This website illuminates my life and adventures. My longing for freedom has led me to over 2600 of the world’s 3978 provinces, to every country on earth and to the summit of the highest peak on each continent (thank heaven for good weather!). In my travels, I learned to respect the intelligence and ingenuity of people of all races and callings both past and present. Come see the world as I see it: as a peaceful place, full of nature and beauty. With the right spirit and intent, we can make our world a virtual Garden of Eden.
DISTINCTIONS: BBC 2017 Travel Pioneer • Journal Articles • Explorer’s Club Flag Expeditions
World Parks Project • Walk Across South America • Jeff Shea Travel Map
Germany, Baden-Wurtenburg Province, Original Pieter Spits When You Pull His Tie!, 2008, IMG_6096 - The man in the chair is wearing a traditional costume of the Staufen region in southwest Germany. The woman is a tourist from the USA. She bought what she called an "original Pieter." She is explaining that when you pull its tie, it spits water. She still needed to buy batteries and fill the reservoir with water. The elderly gentleman laughed continually for minutes. He laughed with the glee of a child!
Ecuador, Jeff Shea And Santo Domingo De Los Colorados Indians, 1979 - The Indians of Santo Domingo De Los Colorados had interesting customs, as is evidenced by the man's hair on the left. The Indians come to market in Otavalo, 129 km from Quito. This photograph was taken of me with the first camera I ever traveled with, a second-hand Kodak instamatic using 110 film. Twenty-seven years later, I scanned it and had it touched up. 
Cambodia, Kampong Chaam Prov, Cow Drawn Logging Cart
Vietnam, Tay Ninh Prov, Noodle Dinner
Papua New Guinea, Gera Chief Castrating Goat, 1983 - Gera's chief castrated this goat. Although this photograph is grotesque, I felt it was important. The villagers clearly enjoyed the proceeding. At first I thought they were cruel and primitive for expressing joy while the poor animal screamed. Then I reflected that in my own modern society, many animals are slaughtered for food, but I am insulated from it. It takes place on ranches and in meat factories, far from the sensibilities of everyday people. In Melanesian society, the realities of survival were dealt with directly. It really was not more primitive, just more direct, hence more realistic. This was revelatory for me.
Turkey, Nevsehir Prov, Cappadocia
Indonesia, Bali, Dancer Twirls Whisk, 2005 - Who says that magic does not exist? The world of color and light is certainly magic. The only thing that separates us from it is our concept of time and our instruments to see it. In this time exposure, reality takes on a different, and beautiful, perspective.
Vietnam, Quong Tri Prov, Cannon
UK, Bournemouth Prov, Boy Feeds Birds
Cambodia, Phnom Penh Prov, Fables Of The Exotic East