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I have a deep passion for Africa and all things African. I’m a seasoned veteran of over 30 safaris to Africa, and always seek to catch the essence of African wildlife and the people as they swiftly evolve. Africa is about light; the lack of it or the overabundance.I was drawn to the infinite interplay between light and shadow of Africa's wildlife. What was - is now no more; and what is will soon pass.

It is an honor that the proceeds from the sale of my African Wildlife series go towards African conservation. Ernest Hemingway has, in contemporary times, fallen out of vogue, yet his African novels catch an essence few have matched. Particularly his quote, “All I wanted to do was get back to Africa. We had not left it, yet, but when I would wake in the night I would lie, listening, homesick for it already.” A part of one’s soul yearns for the red earth of Africa, the richness of its smells, the stillness of its brilliant nights.

I am fortunate to do what many people dream of: I’ve tread the jungle trails deep in parts of Africa where children had never seen a pale skinned human. I have captured on film – real film – and developed by my own hand these ghosts of these adventures.

I hope my work can enthuse others as much as my passion for a disappearing world: one of mystery, of ancient ways – modern incursions – and wildlife attempting to find their place in a world swiftly morphing around them; has impacted me.

Leann Collins the Artist

Ms. Collins photography degree was from one of the top colleges in the United States. She was personally mentored by one of the leading professors of Photography in the country and an inductee into the Brooks Institute of Photographic Hall of Fame.

Her African Wildlife images were not taken in tame parks. This is the real Africa as the indigenous people experience daily life. Most of her work is taken at dangerously close range. For instance Death Stare, one of her most popular works shows the danger and bravery of the deadly Cape buffalo. This picture, like most her work, was taken at some risk; earlier that year a farmer was killed by a Cape nearby in an unprovoked attack.

Ms. Collins is considered by her peers a master printer in traditional – if not vintage - optical and chemical printing. The current genre of her constantly evolving work is African Wildlife.

Her medium includes extensive experience in almost all areas of photography, including infra red, digital, film, black & white, and color transparency. She uses a number of different formats of camera, including 35 mm, as well as medium format (2 ¼ x 2 ¼ and 645), some large format (4x5), as well as SX 70. She was one of the few photographers that printed virtually all of her own work for competition. She still maintains a full dark room in her studio.

Of interest, some of Ms. Collins most amazing work is her photo-impressionism. She was an early pioneer in SX-70 emulsion manipulation. Ms. Collins invented and coined the phrase photo-impressionism as it applied to SX-70 work. Even though, there were many co-developers of this process, she invented the particular process whereby the emulsions could be manipulated days if not a week after the image was taken. Previous to her invention, all SX-70 manipulation had to be done immediately within 45 seconds of the image being taken, creating a significant hardship for the artist. Her work and technique was requested and taught throughout the professional photographic seminars across Texas and the region. It should be stressed this photographic manipulation was done by hand, not through digital or Photoshop treatment.

Honors & Awards:

Honor of Exhibition: “Gold Corner”; Banjo Impressionism, (Category: Illustrative), By Texas Professional Photographers Assoc. Inc; State Convention; Kerrville TX

Honor of Exhibition: “Gold Corner”; Ghost Lamp, Reflections From the Past, (Category: Illustrative), By Texas Professional Photographers Assoc. Inc; State Convention; Kerrville TX

Honor of Exhibition: “Gold Corner”; Spirit House, The Sky Pueblo, (Category: Illustrative), By Texas Professional Photographers Assoc. Inc; State Convention; Kerrville TX

Honor of Exhibition: “Gold Corner”; Castellan Dreams, (Category: Illustrative), By Texas Professional Photographers Assoc. Inc; State Convention; Kerrville TX

Birds of a Feather, 1st Place Advertising Spring 1997

Kristina, Honorable Mention Portraiture Spring 1997

Ready to Play Ball, Spring 1997 3rd Place Portraiture

Brick and Concrete, Summer 1997, Honorable Mention, Editorial

Caught Mermaid I, Summer 1997, 2nd Place Printing, Illustrative

The Bustier, Winter 1997 Honorable Mention Nude

Draped Huntress, Summer 1997 Honorable Mention Illustrative

LIST OF REPRESENTATIVE PUBLISHED WORKS :

Illustration for: Argentine Estancia: Olives, Wine & Pigeons Texas Sporting Journal, Jan/Feb 2011

Illustration for: Saga of the Incredible Rising Bite Open Seasons – March 2011

Illustration for: Shot on the Spot ! Alamo SCI October 2010 Vol. 2 No. 4

Illustration for: Hidden Jewel 2007 Winter Rendezvous

Illustration for: Feast of the Rhinoceros Alamo SCI April 2010 Vol. 2 No. 2

Illustration for: The Heart That Beats Differently in Africa Fall 2005 Issue African Sporting Gazette

Illustration for: African Bush Buster, The American Sharp, Spring 2005

Illustration for: Family Dream Trip On A Working Man’s Budget - African Safari - February 2004

Illustration for: Wild Game Restaurant Review : The Immovable Feast – Capital Safari November 2004

Illustration for: A Family Dream Trip on a Working Man’s Budget – Capital Safari, November 2004

Illustration for: Waterbuck Snapshot – Capital Safari, January 2005

Illustration for: Charge! Black Death at My Boot Tips, Capital Safari, May 2005

Illustration for: Clueless, Capital Safari, May 2005

Illustration for: Three Stooges and the Kudu Capital Safari, May 2005

Illustration for: Animal Attacks, Capital Safari, May 2005

Illustration for: African Photographic Adventure, Austin Photography Journal, November 2004

Illustration for: American Photographic Adventure, Austin Photography Journal, January 2005

Illustration for: Wildlife Photography, Austin Photography Journal, July 2004

Illustration for: A Real Texas Wild Bear Story, Austin Photography Journal, July 2004

Illustration for: Summer Outdoor: Swimming Spots, Austin Photography Journal, July 2004

Illustration for: African Photographic Experience, Austin Photography Journal, December 2004

Illustration for: Wildlife Photography, Austin Photography Journal, December 2004