Lea.F Images

Lea.F Images Wildlife photographer on a mission to showcase the wonders of nature. Let's embark on a journey through the lens of nature together.

Day 4 - Time with the puffins!While I was a little late in the season to capture that classic picture of a puffin with a...
08/21/2026

Day 4 - Time with the puffins!

While I was a little late in the season to capture that classic picture of a puffin with a mouthful of capelin, I still had an absolute blast photographing these guys. Talk about a photogenic subject!

In fact, I had so much fun with them that when we were asked what we wanted to do on our last day, my answer was easy—go back for more puffin pictures! Sometimes you just have to make the most of a great opportunity, and I certainly wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the puffins yet.

Day 3 – Afternoon & Evening | BonavistaAfter a long day of driving and photography, we arrived at our next destination—B...
08/13/2026

Day 3 – Afternoon & Evening | Bonavista

After a long day of driving and photography, we arrived at our next destination—Bonavista.

We decided to slow down for a bit and enjoy the town, its history, and the working harbour before calling it a day. Bonavista is one of those places where history seems to be around every corner. The town is closely tied to John Cabot’s 1497 voyage to North America. According to local tradition, when Cabot first saw the area, he exclaimed “O buono vista!”—“Oh, happy sight!”—which is said to be how Bonavista got its name.

The harbour also tells an important part of Newfoundland’s story. For centuries, cod was the backbone of Newfoundland’s economy and culture. The rich fishing grounds surrounding the island attracted European fishermen as early as the 1500s, and over time, communities like Bonavista grew around the cod fishery. The ocean wasn't simply a source of food; it provided livelihoods for fishermen, merchants, boat builders, fish processors, and countless other businesses that supported the industry.

But for us, Bonavista was more than just another stop along the way.

It was the place we had been working toward.

After a good night’s rest, we planned an early start the next morning to spend time with the Atlantic Puffins—the driving force behind this entire trip. After days of travel, fog, rain, cliffs, and seabirds, we were finally getting close to what I had been looking forward to most.

Tomorrow was Puffin Day.

And I couldn't wait.

Lea Frye

Day 3 – Morning | Cape St. Mary’sThe rain had stopped, but the fog lingered as we returned to the Cape St. Mary’s Seabir...
08/10/2026

Day 3 – Morning | Cape St. Mary’s

The rain had stopped, but the fog lingered as we returned to the Cape St. Mary’s Seabird Ecological Reserve.

The combination of thick fog and a 300-foot (100-meter) cliff was a little intimidating. As we approached the edge, I could definitely feel a mild case of vertigo setting in! Meanwhile, the birds were completely at ease with the sheer vertical drop and the crashing waves far below. They simply went about their day as if it were the most ordinary place in the world.

For most of the morning, the fog kept the cliffs and ocean mostly hidden. But then, for a brief window, it began to lift—and suddenly we had our opportunity.

That short break in the fog gave me just enough time to photograph some of the incredible seabirds that call Cape St. Mary’s home: Common Murres, Razorbills, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Northern Gannets. All nesting along these dramatic cliffs.

It was one of those moments where you have to be ready because you never know how long the window will last.

Which one is your favorite—the murres, razorbills, kittiwakes, or gannets?

Lea Frye

Where’s Lea This Weekend?You can find me this Saturday at 7:00 PM at Missouri Headwaters State Park as part of their Sum...
08/05/2026

Where’s Lea This Weekend?
You can find me this Saturday at 7:00 PM at Missouri Headwaters State Park as part of their Summer Speaker Series!
I’ll be introducing my new book, Wildlife Through the Lens, and sharing some of the stories behind my favorite photographs. We’ll also talk about wildlife safety, fascinating wildlife facts, and tips for photographing wildlife while respecting the animals and their natural habitat.
Whether you’re a photographer, wildlife enthusiast, or simply enjoy spending time outdoors, I’d love to have you join me for an evening celebrating Montana’s incredible wildlife.
Be sure to check out the park’s many other family-friendly programs and events offered throughout the summer. It’s a wonderful place to learn, explore, and enjoy one of Montana’s most historic and scenic state parks.
I hope to see you on Saturday evening!

Day 2 of Our Newfoundland AdventureDay 2 of our adventure greeted us with rain and thick fog. Our guide picked us up ear...
08/05/2026

Day 2 of Our Newfoundland Adventure

Day 2 of our adventure greeted us with rain and thick fog. Our guide picked us up early in the morning, and we headed toward our first photography destination—the Cape St. Mary's Seabird Ecological Reserve, home to one of the world's largest nesting colonies of Northern Gannets.

I'm sure the scenery along the drive was spectacular, but to be honest, the fog was so thick we couldn't see much of anything. To add insult to injury, the weather was bad enough that the trail leading to the photography overlook was closed.

Instead, we visited the information center and watched the short film about the reserve. Scot's sense of humor quickly kicked in, and he couldn't resist photographing the movie screen, followed by a few shots of the foggy view outside the window.

Not wanting to waste the day, our guide took us into the nearby community of St. Mary's, where we drove around looking for anything interesting to photograph. Unfortunately, Mother Nature simply wasn't in the mood to cooperate. As the rain intensified and lightning moved into the area, we decided it was best to call it a day.

The plan was to get an early start the next morning and return to the gannet colony, hoping the weather would finally give us the opportunity we had traveled so far to experience.

About 10% of Common Murres are morphs, easily recognized by the thin white ring around the eye and the white line extend...
08/03/2026

About 10% of Common Murres are morphs, easily recognized by the thin white ring around the eye and the white line extending behind it. Newfoundland is home to one of the largest concentrations of bridled Common Murres anywhere in the world, making every visit to these incredible seabird colonies even more exciting.

With no nest to protect, each pair carefully balances a single egg directly on the rock ledge. It seems impossible, yet generation after generation they successfully raise their young on these crowded cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Have you ever spotted a bridled Common Murre, or is this the first time you've heard of them?

📍Newfoundland, Canada

Common Murre, Bridled Common Murre, Newfoundland, seabird colony, Atlantic Canada, bird photography, wildlife photography, nesting seabirds, coastal cliffs, Atlantic Ocean, Canadian wildlife, birdwatching, nature photography, ocean wildlife, travel Newfoundland, rare bird morph, bird behavior, wildlife adventure, fine art wildlife photography, nature lovers

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Encounter: Photographing a Leucistic Broad-tailed HummingbirdA chance text message led to one of th...
08/02/2026

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Encounter: Photographing a Leucistic Broad-tailed Hummingbird

A chance text message led to one of the rarest wildlife photography opportunities of my career—a leucistic Broad-tailed Hummingbird in Colorado. Learn what makes these uniquely colored birds so uncommon, the difference between leucism and albinism, and the story behind capturing this unforgettable image in the wild.

🔗READ MORE LINK IN COMMENTS 🔗

Leucistic hummingbird, Broad-tailed hummingbird, rare hummingbird, white hummingbird, hummingbird, hummingbird photography, hummingbird art, bird photography, bird watching, backyard birds, wild birds, avian photography, rare bird, wildlife photography, wildlife art, nature photography, Colorado wildlife, Rocky Mountain wildlife, mountain birds, bird lovers, birding, native birds, fine art photography, fine art wildlife prints, limited edition prints, high definition metal prints, nature lovers, collectible wildlife art, wildlife wall art, outdoor photography, wildlife conservation, unique wildlife encounter, colorful birds, pollinators, nectar-feeding birds, western wildlife, North American birds.

I've had several people ask whether I think Nikon's Z lenses are worth upgrading to, so I thought I'd share my thoughts....
08/01/2026

I've had several people ask whether I think Nikon's Z lenses are worth upgrading to, so I thought I'd share my thoughts.

The short answer is yes—but it depends on what you photograph.

I think the Z zoom lenses, especially the S-Line, are a noticeable upgrade over the older F-mount zooms. They're sharper, focus a little faster, and are both smaller and lighter, making them well worth considering if you use zoom lenses regularly.

When it comes to prime lenses, though, my opinion is a little different.

For the type of wildlife photography I do—creating large fine art metal prints where every feather and strand of fur matters—I still love the clarity, sharpness, and image quality of my F-mount prime lenses. A great prime lens is hard to beat.

Would I switch to the Z prime lenses? Absolutely...if money wasn't part of the equation. The improvement is there, but replacing my professional F-mount primes would cost far more than I can justify right now.

I also still find myself using manual focus quite often, so the slightly faster autofocus of the Z lenses isn't enough to make me change systems.

At the end of the day, great photographs come from understanding your equipment and knowing how to use it—not simply owning the newest gear.

These images were all photographed using a Nikon Z zoom lens, and I'm very happy with the results.

Have you made the switch from F-mount to Z lenses? I'd love to hear what you think.

Wildlife photography, Nikon Z lenses, Nikon F lenses, Nikon mirrorless, Nikon Z8, Nikon Z9, Nikon S-Line, telephoto lens, prime lens, zoom lens, wildlife photographer, bird photography, nature photography, camera gear, photography tips, outdoor photography, professional photograph

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