Instagram – Just a Little Light

I hope you’ll follow me on Instagram, where my day-to-day photography gets posted on a regular basis. Every image in my feed is available for sale, so if you see something you like that is not in one of the galleries, please use the email link at the top right to contact me, and I will make the image available for printing.

justalittlelightphoto

Dave Fleishman | Conservation Photographer
Lake Tahoe
Prints available at

You think snow leopards and Himalayan brown bears

You think snow leopards and Himalayan brown bears are rare? How about this sighting I had earlier this month?

The Himalayan wolf (Canis lupus chanco) is an extremely rare and elusive subspecies of gray wolf, native to the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas, including parts of Nepal, India, China, and Bhutan. Found at elevations above 3,000 meters (9,800 feet), it has adapted to some of the harshest conditions on Earth.

Its rarity stems from habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and a limited and fragmented population, with estimates suggesting fewer than 350 individuals in the wild. The Himalayan wolf is also genetically distinct from other wolves, displaying unique adaptations for high-altitude survival, such as a thick coat and enhanced oxygen-processing abilities. Despite its ecological importance as a top predator in its ecosystem, it remains poorly studied and critically underprotected, requiring urgent conservation efforts.

Until recently, wolves like this were regularly trapped in stone structures called shangdongs. The wolves were lured into the trap with livestock, then stoned to death. Some areas have now converted these traps into shrines, recognizing the value of the wolves in the greater scheme of things.

I’ve got my eye on you. If I could never photo

I’ve got my eye on you.

If I could never photograph bears again, I think snow leopards would serve as a fine replacement in capturing my heart.

Back in the days when I shot film, the keeper rati

Back in the days when I shot film, the keeper ratio was usually about 1:36 or so. One decent shot out of a roll of 36. Sometimes two or three on a good day. With digital, the ratio hasn’t really changed all that much, but the number of photos to go through is much higher.

Some images I take with the knowledge they’ll never hang on a wall or grace a magazine cover. Like this one from earlier this month in Ladakh, India. To get an image of a snow leopard at all is a challenge, and to get one close, in focus, with correct exposure…well, that’s a difficult feat. This shot was not close, it was with a really long lens, and the sun didn’t hit this slope until about 10 minutes after the cat left.

But I got an image to remember. That’s a keeper in my book.
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#SnowLeopard
#WildlifeConservation
#SaveTheSnowLeopard
#WildlifePhotography
#BigCatsOfTheWorld
#EndangeredSpecies
#MountainGhost
#LadakhWildlife
#SnowLeopardConservation
#NaturePhotography
#GhostOfTheMountains
#WildlifeLovers
#ProtectWildlife
#RareSightings
#IndianWildlife
#HighAltitudeWildlife
#SnowLeopardTrust
#BigCatConservation
#WildlifeOfLadakh
#NatureLovers

Have you ever seen a ghost? This is about as clos

Have you ever seen a ghost? This is about as close as you can get. The Ghost of the Himalayas. I still feel the shiver down my spine from seeing this cat in the wild.

Let’s get the holiday shopping season started! F

Let’s get the holiday shopping season started! From now through December 2, all my photographic prints, metal prints and canvas prints are 25% off! Use discount code CYBEAR at checkout at justalittlelight.com. I’ve also got both versions of my 2025 Bears of Brooks Falls calendars in stock again for immediate shipping. Thank you for supporting small business artists like me this holiday season, and thank you for inviting my work into your home. It means so much to me and keeps me going out into the wild to bring images back that inspire.

Oh, and here’s a bear.

You’ve heard of hit-and-run? This rhymes with t

You’ve heard of hit-and-run? This rhymes with that. But it does answer the age-old question.

As a photographer, I’m rarely in front of the ca

As a photographer, I’m rarely in front of the camera. Truth be told, I am not particularly fond of having my photo taken. But when you travel with other photographers, they might steal an opportunity to grab a candid shot here and there.

This image of me is courtesy of @williamsteelphotography. If you don’t follow Will, do yourself a favor and click that follow button right now. He’s a great photographer, and if you want to visit Botswana, he’s your guy.

Spotting a snow leopard in the Ladakh region of In

Spotting a snow leopard in the Ladakh region of India is a rare and awe-inspiring experience, as these elusive big cats are masters of camouflage and prefer the remote, rugged terrain of high-altitude mountains. Often referred to as “ghosts of the Himalayas,” snow leopards are solitary creatures, making sightings even more uncommon. Ladakh, however, is one of the best places in the world to observe these majestic animals, particularly in winter when they descend to lower altitudes in search of prey. Globally, the snow leopard population is estimated to be between 4,000 and 6,500 cats, with around 500 found in India. Conservation efforts are crucial, as threats like habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict continue to endanger their survival.

DM me if you would like more information on how to see these increasingly rare animals in their native habitat.
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#SnowLeopard
#WildlifeConservation
#SaveTheSnowLeopard
#WildlifePhotography
#BigCatsOfTheWorld
#EndangeredSpecies
#MountainGhost
#LadakhWildlife
#SnowLeopardConservation
#NaturePhotography
#GhostOfTheMountains
#WildlifeLovers
#ProtectWildlife
#RareSightings
#IndianWildlife
#HighAltitudeWildlife
#SnowLeopardTrust
#BigCatConservation
#WildlifeOfLadakh
#NatureLovers

I’m back! Well, almost. 44 hours in transit so

I’m back! Well, almost. 44 hours in transit so far, and only about 4 more to go until home. But here’s a sneak preview of coming attractions.

The Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus), found in the rugged landscapes of northern India, is one of the rarest bear species in the world, with some estimates putting the world population at less than 1,000 bears. Primarily inhabiting the high-altitude regions of Jammu and Kashmir, its population has been dwindling due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching. These bears are critically endangered in India, with only a few hundred individuals estimated to remain. Their habitat, primarily alpine meadows and subalpine forests, is increasingly threatened by infrastructure development and climate change, which alters their fragile ecosystems. Conservation efforts, including habitat protection and reducing human interference, are crucial to ensuring the survival of this elusive and majestic species.

DM me for more information on how you can travel to see these bears, too. Before it’s too late.

This one’s pretty heartbreaking. This guy has a

This one’s pretty heartbreaking. This guy has a clearly broken right front leg. It’s a very recent injury because I’ve seen him on this cam before. I suspect a car strike.

The positive side, though, is that bears have remarkable healing powers. This kind of injury would mean the end for many animals, but this guy has probably packed on enough weight to get through winter, and he’s ambulatory, even if he’s slow.

Fingers crossed for him.

If you’re going to see pro wrestling, it’s wor

If you’re going to see pro wrestling, it’s worth paying extra for front row seats.

How do you tell the difference between a bluff cha

How do you tell the difference between a bluff charge and a real charge? If the bear is on top of you, it was not a bluff.

Low stock alert! If you've been waiting to get yo

Low stock alert! If you've been waiting to get your Bears of Brooks Falls 2025 calendars, you may want to hurry. I've been extremely grateful for all of those who have ordered so far--it's blown away my expectations, and I will be running out very soon.

To order yours, please visit the link in my bio above, or visit justalittlelight.com

Please note--I will be taking orders while supplies last, but I will be on an extended trip into the field from next week until mid-November. Orders placed during that time will ship upon my return. And if things go well on this trip, I'm going to have some really cool images to share. Stay tuned.

This is an image I have been hoping to capture for

This is an image I have been hoping to capture for years. I have had quite a few family groups walk in front of my camera traps over the years, but typically, it’s mom, followed by the cubs. Never in the same shot, though.

Early this morning, I got lucky. My remote cam let me know a family group had gone by the camera trap, so I went and grabbed the card. I can’t begin to explain my joy when I saw what was on the card.

It’s been a terrible year for me and my camera traps. So many malfunctions, broken equipment, fewer bear visitors, all conspiring against me. But it only takes one image to change all that.

A real stand-up guy I met yesterday.

A real stand-up guy I met yesterday.

Here’s another from last night. I heard people s

Here’s another from last night. I heard people somewhere off in the dark yelling WHOOOAAAAAA! OH MY GOD!!!! Yeah. It was all that.

My feed this morning has zero bears and thousands

My feed this morning has zero bears and thousands of aurora images. I guess I should join the party. We’re pretty far south for this kind of spectacle but when it happens, it’s spectacular.

When playing “fetch the stick” goes terribly w

When playing “fetch the stick” goes terribly wrong.

Well, it has come down to Chunk or Grazer in this

Well, it has come down to Chunk or Grazer in this year's Fat Bear Week context. In a certain sense, given this year's events at Brooks Falls, it's fitting that these two will square off in the voting. Grazer is the defending champion, but Chunk is, well, chunky this year. Enormous, actually.

Voting Begins Tuesday, October 8 at 9 am Pacific / 12pm Eastern. Visit explore.org/fat-bear-week to cast your votes.

Monday morning, late for work, realizing as I step

Monday morning, late for work, realizing as I step out of the shower that all the towels are downstairs in the laundry.

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