Meet Arthur Lefo | Wildlife Photographer & Guide

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

Hi Arthur, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“Seek the wild, open spaces, filled with wonder and inspiration, and strive to share these pure places with others, inspiring change in the most honest of ways”.

These are the inspired words that I wrote on the back of a postcard while on an expedition in the stunning Arctic landscapes of Greenland. I mailed myself the postcard back to the US via snail mail so that I wouldn’t forget the feeling of what I was experiencing in one of the most unique and fragile places on the planet. Since this day, this quote has become my driving mantra, my daily motivation, my life goal.

Nature represents something deeply soulful to many of us, an escape from the craziness of everyday life, a quiet retreat to reset the mind, a place to explore and exercise, somewhere we can connect with the one true source of our own existence: wilderness. I always felt this strong connection to it and desire to share its wonders with more people, but never knew how. By writing these words down, I not only made my life goal ever more evident but I also used them to effectively launch my career in wildlife photography which has led me to where I am today.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a wildlife photographer, I strive to create unique and intimate images of raw moments in the wild. My work focuses heavily on megafauna in North America and high latitude regions around the world. Capturing natural, rarely seen, and visually stunning moments of wild animals in their native environments is always a goal, and I strive to tie in a larger story (usually conservation-oriented) to the image to bring a sense of understanding and compassion to the viewer. In my photography, I like to portray natural animal behaviors with accuracy and intimacy, but beyond that, I strive to bring a sense of magic to each image through an artful and personal touch.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love exploring the Front Range hikes just outside the city. Contrary to what most people realize, there are black bears and mountain lions right here in the foothills of the mountains, and many of them even visit nearby neighborhoods. Golden has a few wonderful hikes to explore, including the nearby world-famous Red Rocks Amphitheater. In the city itself, I am a huge fan of the parks (Washington Park, Cheeseman Park) and exploring the amazing food and beer Denver has to offer. I’m also a frequent visitor at Lekker Coffee in RiNo where they donate a portion of their profits to conservation, not to mention really good coffee!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Brooke Bartleson, aka Brooke Littlebear, is my best friend and dearest partner in our fight for the conservation of wilderness. Brooke is a wildlife photographer and conservationist who I met sometime along my journey to becoming full-time in wildlife photography. Her work, words, and advice have inspired and pushed me to continue this journey and to reach higher, think deeper, and do more for our beloved wild counterparts.

Website: www.arthurlefo.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/arthurlefo

Twitter: www.twitter.com/arthurlefo

Facebook: www.facebook.com/arthurlefo

Image Credits
All images are mine, Arthur Lefo