In the beginning.

I was born in New Orleans July 2, 1956 but I was raised in Metairie.

I went to Metairie Grammar, Metairie Middle and East Jefferson High School. I graduated in 1974.

I graduated from The Institute of Electronic Technology in Kenner,LA in 1986 and was ISCET certified.

Places I have been employed include Sears (Clearview in Metairie), GAF Photo Service (Kenner,LA) , Pellerin Milnor (Kenner,LA), Armor Systems (Metairie) and BASF (Geismar).

I started my own security system installations business in Baton Rouge. Companies I contracted out to include Sonitrol, Benidict and Myric, Diversified and Allied Systems.

I met my wife while working at GAF Photo Service. We have been married for 32 years. We have three sons and a daughter-in-law.

My Passion

At the age of 15, I saw a house fire and ran to get my mothers instamatic. I photographed all the excitement of the firemen in action. The seed was planted. But I was very disappointed with the photographs. I remembered it bigger and more exciting. I realized that I needed better equipment. I bought my first 35mm at age 16. The darkroom soon followed. My first darkroom was the family bathroom (the only one). I had to wait until everyone went to bed then I would stay up all night developing photographs.

I became interested in photographing live performances. I didn't use a flash. I wanted all of the color of the live performance. This resulted in some very interesting images. Some of the concerts I have photographed include Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Robert Palmer, Bob Seger, Fleetwood Mac, Gino Vannelli, Foreigner, Peter Gabriel and Genesis, Gary Wright, The Sex Pistols, Alice Cooper, Johnny Winters, Rod Stewart, Queen, Suzy Quatro, Elvis, Leon Russell, Jonny Lang, Theresa Anderson, Heart, Duane Doopsey, Van Halen, Eric Clapton and many more.

I have taken about 40 wedding and even a school prom but it's nature and wildlife that is my true passion.

Artistic education

I am self taught in photography, darkroom, Adobe Photoshop, web design and computers. When I realized I was an artist After taken 20 years off to raise a family, I started to pursue my dream. I began to realize that people appreciated my work in 2003. I had a few photos and a story, about me, published in The Advocate newspaper in Baton Rouge.

My favorite medium and why

I like to work in digital photography because of immediate gratification. I feel that photography is like target practice. The more you shoot, the better you get. Doing this with film gets expensive. But I believe that through practicing with digital you can become a better film photographer.

I started in digital in 2002 with a Sony 707 (5 megapixel) but now I work with a Canon 10D (6.3 megapixel) and I have two Canon Elan 7E's.

For prints I use an Epson Photo R1800. I use Epson or Ilford glossy photo paper for inkjet printers.

Adobe Photoshop (the digital darkroom) WOW!! What a valuable tool. I use photoshop almost everyday. You are only limited by your imagination. Being self taught, I still don't know how to use all of this program. I learn on an as needed basis.

How my photography has evolved

During my early years I had a drive for the photojournalistic approach. I shot fast and I shot a lot.

During my 20 years away from photography stress began it take it's toll. Life is stressful and it manifest itself physically. My unique way of looking at the world began to fade. I had the technical knowledge but not the drive. I would drive along and see cars and houses but I didn't see details. I was losing my photographic vision.

But in 2002 all that began to change. My three sons were grown, a four year project at work was over and I needed a stress break!

I joined a health club for $45/month but my interest didn't last (unfortunately the payments did).

I needed to get exercise and relieve stress but where?? The Bluebonnet Swamp and Nature Center that's where!! At $20/year it can't be beat.

I had a strong interest in computers, so I treated myself to a Sony 707 digital camera. And I started to walk. I carried my camera (on a tripod) and walked at the Bluebonnet Swamp 3-4 times per week. As I walked my stress level began to came down. The more I walked the more photographs I took. The more photographs I took the more detail I could see.

Then without warning it happened!! I realized that as I was driving I not only saw cars but also the people in them. I not only saw houses but I saw shingles on the roof. The discovery of this made me realize that for the better part of 20 years I had been blinded by stress!!

Now as I walk I think about an episode of "Delta Hands" I saw on PBS. On that show I remember a nature photographer saying "It purges the pollution of civilization from your mind". What a profound statement!! I wish I knew his name.

Update - The quote was actually: "There's something about being out in the swamp, especially when you're alone, that seems to suck the poisons of civilization out of you, some sort of healing power that lets you begin to be yourself again...." Greg Guirard

Thanks to Monica and Wade for the info.

Things I want visitors to know

I love nature photography. I feel that nature's beauty is a gift from God. But today's lifestyle is so fast paced and full of stress that this beauty is not always apparent to people. I feel it is the passion of the nature photographer to seek out these hidden treasures and record them in such a way as to evoke the desired emotional response from the viewer.

Advice for fellow artist of photographers?

Seek your passion. I used to do weddings and proms to earn money and I guess you have to do what you have to do. But don't get blinded by the stress of everyday life. Until you find the part of the art that "trips your trigger" you won't be happy or successful.

What I look for in other artists and their work.

I really don't look for anything in other artist work except imagination. I try not to judge others work because I don't know the passion that drives it. But I have seen art work that just blows me away and I think mission accomplished!Emotional response achieved!

Services I provide

• Creative photographic imaging.
• Photography
• Computer Graphics / Illustrations
• Photographic Business Cards
• Photo Quality Banners

Contact Info

Lenny Wells
P.O.Box 95
Prairieville, LA 70769
lennywells@gmail.com

Where can you see my work ?

www.naturallylouisiana.com and facebook