Behind the Scenes with a Pro Photographer

Les Picker has photographed for National Geographic Society publications and many other consumer and corporate magazines and newspapers. He has had more than 650 published articles in major national publications. He was a monthly columnist and features contributor to Oceans Magazine and a weekly columnist, Op-Ed contributor and features travel writer and photographer for The Baltimore Sun. Les shoots the Fuji GFX medium format system.

Two characteristics shape Les’s photography: passion and inquisitiveness. Since an early age Les has been interested in the natural world and in other cultures. He earned a doctorate in environmental affairs (winter ecology), which he believes helps inform his landscape and wildlife photography. His interest in other cultures draws him frequently to exotic locales.

Les has cruised on a nuclear attack submarine deep in the Pacific Ocean and has climbed the highest peak in the Pyrenes. He has withstood -50°F in the Arctic and tolerated 120°F living with a Bedouin tribe in the Eastern desert of Egypt. He was nearly bitten by a sea lion in the Galapagos (never stand between a mother and her pup!) and was chased by a 16-foot alligator in South Africa (they are faster than you think!).

Les was named Best Travel Photographer for the prestigious Canada Northern Lights Award. He is in demand as a keynote speaker, lecturer, and judge for photography competitions. Les also leads photography adventure tours throughout the world.

Les is a Moab Fine Art Master Photographer, an X-Rite Coloratti and an Awagami Ambassador. His print workshops are sponsored by Moab (a division of Legion Paper).

Les is also a novelist and his books can be found here.

“I feel blessed to be able to write and photograph for a living,” Les says. “If my photographs help people better appreciate our natural world – and its fragility – then I feel I have accomplished a worthy life goal.”