Hi, my name is Kerry Mark Leibowitz. I’m a Midwest-based (I split my time between the Chicago and Indianapolis areas) photographer with a particular propensity for the landscape.
I love landscape photography; it’s difficult for me to articulate the reasons why, but I’ll make an attempt. When I was a kid, it became obvious that I had some innate visual artistic talent. (Key word: some. The significance of this will become obvious below.) I did a lot of drawing and when my mother realized this she wasted little time sending me to a community center art class when I was eight or nine. What became apparent at that class was that, while I did indeed have “some” talent, I didn’t have nearly enough. I was, I’m quite sure, easily the least talented individual in the class. I knew what I was doing “wrong,” but for the life of me I couldn’t fix it to my satisfaction…or, for that matter, to the satisfaction of the course instructor.
From that point on, my visual expression lay largely dormant for decades. Focus was placed on my verbal and written expression, which came more naturally and, I found, was more easily developed.
Meanwhile, I dabbled in photography beginning in my high school years, but never pursued it with particular gusto. When I did fiddle with it, it was typically in the form of photographing landscapes while on trips to scenic places. I was again frustrated with my inability to translate my vision—the composed images that I had in my head, and saw with my eyes—to film, just as I’d been exasperated in my attempts to draw or paint the same sorts of images years earlier. What I didn’t realize at the time was that it was my lack of comprehension of the technical fundamentals of photography that was holding me back.
In 1998 I became sufficiently motivated, for reasons I’m still uncertain of, to overcome this logistical roadblock. And so I did, with relative ease, once I put my mind to it. A friend of mine—Danny Burk, a highly accomplished photographer—was generous enough to spend a week or so discussing the rudiments of exposure with me via e-mail, and from there I was off and running. Having put the procedural aspects of the endeavor behind me I was free to concentrate on the art of composition, which was always my strong suit.
What photography has allowed me to do is to translate my vision to a finished project. I’m always surprised when accomplished visual artists—those who draw; paint and/or sculpt with such acumen—gravitate toward photography. I doubt that if I had the natural visual skill of most of those folks, I’d ever have made the leap myself. If my hand was capable of translating my vision, that’s what I’d focus on. I have the vision; the camera is the tool I use to make it come to life.
I love landscape photography specifically because I love landscapes. I love looking at them; I love standing in and among them; I love capturing images of them with a camera; I love working with the images of them with software; I love making prints of them. In short, I love the whole process of landscape photography, from capture to print.
It’s my sincere hope that this emotion is evident to those who view my images.
For a brief non-photographic bio, please visit this page on my photography Web site.
For information about my photographic gear, go here.
Me, at Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico
Lightscapes Nature Photography Blog 
[…] friend, Kerry Leibowitz, in his Lightscapes Nature Photography Blog, illustrates why previsualization is so important, in […]
By: Taking Your Photography to the “Next Level” (6) « LightCentric Photography Blog on August 28, 2011
at 5:44 pm
Hi Kerry,
We met this weekend on Jim’s WV workshop and I am signing up with my personal e-mail account. I just read your blog on exposure and the one on White Sands Monument. I found your information on exposure interesting and timely since I’m heading to NC/Smokies in 2 weeks and have already experienced the waterfall exposure problem there in the Spring. Your suggestions were interesting to me, but more advanced than my current level but you gave me an idea to take multiple exposures to save for future blends when I am ready for that exercise and for the opportunity to improve my images. Your blog on the White Sands area just made me feel very peaceful, both your images and your words were calming in nature and I just really enjoyed that piece.
Take care and thanks for sharing both the beauty at the places you shoot, but your experience through words as well – I feel like I was there with you vicariously and I could really relate when you spoke about just being caught up in the moment, capturing it in your brain rather than in your camera.
Kathy
By: Kathy Bateman on October 11, 2011
at 1:31 am
Hello Kerry – I came across your gravitar on “melfrommass'” blog…and what beautiful photos you have! I have an affinity for landscape photography, find it rather mesmerizing sometimes, actually. Thank you for sharing your work. I’ll be following along….
By: seekraz on December 14, 2011
at 2:46 am
Nice photography!
By: Dmitrii on December 19, 2011
at 1:24 am
Kerry, I just nominated you for the Kreative Blogger Award and put a link to your blog on my latest post. Please feel free to respond as you choose, but I did want to do you the honor 🙂 – Lynn
By: composerinthegarden on December 23, 2011
at 12:53 pm
Kerry, you just visited my site, so I wanted to check you out. I love your shot of the Porcupine Mountains. It brings back memories. I am originally from Muskegon, Michigan, just around the lake from you. I will be looking forward to more from you. I just subscribed to your blog.
By: Bob Zeller on December 27, 2011
at 12:17 pm
Thanks, Bob. I’ve checked out your blog a number of times; I’m never disappointed. There’s always some wonderful avian photography to enjoy.
One of my college roommates (University of Michigan) was from very near Muskegon (Spring Lake). Small world.
By: kerryl29 on December 27, 2011
at 12:58 pm
Your talents spans more than landscapes – it captures water, light, and materials very well. Nicely done. Especially the pictures that are in color!
By: Todd Materazzi Photography on December 29, 2011
at 9:03 pm
Thanks for stopping in 🙂
By: Sunshine on December 30, 2011
at 5:01 pm
Hi Kerry – Thanks for checking out my blog and for the wonderful comments. Your landscape photography is absolutely beautiful!
By: Michael Glover on January 15, 2012
at 5:28 pm
Thanks, Michael!
By: kerryl29 on January 16, 2012
at 9:45 pm
Hey Kerry, a heads up – I”m linking to two of your posts (wildlife and the follow up, planning) in my post tomorrow (Friday). Hope you enjoy!
By: composerinthegarden on January 19, 2012
at 3:58 pm
Wow…your work is stunning. Made me think for a sec that I should try landscape photography, then I figured who am I kidding (I’ll mostly stick to what I know, whatever that is). Read your bio etc and it’s certainly wonderful for the photographic community that you decided to seriously pick up a camera to translate your vision. You’ve probably heard of Eddie Soloway, and if not, you may want to check out his work. No idea how you found me, but thanks for stopping by. And I hesitate to say this, just b/c I like my anonymity on the web, but small world…it’s likely that we may have had an intro poli sci class or two at U of M (no I’m sure we don’t know each other). Best wishes
By: lrntn on January 26, 2012
at 11:32 am
Thanks very much for the comment (and the follow).
I’m not sure how I found your blog–probably via a comment on a third party’s blog, but don’t quote me on that.
I understand your desire to retain a modicum of anonymity on the Web…but, small world indeed. If you were in my graduating class at Michigan and you took any of the intro poli sci classes (there were four at the time) during your first couple of years, we almost certainly were in the same class at least once. I took them all–and started taking 400 level classes the first semester of my sophomore year. Of course, all of those classes had at least 100 students in them (discussion sections notwithstanding), so being in the same class doesn’t necessarily mean all that much. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by.
By: kerryl29 on January 26, 2012
at 12:53 pm
Thanks for visiting my blog today. I am so glad to have found yours. I love your post on luck and landscapes, and have just figured out how good it is to go out sans camera and scout areas! I’ve only just begun!
By: Angeline M on January 27, 2012
at 8:44 pm
I enjoyed the close-up of the leaf and your “hope” post!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
By: kerryl29 on January 27, 2012
at 9:20 pm
Great photographs and wonderful blog. I will be back to visit often.
Gerry
By: gerryfrederickdigital on February 5, 2012
at 11:03 am
Thanks, Gerry!
By: kerryl29 on February 5, 2012
at 11:12 am
Hello! Thank you for visiting my blog. All I can say about your blog and your
work is WOW ! 🙂 I love nature and your pictures are amazing!
By: niki on February 7, 2012
at 2:30 pm
Thanks very much for the gracious words.
By: kerryl29 on February 7, 2012
at 2:38 pm
[…] two very wonderful people. One is the long overdue ‘Versatile Blogger Award‘ given by Kerry. He awarded me this one right on the new year’s eve =) was very excited then that I could […]
By: Awards, Awards! =D « Paprika-no-Yume on March 29, 2012
at 3:41 pm
Hello Kerry,
You’re a great photographer !!
I would like to let you know that I nominated you for the sunshine award !
Cheers
Mathias
By: MathiasLPhotos on May 7, 2012
at 12:20 pm
Thanks very much, Mathias. That’s very kind of you and I appreciate it. I’ve been nominated for this award once before, but haven’t done the public acknowledgment thing just yet. I’ll rectify that very soon.
Thanks again, and my apologies for not responding to this earlier; I’ve been out of town for most of the last two weeks.
By: kerryl29 on May 16, 2012
at 10:07 pm
Leibowitz? Any relation?
I love your work.
By: Cindy A. Carl on May 16, 2012
at 11:53 pm
Thanks for the kind words.
Re “relation”…to whom? I’m going to guess that you’re asking about Annie Leibovitz (because of the similarity of the last names and the photographic connection…and the fact that I’ve been asked this question before). If so, no relation (notice the spelling differences).
By: kerryl29 on May 17, 2012
at 10:47 pm
Yeah, I did mean Annie. I missed the spelling difference 🙂 Your photos are the same quality (that’s meant to be a compliment. I love her work).
By: Cindy A. Carl on May 17, 2012
at 10:52 pm
Hi, I found your blog via 1001 Scribbles. Your posts there are extremely helpful, thank you. I wish I’d found this blog earlier. So to make sure I don’t miss at least the future posts, I’m subscribed. 🙂
By: tita buds on May 17, 2012
at 7:13 am
Thanks very much and if I’ve been of help to you I couldn’t be more pleased.
By: kerryl29 on May 17, 2012
at 10:51 pm
Hi Kerry, I nominated you for a “very inspiring blogger” award. See my post for details http://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com/2012/08/10/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
By: trschell on August 11, 2012
at 8:41 am
Thanks very much; it’s always gratifying to be acknowledged. I now have three award selections to officially recognize, which I hope to do within the next two weeks or so. Again, thank you.
By: kerryl29 on August 11, 2012
at 12:26 pm
Kerry – I just award you a Blog of The Year 2012 star. Details at: http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/. Tom
By: The Palladian Traveler on December 14, 2012
at 6:40 pm
Thanks very much, Tom. I’m extremely gratified by your selection. I’ll have a post about this in the next couple of days.
By: kerryl29 on December 17, 2012
at 10:11 pm
[…] Lightscapes Nature Photography – Join Kerry as he takes you over hill, dale and a few rocky peaks as he showcases his mastery of landscape photography. […]
By: Stanley Ipkiss has My Six « The Palladian Traveler on December 14, 2012
at 7:01 pm
We’ve nominated your blog for an award (or two, or three…), if you accept them. If not, just consider it a token of our esteem! 😉 See our post at http://windagainstcurrent.com/2013/01/13/award-appreciation-we-thank-our-readers-for/
By: Vladimir Brezina on January 14, 2013
at 4:24 pm
Thanks very much for the nomination(s); I’m honored!
By: kerryl29 on January 14, 2013
at 10:17 pm
Kerry, You have a really beautiful blog. Amazing photos!
By: marissatejada on February 27, 2013
at 5:26 pm
Thanks very much!
By: kerryl29 on February 27, 2013
at 9:25 pm
Greetings from Australia Kerry,
You have a beautiful series of landscapes, the themes, colour and composition are absolutely brilliant. Take great care and keep photographing.
God bless
By: photographymemoirs on March 5, 2013
at 2:04 pm
Thanks very much!
By: kerryl29 on March 5, 2013
at 8:50 pm
You are most welcome; the pleasure is mine indeed 🙂
By: photographymemoirs on March 6, 2013
at 2:54 am
just wow , many of your pics can be a cover for a magazine , try contact them – if you didn’t – I believe they will buy from you
keep the cam with you all the time Kerry
By: Abdul in New Zealand on March 6, 2013
at 12:36 am
Thanks very much, Abdul–I greatly appreciate the kind words.
By: kerryl29 on March 6, 2013
at 1:05 am
I really love your landscape photos. I’m starting to get a little into myself, right now I tend to lean towards street photography so I really enjoy the talents of others in a different discipline of photography. Looking forward to more.
By: Mark Kertesz on August 2, 2013
at 11:48 am
Thanks very much; I greatly appreciate the kind words.
Street photography…an entirely different kettle of fish in re landscape photography, as you undoubtedly know. I look forward to taking a look at your blog.
By: kerryl29 on August 2, 2013
at 1:19 pm
I have just come across your blog Kerry and both your photography and writing are inspiring!
About to spend some time looking through your archive!
Siobhan
http://overdueadventure.wordpress.com/
By: overdueadventure on September 16, 2013
at 6:12 am
Thanks very much, Siobhan, for the kind words. I hope you enjoy looking through my past entries.
By: kerryl29 on September 16, 2013
at 1:17 pm
Hi Kerry,
Just chanced upon your blog, but from now on I would be following you keenly.
Great shots and really helpful notes on photography.
Thanks a lot for sharing.
Sreejith.
By: Sreejith Nair on October 13, 2013
at 11:01 pm
Thanks very much for the kind words, Sreejith. I greatly appreciate it.
By: kerryl29 on October 13, 2013
at 11:05 pm
Great blog – great photos! I really enjoy reading it 🙂 Irene
By: MaldivesDreamer on January 11, 2014
at 2:34 pm
Thanks very much!
By: kerryl29 on January 11, 2014
at 4:23 pm
Your blog has definitely displayed how following ones dreams gives satisfaction and happiness. Loved the colorful photos. Looking forward to more such blogs.
By: sanchitahobby on January 16, 2014
at 5:22 am
Thanks very much!
By: kerryl29 on January 16, 2014
at 11:15 am
Great series of shots…beautiful photography ~ you work hard for these great shots and it shows.
By: dalo2013 on February 2, 2014
at 2:57 pm
Thanks very much–I really appreciate the kind words.
By: kerryl29 on February 2, 2014
at 10:19 pm
I’m so glad I found this one. I was following 1000 Scribbles and thought that was yours, I guess…
By: Cynthia Guenther Richardson on February 7, 2014
at 6:29 pm
I’ve been doing a twice-monthly guest blogging gig on 1001 Scribbles for a couple of years now. Thanks very much for taking the time to stop by my own blog and leaving a comment.
By: kerryl29 on February 7, 2014
at 10:52 pm
Apologies, 1001 Scribbles.(Glad to add a comment. I don’t get many of those even with a good number of readers so I like to leave them!)
By: Cynthia Guenther Richardson on February 8, 2014
at 1:21 am
Fantastic!
By: Rajiv on June 17, 2014
at 11:51 pm
Thanks very much!
By: kerryl29 on June 18, 2014
at 9:13 am
love your photos
By: balitravelholidays on June 28, 2014
at 2:41 am
Thanks very much.
By: kerryl29 on June 28, 2014
at 10:24 am
I must say your photographs are amazing. You frame your subject in a way that makes even the simplest object appealing. Very well done. 🙂
By: Colton K. Owens on November 4, 2014
at 7:05 pm
Thanks very much; I really appreciate the kind words.
By: kerryl29 on November 4, 2014
at 7:57 pm
Phenomenal. Thank you for sharing your beautiful talent. It just makes me want to travel and see those breathtaking views in person. How we forget the beauty that lies just outside the cement world we spend most our time in.
By: Heather on November 25, 2014
at 10:57 am
Thanks very much for the very kind words.
By: kerryl29 on November 25, 2014
at 2:53 pm
Photography is a prayer that a moment lasts forever.
Love your work!
By: ginnawings on November 26, 2014
at 1:19 am
Thanks very much.
BTW, I agree with the sentiment expressed in your first sentiment. I wrote as much in a blog entry I posted more than five years ago.
By: kerryl29 on November 26, 2014
at 8:43 am
Hi Kerry, I have a question about your blog, but don’t see a contact email here? What’s the best way to contact you? Thanks!
By: Audrey Geddes on December 16, 2014
at 8:14 pm
Hi Audrey. You’re right, it appears that I don’t have an e-mail link anywhere on this blog (they’re all over the place on my website–lightscapesphotography.com)..
Feel free to e-mail me at:
kerry AT lightscapesphotography DOT com
By: kerryl29 on December 16, 2014
at 8:21 pm
Thank you! Sending the email to you shortly :-).
By: Audrey Geddes on December 17, 2014
at 1:19 am
Hi, Kerry, your bio caught my attention because you are in Indianapolis (sometimes). I grew up in Avon and live in Plainfield. I enjoy a lot of genres of photography including landscape. Enjoyed going through a few Canadian Rockies scenes. That is one place I would like to go in the next few years. Anyway, I am following your blog – I will be looking around some more – great work here!
By: Dennis Wagoner on March 19, 2015
at 8:10 pm
Hi Dennis. Thanks for the note and the kind words about my photography.
When in Indy, I’m all the way on the other side from you (Lawrence Township).
FWIW, I hope you get a chance to visit the Canadian Rockies at some point; it’s a landscape photographer’s paradise.
By: kerryl29 on March 19, 2015
at 11:03 pm
[…] I might choose to fill the gap. I’m going to be spending some more time with Kerry’s Lightscapes Nature Photography Blog. The things I’ve learned already are going to be good for my posts, starting immediately. If […]
By: thoutershores Finds Inspiration in a Photography Blog | theoutershores on July 16, 2015
at 11:39 am
hey kerry…m thrilled to read ur post…it’s awesome..m inspired by u . I too have some knowledge about photography and want to make it a passion. I am an excursionist and love photography too.
By: saloniweb on April 23, 2016
at 11:33 am
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and thanks for following my blog.
I wish you the very best of luck in your photographic quests.
By: kerryl29 on April 23, 2016
at 11:40 am
Your images are truly inspiring
By: sunshinehawaii on July 8, 2016
at 5:29 am
Thanks very much! That’s very kind of you.
By: kerryl29 on July 8, 2016
at 9:16 am
Hi Kerry,
My name is Anuj Agarwal. I’m Founder of Feedspot.
I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog Lightscapes Nature Photography has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 100 Nature Photography Blogs on the web.
http://blog.feedspot.com/nature_photography_blogs/
I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 100 Nature Photography Blogs on the internet and I’m honored to have you as part of this!
Also, you have the honor of displaying the badge on your blog.
Best,
Anuj
By: Anuj Agarwal on September 4, 2017
at 12:35 am
I apologize if you addressed this in the comments, but I read that you are shooting with the D800. Are you planning to upgrade to the D850, and what are your thoughts on the Sony a7R III? Congratulations on your inclusion in the Top 100 Nature Photography Blogs. Very well deserved.
By: David P. on April 2, 2018
at 3:39 pm
Thanks for the comment; it’s much appreciated.
Re the camera situation, in the interest of complete disclosure, I’m currently shooting with the “E” version of the D800. I currently have no intention to upgrade to the D850–it’s purely a function of the cost; I just can’t justify $3300 for a new camera given the (comparatively) incremental nature of the upgrade. Maybe at some point, when the D850 itself is facing replacement and the used market is flooded with bodies (and the price plummets), I could think about it, but by then who knows what things will look like in the camera market. (In truth, I carry and routinely use a pair of D800Es, so in theory I’d have to replace two cameras, not one.)
As for the a7rIII, I have no personal experience with this camera, but I have a number of acquaintances who do and I’ve heard virtually nothing but good things about it. If I weren’t more or less baked in to the Nikon mount, there’s a very good chance I’d be shooting with a7rIII myself, but the cost of buying a Sony kit to replicate my current Nikon setup–based on a generous assumption of what I could get by selling my Nikon gear on the used market–would cost me thousands of dollars.
By: kerryl29 on April 2, 2018
at 4:54 pm
I totally agree. The Fujifilm GFX 50S got my attention, but with body and kit lens you’re looking at $9000 (US).
By: David P. on April 3, 2018
at 2:31 pm
I’m not sure that any lens made for a medium format digital camera should really be classified as a “kit” lens, but I get your point. 🙂 And, FWIW, this is the least expensive digital MF system that currently exists (not surprising, given how small the market is for medium format in this day and age). And, FWIW, if you really want to be spontaneous with your photography, this wouldn’t be a good choice anyway.
By: kerryl29 on April 3, 2018
at 6:07 pm
[…] Kerry Mark Leibowitz is being modest when he says that he has some artistic talent. Not only are his landscapes amazing, but he shares the technical details of this specialized art form in each post. Kerry is knowledgeable and highly skilled. His blog is ranked #51 on the Top 100 Nature Photography Blogs and Websites. […]
By: 5-Star Photo Blogs (1) – In Pics and Words on May 6, 2018
at 4:05 pm