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
Peru, Nazca, Spaceman Figure, 1979 - One of the amazing places in the world to visit is the Lines of Nazca, in Nazca, Peru. This is the site mentioned in the book, The Chariot of The Gods. Such figures as this "spaceman" are visible only from an aircraft, as there are no mountains looking down on them. The theory was that the Nazca Indians created these designs on these desolate plains so that creatures from beyond earth could see them. Even more spectacular designs can be seen in northern Chile. (Photo 110 format from Jeff Shea Travel Archives)
Myanmar, Kayin Prov, Top Hat
Christmas Island, Crab Eating, 2001 - Around November every year, about 100 million of these Red Crab migrate to the sea to spawn. This one is caught eating. ... June 28, 2001 - We arrived in Christmas Island in the afternoon. Kiat, a Chinese woman, was waiting with a car for us at the airport, as arranged. We drove into town. On the way, we spotted the most incredible bird, a cockatoo-colored (yellow white) bird whose tail was several times longer than its body, and split into two parts. We watched the frigate birds diving into a water pool. On the road, I stopped to photograph one of the red crabs. He was a brave little fellow; he seemed completely unafraid of me.
Papua New Guinea, Oksapmin Man Rhinoceros Beetle Pinchers, 1983 - This Oksapmin Man wore Rhinoceros beetle pinchers through the two front nose holes. Oksapmin men had five nose holes, two in the front, two on the side and one through the septum.
Bakery Cashier, 2002
Afghanistan, Kabul Province (Wilayat) - 35mm film
UK, Somerset Prov, Rock Seat
UK, Devon Prov, Landscape
Antarctica, Jeff Shea Completes the Seven Summits Atop Mount Vinson, 1997 (with flag) - This summit was my completion of the Seven Summits: Climbing the highest mountain on each continent: Asia (Everest), Europe (Elbrus), South America (Aconcagua), North America (Denali), Australia (Kosciusko), Africa (Kilimanjaro) and Antarctica (Mount Vinson). It was so cold that when I pulled my film to load it into the camera, it snapped in two. The Flag was designed by Banner Arts' John Dugger for my project Seven Summits for a Free Tibet. The Dalai Lama wrote a letter of commendation for my project. He later spoke in front of a banner made of this design.
USA, AZ, Grand Canyon, Cactus Hair, 1988 - This is a close-up of the purple cactus shown in another photograph on this site. Nature small and large is amazing.
Slovenia, Polzela Prov, Insect In Flower