Author Archives: Galen Leeds Photography

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About Galen Leeds Photography

Nature and wildlife photographer, exploring the world on his feet and from his kayak. Among other genres, he is one of the leading kayak photographers in Northern California. To learn more about him, visit him on his website- www.galenleeds.net

Descending into the Night: a video of Vaux’s Swifts


New Each fall huge numbers of Vaux’s Swifts pass down the West Coast of the United States during their southern migration. At night they will gather for the night in massive communal roosts. Before the advent of man and his … Continue reading

Posted in birds, nature photography, video | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The secret to seeing (and photographing) seals when kayaking


New The biggest secret to seeing seals close up while kayaking shouldn’t be a secret at all… It’s simply to remember to look behind yourself. It is illegal to approach a seal too closely (federal marine mammal act), but it … Continue reading

Posted in How to, kayak photography, marine life, nature photography, Photo Essay, seals, wildlife photography | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Bull and the Bat: An explorative essay in photos


New What, may you ask would be the interesting connection and story between a bull and a bat? In this case, nothing, except that they are the only two things I took pictures of on this day a few weeks … Continue reading

Posted in mammals, nature photography, Photo Essay, photography, wildlife photography | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Stanislaus National Park: A tour in Photos


New One of the more delightful backpacking trips I’ve been on in quite some time, was a trip I made with a friend of mine. We had a three day weekend ahead of us. We wanted that High Sierra feeling, … Continue reading

Posted in landscapes, My favorite Parks, National Park, nature photography, Photo Essay, photography, SLR | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ardenwood Historic Park: A tour in photos


Ardenwood Historic Park is a family oriented, interactive park. It is part history, part petting zoo. It is educational and hands on… and oddly enough it is rather suburban. Nestled into the outskirts of Fremont, it is a mix of … Continue reading

Posted in Location, My favorite Parks, Park, Photo Essay, photography, portraits, SLR | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Badger crosses the road


New I was driving home to Tomales one day after the Point Reyes Farmer’s Market, when I saw this white stripe moving through the grass on the side of the road. “A skunk!” I thought to myself. I hardly had … Continue reading

Posted in badger, nature photography, Photo Essay, photography, road side, wildlife photography | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

The Hazel-Atlas Sand Mines: A tour of photographs


New The heat of a summer’s day faded away with the noises of the outside world as I strode into this tunnel in time. I visited the Hazel-Atlas Sand Mines in the Black Diamond Regional Park, where they once gathered silicone to … Continue reading

Posted in California, documentary, Location, My favorite Parks, Park, Photo Essay, photography, SLR, wildlife photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Coyote Yawns: A short series of photographs


I came across this coyote one day while hiking in the hills of San Francisco’s Bay area. (The East Bay actually, near the historic Black Diamond Sand Mines out towards Antioch and Somersville.) It sat there long enough for me … Continue reading

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Chickadee in the spider’s web


One day while kayaking with a friend, I saw something I never imagined to see. A Chestnut-backed Chickadee with its wind stuck in a spider’s web. There were actually many spiderwebs around, and several chickadees, but only one that I … Continue reading

Posted in birds, California, documentary, kayak photography, nature photography, photography, SLR, wildlife photography | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Anatomy of a photo #69: Following the tracks of history


1930 saw the end of an era in western Marin and Sonoma counties, when the railroad running through this rural area was dismantled. Allowing timber and tourists alike to travel between Sausalito and the Russian River, little remains to hint … Continue reading

Posted in Anatomy of a photo, California, How To, landscapes, nature photography, photography, SLR | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Languid Sea Lion, Continued…


I just noticed that I had a few other images of a Sea Lion languidly lounging at the water’s surface. I took these images the same day as I took these images of a Sea Lion with its flippers floating … Continue reading

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The Alien Anemone: A brief essay of photos


New Anemones are one of the more otherworldly creatures I can imagine… which I suppose makes sense, as they are from another world, a more watery one of ocean and sea. Some varieties are more regular visitors to our terrestrial … Continue reading

Posted in California, kayak photography, marine life, nature photography, SLR, underwater, wildlife photography | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments