Award-winning, eagle-eyed photog lets nature come to him

From SpaceX launches to eagles in flight, photographer Les Greenwood presents moments in time to viewers that they might not otherwise experience. With patience and artistic flair, he brings fleeting events and unpredictable wildlife encounters into captivating focus.

“I tend to gravitate to wildlife and florals,” Greenwood explains.

“When I’m in the outdoors, I love what nature brings to me. I was told a photographer should let nature present itself, where you will find some great ideas and inspiration.”

His photo “Mirror Image” is a wonderful example of Greenwood’s philosophy. The photograph received the award for Best Film/Traditional Raw Photography in the 2026 Eye of the Camera Juried Show at the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery.

He recalls that he had been sitting by calm waters at Merritt Island for an hour early one morning, when suddenly, a tri-colored heron flew down to about 100 feet away. It was exactly the right spot for him to take the shot, where clouds, vegetation and the heron are perfectly mirrored in the still waters.

“I am fortunate to be retired, which gives me the time to watch what nature gives us. I have found some awesome beauty in nature. Birds, flowers and landscapes all tell a story if you look hard enough. Of course, narratives and stories are open to interpretation by the viewer,” says Greenwood.

The story behind his exquisite photo “Just Visiting” is a reminder of the often-unseen natural world that surrounds us. In it, he has captured a lush magenta lily bloom and the visiting green and blue dragonfly that perches on the tip of one of its petals.

“My Happy Place” is another striking photo with a delicate dragonfly, this time peering into the camera as if posed and ready for its close-up. The shot received a First Place award at the 2025 Waterlily Festival at McKee Botanical Garden, to which Greenwood is a frequent visitor.

Greenwood says his career in law enforcement and fire safety meant that taking photos was an essential part of the job, back when film was the media of choice.

Among other positions, he worked in New York as chief officer special operations for a Division of Fire Service, as a fire protection specialist and emergency management specialist for Homeland Security, and as a planner for the NYS Incident Management Team.

Through those jobs, Greenwood says he recognized “the bad” in photography and “the good.”

“The bad in photography are crime scene photos I can’t un-see. My post at 9/11 was in Incident Management to make sure that New York City had the resources it needed. This was a horrific day in our nation’s history. I lost people I knew on that day and all the years that followed I didn’t take any photos,” Greenwoods says.

However, the good began when he went to Cape Canaveral with his cousin to shoot the first night flight of a space shuttle. He became part of the media team at the launch site, and he knew instantly that he wanted to take his photography further.

“That was incredibly exciting!” says Greenwood, whose exuberance remains evident.

“From that point, I invested as much time as possible to learn all about photography. When I retired in 2015 and moved to Vero Beach, that’s when I learned more from professional photographers Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski.”

He has since photographed numerous launches, including one at Jaycee Park, where he captured a rocket launch using extended exposure. With clarity and precision, the shot traces the rocket’s gleaming trajectory across the dark night sky.

Nature continually presents opportunities for Greenwood, such as the numerous shots he has captured of eagles and their nesting site on the property of Mullinax Ford of Vero Beach. He explains that Mullinax management worked to preserve the natural habitat, created a walkway for visitors and installed cameras to monitor the nests from a computer screen inside their showroom.

His images illustrate the story of a devoted eagle couple, depicting them from numerous angles, including bringing food back to the nest and hovering over as they feed their young.

“I watched the eagles for four hours for only about 15 minutes of action. That was the longest I ever waited to get several action shots.”

On the other hand, Greenwood didn’t have to wait long at all to capture the type of lightning bolt image most of us only see in a glimpse. The wind had turned a quiet sunset photo shoot into a memorable opportunity at just the right time.

“I had just finished taking sunset images at Riverside Park and packed my gear heading home on the bridge crossing. Suddenly there was thunder and bright flashes. So, I made a sharp U-turn, parked the car and ran to the bridge railing,” Greenwood recalls with excitement.

“I didn’t have my tripod, so I balanced my camera on the rail, violating all the rules of photography, propped it up with my camera strap and that was my first lightning shot!”

These frozen “now you see it, now you don’t” moments in time may seem as if his photos are taken with ease. But behind the lens are Greenwood’s own eagle eyes, as well as his eagerness to share the sorts of instances that others often gloss by while going about their daily routines.

“I tell new photographers to spend a lot of time to learn as much as you can and to never stop learning. Don’t measure your photographs against others, only against yourself. That way you can improve yourself.”

Greenwood, who resides in Vero Beach with his family, frequently takes his son and daughter on shoots and says his son is now taking his own photos. Greenwood is a member of the Treasure Coast Photography Club, where members critique and discuss advanced digital techniques. His photographs are in private collections, museums, and can be viewed on Instagram, Facebook and his own website.