Leo Kurtz Photography

Leo Kurtz is a Fairfield native and student at Woods Middle School who combines his love of birding and photography to capture stunning images of the natural world. Recently, Leo completed his Mitzvah project by creating and selling greeting cards featuring his nature photography to family and friends. He then generously donated all proceeds to the Connecticut Audubon Society Fairfield Region in honor of the cherished memories he made at the Fairfield Nature Center growing up.

Leo's connection to nature began almost from birth. As a newborn, he visited the Larsen Sanctuary tucked into a baby carrier on walks with his mother. His parents fostered that early curiosity, spending countless days exploring the Sanctuary boardwalks, searching for salamanders, enjoying lunch beside Farm Pond, and building forts during summer camp adventures.

Birdwatching visits with his grandmother "Muma" in New York's Hudson Valley - along with trips to the Fairfield Center's original aviary — sparked Leo's fascination with birds and photography. That passion truly took flight in third grade when Leo received his first manual camera. Guided by a close family friend, he learned how to master aperture, ISO, and shutter speed to bring wildlife moments to life through his lens.

Since then, his love of photography and birding has inspired adventures far beyond Fairfield. While he still enjoys photographing native birds locally and shorebirds at Milford Point, some of his most memorable images have been captured during travels to New York's Minnewaska State Park Preserve, California, and Iceland. One of Leo's most inspiring adventures took place in Madera Canyon, a renowned "sky island" habitat in the Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona. There, he photographed remarkable species, including Rivoli's hummingbirds, Broad-billed hummingbirds, Blue Grosbeaks, Screech Owls, and even a magnificent California Condor at the Grand Canyon. Every photograph carries a story and a memory — from scaling cliffs and crossing footbridges in Iceland to catch a glimpse of an Atlantic Puffin colony, to quiet moments spent observing wildlife with family.

For Leo, photography is about more than capturing beautiful images. It is about adventure, discovery, and deepening his connection to both nature and the people he loves. This summer, Leo will continue his journey with trips to the Galápagos Islands and Ecuador, where he hopes to discover new species, create new memories, and continue growing as both a photographer and naturalist.

Greiser's sells Leo Kurtz's photography as framed prints and greeting cards.