Deanna Leonard

Deanna was born and raised in Yellowknife, NWT, Canada. Over the past 25 years, she has dedicated her life to studying and working with marine mammals across the globe. Her journey has taken her from the rugged coastlines of Vancouver Island and Stellwagen Bank off Massachusetts to the icy waters of Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, Iceland, Norway, Svalbard, and Antarctica. She attended graduate studies at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and the Arctic University of Norway, deepening her expertise in Arctic ecosystems.

As a marine biologist Deanna is deeply passionate about understanding ecosystems—their functions, species interactions, and the profound changes they are undergoing, especially in the Arctic. A particular focus of her work in Norway involves examining how southern species may be competing with native Arctic inhabitants. Deanna leads research expeditions aboard vessels in the Norwegian Arctic each summer, estimating whale populations from blue whales to killer whales in the North Atlantic. When not at sea, she works as an expedition guide in both the Arctic and Antarctic and enjoys exploring the remote wilderness with her spirited little dog, Fridtjof—named after the legendary explorer Fridtjof Nansen.

For Deanna, photography is more than capturing images; it’s about honoring the world’s most breathtaking and remote places. As a wildlife and photography guide, her mission is to inspire a connection to nature, helping others see, feel, and preserve the magic of these once-in-a-lifetime experiences, creating memories that last a lifetime.