Len Hjelmeland
Photographer, Volunteer, and Small Business Owner in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Self taught freelance nature/wildlife photographer. I spent a few years sucked in by the 'big money' in the oilfield, before my love of, and concern for the future of my animal friends and Mother Earth overpowered my 'addiction' to money and toys. The terrible violations to the Earth that I witnessed while in the 'patch' sickened me to the point I dedicated the rest of my 'journey' here to fighting for what is 'right' and to HELL with the money - it's pretty hard to eat/digest I am told !! I am a life time lover, defender, activist for my animal friends - great and small, wild or domestic. Also have very strong opposition to the rape of our environment for 'profit' ** code name 'Economic Prosperity'. I use my photography to both record the destruction and record what our once beautiful natural heritage 'used' to be like - before our 'Regressive Conservative Government' decided the future of the natural heritage that we depend on for our very life is not nearly as important as their 'pension slush funds', some way of justifying their time in office, and the bottom line of all their 'Big Money' campaign supporters.
*** " WE DID NOT INHERIT THE EARTH FROM OUR ANCESTORS - WE BORROWED IT FROM OUR CHILDREN !! " ~ Native Canadian Wisdom
*** "ONLY ONCE THE LAST TREE IS CUT, THE LAST FISH CAUGHT, AND THE LAST RIVER POISONED, WILL MAN REALIZE HE CANNOT EAT MONEY" ~ Native Canadian Wisdom