Donor Spotlight: Jeff Torquemada & Wendy Sparks

It’s difficult to imagine any people who could be more enthusiastic about wildlife than Jeff and Wendy. This married couple travels the world to take photos of wild places and the spectacular creatures who inhabit them. You know how skilled portrait photographers can capture the true essence of a person in an unposed private moment? Well, that’s what Wendy and Jeff strive to do with their subjects. They observe and capture wildlife in their private moments, going about their daily lives. It could be two pumas so enthralled by chasing each other around that humans nearby aren’t even noticed. Or newts mating in the ponds at Briones. Or a ground squirrel protecting her babies from a huge rattle snake by waving her tail to increase her heat signature so that the intimidated predator slithers away.

“More than ever, the wild creatures who share this beautiful landscape with us need their habitat protected,” says Jeff. “The changes we’ve seen in the East Bay over the past 40 years are profound,” adds Wendy. Longtime supporters of local organizations such as Lindsay Wildlife, the couple was excited to discover John Muir Land Trust in 2018 when they received a letter about JMLT’s efforts to protect the wildlife corridor atop Franklin Ridge. “We love that our support helps protect the places that wild residents need to survive. If we continue to encroach upon their habitat and do nothing to set important landscapes aside, then we must learn to coexist.”

Nothing delights the two more than to see habitats restored and reoccupied. In their neighborhood was once a large covey of quails. “Last week we saw our first quail in thirty years in the brush below our house!“ exclaims Wendy. “The new families of river otters in the Contra Costa Canal are so special,” adds Jeff. “We love going there on weekends to educate people about the return of these charming creatures.”
On this page you’ll see examples of the extraordinary photographs taken by this globe-trotting pair. And if you want more, each year Jeff and Wendy produce a dazzling calendar, the purchase of which supports wildlife rescue and habitat restoration. For more info: jeffandwendyphotography.com