Remembering Tamy Leventhal

Followers of my work will notice that I have not written a new blog since September, 2020. At the time of my last post, any creative energy I had was committed to a major inquiry task. My wife and partner was experiencing a change in her personality and behavior, an oddity that I thought was due to strong anti-epileptic medications. Three and a half years later, Tamy Leventhal died of a neurodegenerative disease called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. On Thursday May 18, 2023 I and more than hundred others celebrated Tamy’s life at the Oakdale Nature Center in Minnesota. What follows is the eulogy I gave to honor my wife and partner in love and adventure. Please enjoy the words and the images she made during her short but very well-lived life.

Jokulsarlon, Iceland - Image by Tamy Leventhal

I would like to begin by reading you all a love letter that I wrote Tamy as I learned about how very ill she was becoming. In writing this letter I wanted to reflect on the spark that united us rather than the health issues that dominated the present. Tamy’s illness began with a seizure and subsequent epilepsy diagnosis in 2018, a disease-related broken ankle in 2019, physical decline throughout the pandemic, a diagnosis of PSP in 2022, and a profound cognitive decline throughout the last and current year. As we fought to maintain a normal life rich with fun, respect, and dignity, I decided to write her the following note this past June:

I lived my youth as a lonely boy who moved about on the whim of young parents. Angry and sullen, I doubted that I would ever be happy. Then I met you...

We were college students studying rats in the desert, telling stories by the fire, and exhausted from long days in the field. I climbed a mountain to ask you out, and you said “With YOU?” and then said yes through that beautiful smile.

I lost your address, called our TA, and picked you up in ripped jeans. We ate scallops on the beach, and I tried to seduce you with stories of adventure. Your smile and kind heart changed me forever. No longer angry and sullen, I fell in love and have grown to be a happy man.

This letter is for you Tamy. I will always love you and cherish the time we have had together.

Your Soul Mate... Bruce

The Wild British Columbia Coast - Image by Tamy Leventhal

Tamy Rhoads Leventhal was a remarkable person, woman, advocate, nurse, environmentalist, photographer, spouse, and lover. Tamy never met a dog she didn’t want a pet or a person who she didn’t want to hug. My wife was a kind hearted, gregarious, and chatty friend to many. She took great pride in her work at the University Hospital… or whatever it has been called throughout these last 27 years.

When I met Tamy she wanted to move to Minnesota and become a veterinarian. In many ways, I was an unwanted inconvenience in her plan. As students of biology at the University California Irvine, I weaseled my way into her life and her future. 

While Tamy never dreamt of following in her mother’s footsteps, Tamy became and loved being a cardiac nurse… just like her mother. After every 12 hour shift, my wife would share the drama of the day, the doctors she helped, and the hugs she doled out. While it was clear that her job was filled with its stresses and successes, she always reminded me that this was the work she was meant to do.

I was very lucky to find Tamy and will never love someone or feel so loved ever again. I know that those who knew Tamy also knew me through her stories of our adventures, travels, and photography. Similarly, anyone who knows me, also knew Tamy, as I was as effusive about her as she was me. 

Tamy was definitely my number one fan and supporter. As an educator she was my plus one at critical events like homecoming, award ceremonies, and the prom. 

Speaking of prom, I was the co-director of that shin-dig for some 15 to 20 years, and Tamy would happily be my prom date whenever she was off. I never went to my high school prom as a kid, but when she joined me at these events, I always felt that I had the best date in town. Now,  I am sharing this prom story as a vehicle to let you all know that Tamy loved to dance. Not dance as in ballroom or swing, but dance like we were kids in the 80’s. Whenever a song like “Tempted Love” or “Hungry Like the Wolf” was played, she’d whisper to me… “These kids don’t know what they’re doing,”... She’d then drag me on the floor and we’d show them… when the music stopped, we’d exit without a word and leave the crowd of teens in shock. While we rarely danced in public, Tamy and I would dance at home, while camping, and even in the woods… this was one of the many little secrets we shared. 

While neither Tamy nor I ever wanted children, Tamy had a lot of love to give. She loved her nieces, nephews, sisters, and my siblings the only way she knew how. Tamy love included hugs, smiles, special days, and hand-made stuffed animals, blankets, and dream catchers. In whatever spare time she had, Tamy loved to sew, knit, crochet, and craft with natural elements. She was a compulsive rock collector, stick collector, and feather collector. We’d be hiking in Africa, Iceland, Costa Rica, or the North Shore…, and her pockets would be bulging with stones. The real treasures in these collections were always the heart-shaped rocks that she proudly had to share, and was always followed with a big kiss and a smile. 

As a childless couple, she put her love energy into me and our pets. Tamy loved being a cat, dog, and parrot mom. She displayed pictures of our four legged and feathered wards around the house and throughout facebook. Her love for our animals was so deep that I use to joke that I was ranked last in the house… a statement that she rarely denied. At first, it was the cats Blue and Ashley, followed by the parrot Rio. Later it was our dogs Sequoia and Luca, the parrot Rio, followed by me in the 4th position… because of this, I always felt fortunate that we decided not to invite other animals into our home.

Sea Otter in Kelp Bed - Image by Tamy Leventhal

While Tamy grew up Catholic, she was not a religious person. Tamy turned to nature to find comfort and meaning. She saw herself as part of the “circle of life;” where death and dying was just an inevitable conclusion to life and living. Tamy embraced the understanding that her body began as stardust, and that the physical person she was would eventually become the plants and animals of tomorrow. This belief that we are of nature and from nature gave her great comfort and it is for this reason that we are celebrating her life here and in this natural place today. If you find yourself wanting to think about and remember Tamy, take a walk in the woods, sit on a rock, and gaze at the stars… this is where Tamy is, it is where I look for her, and it is where she will always be. 

The Three Little Bears - Image by Tamy Leventhal

I would like to close by reading a poem by Kwame Alexander that I heard yesterday morning during my commute to work…. It seemed to resonate with me and I how I feel in this moment in time

It is titled… Without You

Without you I am lost as in isolated, unfinished broken off, shipwrecked on the shore of solitude- Ankle deep in possibility.

I have read the dictionary twice and still there are no words to fill my blank spaces. To punctuate the way I feel when your smile dances across the stucco walls of my memory. 

Perhaps, I will open a thesaurus now and find a little piece of hope or something similar. 

Tamy Leventhal… you are the one of the great ones, you are the love of my life,  and you will be missed by so many. 

Hallow Rock, North Shore Minnesota - Image by Tamy Leventhal

All Images and Text Copyright Bruce Leventhal and Tamy Leventhal | BTLeventhal.com

Reflecting on 2018

Today is December 22, 2018*… the day following the Winter Solstice. For many reasons, phenological events associated with the ebb and flow of time hold great meaning for me. The long nights and short days inspire introspection and reflection of the year that was and the one that will soon be. This year was a year defined by political, economic, and environmental chaos that continues to be unsettling. In many ways, the chaos in Washington has sapped a bit of joy from the little things in life. Disrespect for culture, for friends, and for the environment now trumps (pun intended) the common courtesy that once was considered acceptable… if not appropriate. This shortest of days coincides with a governmental shutdown designed to acquiesce to the will of a minority voting block rather than the larger populace of our nation.

I am not sure I know what any of this has to do with photography and the twenty images displayed here, however I think that I can tie it all together. My year in photos was one that included three publications, two workshops, travels to Iceland, Canada, and transcontinental drives across the United States. I visited many new destinations, made images under extreme environmental duress, photographed a few new species, and sadly, became obsessed with the gear I used rather than the images being made. Much like a government which seems to have lost its way, I continued to push the shutter release without giving much thought to the work I was producing. My productivity without focus seems to parallel the workings of a government without a conscious… something a little less than what it could have been.

Postscript - The Images posted are what I consider to be my 20 best from 2018. What follows is a key to what is presented in chronological order. 1. Swan Rousing, Vadnais Heights, MN : 2. Bison Huddle, Yellowstone NP, MT : 3. Tree Bones, Yellowstone NP, MT : 4. Swan Landing, Hudson, WI : 5. Resting on Ice, Hudson, WI : 6. Flocked Tree, Stillwater, MN : 7. Crane Fight, Grantsburg, WI : 8. White Pelican, Stillwater, MN : 9. Chicken Fight, Bluestem Prairie, MN : 10. River Mist, Afton, MN : 11. Tree Bones, Teddy Roosevelt National Park, SD : 12. The Sentient Bear, Kootenay NP , BC Canada : 13. Lake Louise and Misty Clouds, Banff NP, Canada : 14. Rialot Sunset, Olympic NP, WA : 15. Lake Superior Sunrise, Grand Marais, MN : 16. Cow Elk, Elk County, PA : 17. Kirkjufell, Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Iceland : 18: Geothermal Pipes, Reykjanesta Peninsula, Iceland : 19, Water and Rocks, Reykjanesta Peninsula : 20. Buck and Goldenrod, Fort Snelling, MN

*Note: While Posted on December 23rd, I began writing the blog on the evening of December 22nd.

©2000-2018 BTLeventhal.com / Bruce & Tamy Leventhal. All rights reserved. No image on this site may be used without permission.

Wildlife Landscape #3 - Simplicity

While in Iceland, Tamy and I photographed an equal mix of wildlife and landscapes. While each was intriguing on its own, the two would occasionally collide. Much like the blend of chocolate and peanut butter in a Reese’s Cup™, when serendipity happens, two good things can make something great.

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Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) - Jökulsárlón, Iceland

Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-400mm VR

©2000-2016 BTLeventhal.com / Bruce & Tamy Leventhal. All rights reserved. No image on this site may be used without permission.

Wildlife Landscape #2 - Taming the Rush

Few things are more exciting than an intimate encounter with free ranging wildlife. The adrenaline rush is like a thrill ride with a hint of fear and ecstasy that fades as fast as it appears. So intense are the feelings, wildlife photographers can become addicted to the rush, and will experience withdrawals when deprived of the opportunity to make images in the field. The obsession to be close is evident by what we deem to be a successful image. We photographers often speak about filling the frame, or that no lens is long enough; yet the products, an ultra tight portrait or bust shot that allows the viewer to count every hair, are often some of the most boring photographs. Throughout the years, I have found that many of my most compelling wildlife images are those where the environment and light are as prominent as the subject. While portraits have their place and often elicit a “wow” factor, they tend to impress other wildlife artists but do little to evoke emotions in the causal viewer. In contrast, wildlife landscapes are dynamic. The play between light, environment and subject invites the viewer to morph their own life experience with the non-human subjects captured by the artist. In fact, the wildlife landscape can become a catalyst for change and a transformative experience for the viewer. These types of photographs often promote thoughts about preservation and the compulsion to conserve. Herein lies the power of wildlife photography, and a reason for us to pursue the rush.

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The Migration

Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6VR

©2000-2016 BTLeventhal.com / Bruce & Tamy Leventhal. All rights reserved. No image on this site may be used without permission.

Wildlife Landscape #1 - Buck and Willow

November 5th, 2016 was the “deer opener” in Minnesota; I’m no hunter, heck, I’m a vegetarian and have been for longer than I can recall. To celebrate the lives of the living, I chose not to wear blaze orange, climb a tree stand or drive back country road,; instead I headed to protected land in search of some regal and aging bucks. 

Much like those readying themselves for “the hunt," Tamy and I woke long before sunrise, packed the car and made our way to a favorite spot to see and photograph deer. Far from captive, these herds roam between national and state park lands, and thus have a highly coveted status… protected wildlife. Able to wander for miles along thick river corridors, the herds brave non-human predators, starvation and the occasional drive-by collision. Without the human selected pressure to “bag” the biggest buck with the most points, these deer can grow large and survive up to eight years.

On this atypical November morning, temperatures fell to a balmy 37℉ (3℃) and plateaued at a whopping 75℉ (24℃). following a brief hike, we stumbled upon a pair of bucks staking out breeding territories just as the mist was beginning to rise. Rather than move in for a tight profile, I chose to include the foreground and background elements to suggest something about the time and place. In this wildlife landscape, the buck has curled his upper lip in what is known as a “flehmen response”  to female pheromones. The contraction of lip muscles exposes the vomeronasal organs (VMO) near the roof of the mouth to the volatilized chemicals in urine and feces deposited by interested does. 

With heavy hunting pressures close to our location, this male and others like him need only worry about the paparazzi during his pursuit of some love. While I’m not one to bash those who enjoy the hunt, I often wonder why the kill is a necessary prerequisite to enjoying a quiet morning in the woods.  

©2000-2016 BTLeventhal.com / Bruce & Tamy Leventhal. All rights reserved. No image on this site may be used without permission.