Wolfgang Leander was born in 1941. During his first 13 years Wolfgang lived in Bolivia, Argentina and Chile as his father, Wolfgang Leander Sr., had to escape persecution for being Jewish. In 1954 his parents, both Germans, decided to move back to their home country.

Wolfgang finished Gymnasium in Germany in 1961 and trained there as a banker with a large financial institution. Given his interest in foreign countries and his linguistic skills (German, English, Spanish, and French) Wolfgang opted for an international banking career, and that took him to live and work during the next 35 years in the USA, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador.

Wolfgang was always fascinated about photography but what really developed into what may truly be called an obsession during the last few years, when Wolfgang was beginning to be regarded by others a “senior” citizen, was combining photography with two other lifelong passions: free-diving and sharks. There were not many people over 70 who feel at their best when they free-dive with sharks. As the French say: Chacun a son gout…

The limited selection of Wolfgang’s work you see in this gallery is the result of many hundreds of hours spent diving and photographing sharks and other large oceanic creatures in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. 

Wolfgang passed away on July 23rd, 2018 in Cochabamba, Bolivia.  He is survived by his wife, son, and grandson.