section were taken in four game reserves in Botswana and Zambia. Both countries have taken major steps to protect their native wildlife. However an ever increasing population places a greater demand for the scares revenues of the government and pose a constant threat to the continuation of conservation efforts. Pictures were taken with a Cannon Rebel xti using a Cannon 100-400mm zoom l type lens or a Cannon EFS 17-85 mm lens.

Africa Wildlife 2008

Southern Africa provides an unparallel opportunity to slip into the pa ...

Updated: Jul 07, 2009 3:54pm PST

Antarctic : The Antarctic continent has been a foreboding place until recently. Over the last 25 years more and more tourists have taken cruses to the white continent. Although these increasing visitors have the potential for disrupting the fragile ecosystem in truth they, like me, only get to visit a very limited part the northern peninsula and the assorted islands. The rest is bound in ice and inaccessible except for research teams. These pictures were taken during the Antarctic summer (February 2008) and represent some of the limited wildlife and majestic scenery visitors encounter. The photos were taken with a Canon Rebel xti and an EF 70-300mm or EFS 17-85mm lens.

Antarctic

The Antarctic continent has been a foreboding place until recently. Ov ...

Updated: Jun 27, 2009 6:34pm PST

Flowers : The following photos feature flowers, a new subject for me. Equipment used, with a few exceptions, was a Cannon Rebel xsi with Tamron 90mm 1:2.8 Macro lens.

Flowers

The following photos feature flowers, a new subject for me. Equipment ...

Updated: Jun 27, 2009 7:56am PST

Arctic : The Arctic is rapidly being changed as our world’s climate warms. The disappearance of sea ice, melting of glaciers and the loss of permafrost signal a major challenge for the people, wildlife and plants of the far north. How long we will be able to visit and see scenes such as theses in this catalog is open to question. Not long is my opinion. The photos were taken with a Canon Rebel xti and an EF 70-300mm or EFS 17-85mm lens.

Arctic

The Arctic is rapidly being changed as our world’s climate warms. Th ...

Updated: Jun 27, 2009 12:53pm PST

Africa Landscapes : Southern Africa has not only a vast array of wildlife and birds but some very interesting landscapes. These photos are a small sample of those sights. Pictures were taken with a Cannon Rebel xti using a Cannon 100-400mm zoom l type lens or a Cannon EFS 17-85 mm lens.

Africa Landscapes

Southern Africa has not only a vast array of wildlife and birds but so ...

Updated: Jun 28, 2009 5:34pm PST

Birds of Africa : Photos in this presentation were taken in August 2008 in Botswana and southeastern Zambia. Southern Africa has an abundance of birds (my field guide lists 990 species). Pictures were taken with a Cannon Rebel xti using a Cannon 100-400mm zoom l type lens or a Cannon EFS 17-85 mm lens.

Birds of Africa

Photos in this presentation were taken in August 2008 in Botswana and ...

Updated: Jul 03, 2009 12:13pm PST

Monterey Bay : Monterey Bay, California is a unique place along the coast south of San Francisco. In spite of the tinsel town reputation of California, the Monterey Bay area is a virtual haven for wildlife. Private and Federal shorelines create a hospitable environment for sea mammals, birds and other wildlife. Among these areas is the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). As a Federally protected marine area offshore of California's central coast the MBNMS encompasses a shoreline length of 276 miles and 5,322 square miles of ocean. It is our nation's eleventh Marine Sanctuary and its largest- larger then Yosemite or Yellowstone National Parks. These photos are a small example of what can delight the eye. The photos were taken with a Canon Rebel xti and an EF 70-300mm or EFS 17-85mm lens.

Monterey Bay

Monterey Bay, California is a unique place along the coast south of Sa ...

Updated: Jul 03, 2009 4:51pm PST

Butterflies Alive : The following photos were taken in September 2009 at the Butterflies Alive exhibit at the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum. The exhibit is held every-other-year and features North American butterflies. Great care is taken to prevent escapees since the displayed butterflies are non-native to the region and could transmit virus that would infect the native population. Comments are not complete as I do more research on identification. The photos were taken with a Canon XSi camera using a Tamaron MACRO 1:1 AF 90mm lens.

Butterflies Alive

The following photos were taken in September 2009 at the Butterflies A ...

Updated: Sep 11, 2009 4:19pm PST

Ocean Jellies : While in Monterey I stopped by its famous aquarium just to look. I could not help myself when I saw these ocean jellies and coral reef tropical fish. Talk about color – they got it. The photos were taken with a Canon Rebel xti and a EFS 17-85mm lens.

Ocean Jellies

While in Monterey I stopped by its famous aquarium just to look. I cou ...

Updated: Jul 01, 2009 4:49pm PST

Alaska Images : These pictures were taken in July 2009 in the coastal area of the Katmai National Park in the Hallo and Kulak Bay region. This area has the highest density of brown bears (AKA grizzly bears) in the world. More importantly they have not been hunted since the 1940’s and have been treated with respect by the few visitors that come into their home. It was a privilege granted to a small six person party including me me by these magnificent creatures. Over five days we often spent five hours just sitting still and taking pictures – honoring the bears right to feed and occupy the space we were visiting. I am pessimistic this sacred relationship between mankind and the bear will persist into the future. Day trips are now being offered by light planes that land on the beaches and discharge “day visitors” with inexperienced guides who are more interested in the fee they collect than the sanctity of the land and the creatures that inhabit it. I have included some landscape pictures so you can appreciate the unspoiled scenery for which much of Alaska is noted. You will also find birds and some other residents of the area. Pictures were taken with a Cannon Rebel xti using a Cannon 100-400mm zoom l type lens or a Cannon EFS 17-85 mm lens.

Alaska Images

These pictures were taken in July 2009 in the coastal area of the Katm ...

Updated: Aug 28, 2009 11:59am PST