I grew up in the Detroit, Michigan, USA area and graduated the University of Michigan with a degree in Natural Resources. Following several seasons of wildland firefighting in California, I completed a master's degree at Utah State University. I worked a year for the National Park Service, then went to Upstate New York, where I worked as an exhibits artist and, later, director of Beaver Lake Nature Center, a leading interpretive center. In 1990 I moved to Washington State and turned to full time nature and travel photography.

I write a blog: leerentz.wordpress.com

My work has been published in National Geographic, National Geographic Adventure, National Wildlife, US News & World Report, Audubon, and scores of other magazines, books, and other media.

Please note that I am a working photographer. I am happy to license my work, but it is rare that I will agree to give it away for free–even to not-for-profits. I have as much need as publishers, web designers, writers, bloggers, and graphic designers to be compensated for my work.