John Pezzenti, Jr. was an American wildlife photographer

Wildlife photography

Wildlife photography is the act of taking photographs of wildlife.Wildlife photography is regarded as one of the more challenging forms of photography. As well as needing sound technical skills, such as being able to expose correctly, wildlife photographers generally need good field craft skills...

 born in Newington, Connecticut

Newington, Connecticut

Newington is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2000 census, it had a total population of 29,306. The Connecticut Department of Transportation has its headquarters in Newington....

, but who spent much of his life taking pictures of wildlife in the Alaska

Alaska

Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...

 wilderness.

He moved to Alaska in 1976, working on the Alaskan pipeline and owning and running a lodge at Kenai Lake

Kenai Lake

Kenai Lake is a large, "zig-zag" shaped lake on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. The lake forms the headwaters of the Kenai River, and is itself a destination for fishing and other outdoor activity. Due to its size and shape it is accessible from both the Sterling Highway and the Seward...

 during the 1970s. Pezzenti then began working as an independent wildlife photographer and published three photography books during his life. Some of his photos hung in the Oval Office

Oval Office

The Oval Office, located in the West Wing of the White House, is the official office of the President of the United States.The room features three large south-facing windows behind the president's desk, and a fireplace at the north end...

 during the presidency of Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....

. He had his photos published in many different magazines, including National Geographic, Alaska Magazine

Alaska magazine

Alaska is a periodical devoted to news and discussion of issues and features of and from Alaska. A great deal of its readership consists of persons outside of Alaska who are interested in the Alaskan way of life....

, Reader's Digest

Reader's Digest

Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...

, and Natural History

Natural History (magazine)

Natural History is an American natural history magazine. The stated mission of the magazine is to promote public understanding and appreciation of nature and science.- History :...

. He also spoke at events at the World Trade Center and the Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...

.

He was found by police shot to death at his home in Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...

 on 3 December 2007. Police have not yet determined a clear motive or found a solid suspect. The story of his murder has been aired as a featured segment on the weekly television series America's Most Wanted

America's Most Wanted

America's Most Wanted is an American television program produced by 20th Television, and was the longest-running program of any kind in the history of the Fox Television Network until it was announced on May 16, 2011 that the series was canceled after twenty-three years, with the final episode...

twice (as well as once on an AMW radio segment).

Works

Pezzenti published three books of his photography.

Alaska: A Photographic Journey Through the Last Wilderness

ISBN 978-0670870943, 1 November 2007, Studio Publishing

The American Eagle

ISBN 978-0670884483, 1 September 1999, Studio Publishing

Shooting Bears: The Adventures of a Wildlife Photographer

ISBN 978-0789310422, 20 September 2003, Rizzoli International Publications