douglas lees
A Piedmont Fox
This flying fox was captured in mid-flight by the lens of photographer Douglas Lees. Click for a Photo Gallery of the Piedmont Fox Hound’s meet at Blue Ridge Farm with first whipper-in Neil Amatt temporarily carrying the horn for injured huntsman Spencer Allen. Posted February 9, 2015
Read More
Photographer Douglas Lees Awarded S. Bryce Wing Trophy
Janet Hitchen photoTwo-time Eclipse Award-winning photographer Douglas Lees was this year’s recipient of the S. Bryce Wing Trophy, awarded by the Maryland Hunt Cup Association to honor individuals who have made exceptional contributions to Maryland timber racing. Lees is a regular contributor to Foxhunting Life, and we congratulate him for his latest achievement.
With one foot in racing and one foot in foxhunting, Lees is a double threat. Each spring, during the point-to-point season, Lees sends us his brilliant racing photographs to enliven our coverage of the hunt races, and we publish his foxhunting images regularly. In fact, the cover photo of huntsman Spencer Allen and the Piedmont foxhounds for our just-published 2015 Foxhunting Life calendar was taken by Lees.
Douglas Lees to Speak, Exhibit Photographs
Douglas Lees photo The photography of Douglas Lees has long been a benchmark of such excellence that Lees has earned the admiration of even the best of his camera-toting peers. Lees will speak and exhibit his photographs on Sunday, March 2, 2014 at 4:00 pm at Blue Ridge Farm, 1858 Blue Ridge Farm Road, Upperville, Virginia, 20184. This meet-the-photographer event is sponsored by the Mosby Heritage Area Association, a Northern Virginia Piedmont preservation and education organization. Lees will showcase some of his best-known photos and recount the fascinating experiences of photographing foxhunts, steeplechases, fly fishing, and beautiful scenes in nature. Participants will have the opportunity to talk to Douglas following his presentation and to purchase prints of his works that he has personally chosen for this event. His award-winning photos will also be on display. Douglas Lees is a two-time Eclipse Award winner for his racing photography, and his images are widely published. Foxhunting Life regularly features his foxhunting and point-to-point photography in its e-magazine, FHL WEEK; on its website, FoxhuntingLife.com; and in its annual Foxhunting Calendar. Lees was born in Washington, D.C., but has lived all his life in Warrenton, Virginia, where his family has lived for generations. He started taking an interest in photography at age sixteen and published his first photograph at age seventeen on the front page of the Fauquier Times-Democrat. His career is in insurance, dealing with property, casualty, farm and equine. He spends his spare time taking photographs and with his other great passion, fly fishing. He also serves on the board of the Mosby Heritage Area Association as Treasurer. The event has limited space, so reservations are recommended. Tickets are $25 for MHAA members, $30 for non-members. Please call 540-687-6681 or purchase at the Association’s website. The mission of the nonprofit Mosby Heritage Area Association, formed in 1995, is to help preserve the Northern Virginia Piedmont and increase public knowledge about this historic area. MHAA provides classroom history programs for fourth- and eleventh-grade Virginia students, sponsors lectures, programs and field trips, and brings nationally known scholars to the area for its award-winning annual Civil War Conference. Posted February 19, 2014
Read More
D. Harcourt Lees, Jr., ex-MFH
In nearly a half century of foxhunting, I have never seen a more handsome, elegant, and classically turned-out man astride a horse in the hunting field than Harcourt Lees. Nor did I ever meet a kinder or more pleasant gentleman in the hunting field. For me, he epitomized the grace and courtliness of a bygone age. It was an honor to know him, and I shall never forget him. What follows is the obituary of this sportsman/businessman/civic leader as released. -Ed.
With the passing of Douglas Harcourt Lees Jr. on July 21, Warrenton and Fauquier County, Virginia lost not only a respected businessman and sportsman but also a living link to a simpler time of grace and civility. Mr. Lees, 91, suffered a stroke on July 9 and was hospitalized briefly before returning to “Blackrock,” the Lees’ family home on Springs Road.
