BETH MANCUSO
Judging Catergory: Landscapes
Beth is a passionate outdoor photographer and educator, dedicated to helping women grow their photography skills through workshops and community. She runs Women's Photography Circle and leads photography trips through her sister company Into the Wild We Go. Her work has been featured by National Geographic, ABC, Sony and numerous other publications. When she's not behind the camera, she enjoys gardening, traveling, and exploring the outdoors.
LORI LANKFORD
Judging Catergory: Flora & Fauna
Lori Lankford is an established nature photographer, digital artist, and instructor. Lori is known for her creative approach to photography - stunning flower portraits, abstract nature scenes, and creative close-ups. Lori has photographed many of the top gardens across the country and has images exhibited in local and national gallery exhibits as well as printed in a variety of publications. Lori loves teaching and sharing her passion for creative nature photography. She leads workshops in the Maryland/DC area.
You can learn more about Lori on her website: LoriLankford.com
Holly Higbee-Jansen
Judging Catergory: Wildlife
Holly Jansen has a life long passion for photography. Since she was a little girl, Holly has been exploring her fascination with light through photography since her family attended workshops with Ansel Adams in Yosemite Valley. Holly honed her skills through years of traveling the world and photographing natural landscapes displaying her work along with her husband, Mark Jansen, in galleries and art shows throughout Southern California. She has been teaching landscape photography and digital editing workshops throughout the American West and Iceland since 2006.
Currently, Holly offers online and Zoom workshops in Lightroom Classic, Adobe Lightroom, iPhone photography, and camera functions. Holly mentors private photography clients in Southern California where she lives.
You can learn more about Holly on her website: Holly Jansen Photography
Sharon Weil Hornstein
Judging Catergory: Landscapes
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Sharon left a 13-year marketing career to raise her boys and pursue her passion for photography. Sharon strives to capture images of strong yet simple subjects at a unique moment in time. It was on a trip to Turks & Caicos in 2012 that caused her to fall in love with the beauty of both the islands and it's people, fueling her to return over the years with her camera in hand to work on a collection of images and to now being a full time resident of those islands. Sharon partners with designers , private, and corporate clients to help them infuse a unique coastal living vibe into their spaces, Her work has appeared in magazines, galleries, museums, and libraries in the US and beyond. Sharon also donates her time to art and charitable organizations on a regular basis. When she is not taking photographs, you can find her on and in the water - kiteboarding, scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, and kayaking.
You can see more of Sharon's images on her Instagram: @sanddollarimages
Sarah Gupta
Judging Catergory: Flora & Fauna
Sarah lives in Rochester, Minnesota with her husband, son, and a few furry kids. She is a natural light photographer who uses dark and light contrasts to create depth. Sarah is drawn to environmental portraiture, lifestyle photography, fine art, nature and loves layering color and tones to create soft transitions in her imagery. Sarah is attracted to the light, which was used by painters of the golden age. Her passion for painting and drawing was discovered through photography.
You can find how Sarah captures her daily life in her Instagram: @sarahkossakgupta
Amy Ames
Judging Catergory: Wildlife
Amy is a wildlife, landscape, and adventure photographer. When not traveling, she can be found in Pittsboro, North Carolina, though she's home as little as possible. Amy loves to explore near and far, but you can usually find her somewhere cold in the mountains with a diet coke in hand. At home, she's a mom of two boys and official dog walker of the most high-maintenance chocolate lab out there.
"My goal with photography is always to capture the raw and untamed beauty of my subjects. Through my photos, I encourage viewers to appreciate and protect the diverse ecosystems of our planet. I invite everyone to join me on this journey, to explore the wonders of our world through my lens, and to take part in the mission to protect and preserve our planet." ~ Amy
You can see more of Amy's images on her Instagram: @pointamesandshoot
Kristia Adams
Judging Catergory: Landscapes
Kristia is a nature and landscape photographer based in New Jersey, who thrives on capturing the beauty of the outdoors. Her love for photography began in high school, but for the past 15 years, she has pursued it with dedication. Growing up in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey deeply influenced her connection to nature, inspiring her to explore and document the landscapes around her. On weekends, you’ll often find Kristia trekking through the woods in search of new scenes to photograph or showcasing her work at local art shows.
You can see more of Kristia's images on her Instagram: @kristiaadamsphotography
Nadeen Flynn
Judging Catergory: Flora & Fauna
Nadeen hails from northern California living just north of Sacramento in the Central Valley. She has been a photographer for about ten years, shooting multiple genres, but settling mostly on landscapes, nature, and still life. Macro was her first love, and she is still attached to her macro lens! Nadeen enjoys gardening, having both a cutting garden and a vegetable garden, and traveling. Both blend themselves perfectly with photography. Nadeen also teaches still ife and landscape workshops in California.
You can learn more about Nadeen on her website: NadeenFlynn.com
Heather Earl
Judging Catergory: Wildlife
Heather Earl stands at the intersection of artistry and advocacy in the realm of nature and wildlife photography. While her official journey in photography spans a mere five years, her commitment to conservation and protecting the environment has been woven into the fabric of her being since childhood.
From the earliest moments of her life, Heather found solace and inspiration in the unfiltered beauty of nature. Her formative years were marked by a deep-seated reverence for the environment, fostering a connection that blossomed into a lifelong dedication to conservation.
Five years ago, equipped with a camera and an unyielding passion, she officially stepped into the world of photography, merging her technical skills with an artist's eye. Her images serve as a testament to her passion, capturing not just the aesthetic allure of wildlife and landscapes but also the profound urgency to protect these invaluable treasures.
Despite her relatively short time behind the lens professionally, her work has earned accolades and awards, adorning the pages of publications and galleries, captivating audiences with its emotive storytelling and vivid portrayal of nature's majesty.
However, for Heather, photography is not merely a vocation; it is a conduit for change. Her journey extends far beyond the frame, encompassing advocacy, education, and hands-on involvement in conservation initiatives.
More important than awards and recognition, Heather remains grounded in her mission as a lifelong commitment to safeguarding our planet's ecosystems. Whether trekking through dense forests or perched patiently to capture fleeting moments in the wild, she infuses her passion, expertise, and unwavering dedication into every image and endeavor.
Her story is a testament to the power of lifelong dedication, where a childhood passion for the environment metamorphosed into a force for driving change. Through her lens, Heather invites us all to embrace the awe-inspiring beauty of our planet and to join hands in preserving it for future generations.
You can see more of Heather's work on her Instagram: @heather.earl.photography