Understanding and Photographing America’s Black Bear
Mon, Jul 13, 2026 - 7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Morton Arboretum Thornhill Center and Zoom
July’s program will focus on black bears. Presenter Bill Lea has spent more than three decades photographing America’s black bears, gaining rare opportunities to observe and study them in their natural habitat.
What is it about bears that fascinates us so deeply? Is it their size and strength, or perhaps the fear they inspire? Maybe our fascination comes from a combination of these qualities—or even from childhood memories of a favorite teddy bear. Despite our long-standing interest in bears, myths and misconceptions about them remain widespread, leaving many people unfamiliar with their true nature.
Through this program, participants will gain a deeper understanding of black bears and learn how that knowledge can lead to more meaningful and compelling photographs. Attendees will leave with greater insight into black bear behavior, as well as practical advice for photographing these remarkable animals.
Speaker Bio
For Bill Lea, photographing the wonder of nature from the Canadian Rockies to the Florida Everglades has long been a passion. More than 7,000 of Bill’s photos have been published, and he has been leading photo workshops since 1992. He has authored four coffee table books and co-authored several others. His most popular book, Cades Cove—Window to a Secret World, is in its fifth printing. The Everglades—Where Wonders Only Whisper was his second self-published book; the Great Smoky Mountains—Memories of Mystic Mountain Moods is Bill’s most recent book. For more than 30 years, Bill has been presenting educational programs to dispel the myths about bears. He has appeared on Dateline NBC, National Public Radio, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, local radio stations, news stations, and a variety of other programs. The enjoyment of sharing the wonder of black bears and nature with others is second only to Bill’s desire for promoting respect for wildlife, nature, and all of God’s creation.
To learn more about Bill’s photography, please visit: www.BillLea.com
