Scientist, Photographer

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Dr. Bryony Richards was born in the United Kingdom and has spent her adult life studying, working and taking photographs across Europe, Oceania, Africa and the USA.

She holds a doctor of philosophy degree in geology from the University of London, with her subsequent research and publications focusing on complex geological datasets across six continents. Among her research interests, advanced imaging including remote sensing of the Martian landscape have continually led Bryony to reevaluate her photography practices, honing her work to include a scientific narrative.

Bryony’s professional photography is focused on landscape and astrophotography with an emphasis on how these photographs can not only look beautiful but also be a valuable scientific tool. Bryony is passionate about women in astrophotography and about educating young people through photography. Her photographic work is commonly featured in international publications with many pieces having won international photography awards.

Astro Artist, Space Photographer

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Cathrin (Cat) Machin grew from being a depressed corporate worker to toilet cleaner to world renowned artist. She is now a British/Australian contemporary artist and entrepreneur who is dedicated to showing people the beauty of the cosmos. With 32 years of Photoshop experience, a decade as a video game executive producer and art director, and a decade as a classical oil painter, Cat has become obsessed about color and image editing.

Her other art form is business, and she loves helping people turn their dreams into a way to support their lives. Over a few short years Cat has been fortunate to sell seven figures' worth of artwork and to have over 10,000 people around the world collect her work, including a few space billionaires.

Partner, Instructor, Director of Content at National Parks at Night, Night Photo Summit and Nightscaper Photo Conference

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Chris Nicholson is the author of Photographing National Parks and is a partner and director of content for National Parks at Night.

As a former magazine editor and longtime magazine contributor, Chris' work has appeared in over 40 books and periodicals. He has served as a book editor for National Parks Traveler, a content consultant for Chimani national-park travel guide apps, and a writer for various photography websites. Chris is co-director of the Great Smoky Mountains Photo Fest, has taught for CreativeLive, is a regular presenter for Out of Chicago and the B&H Event Space, and he speaks at photography conferences and events around the U.S.

Astrophotographer

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Derek Culver is a non-award-winning astro-landscape photographer who is passionate about teaching others and leading night photography tours into remote backcountry locations. Better known as Clanger McBanger, Derek has helped innovate in the astrophotography space by pioneering the bridge between astro-landscape photography and deep space photography techniques, as well as the dreamscape category of night photography.

Photography Educator at Everlight Education

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Forest Chaput de Saintonge is a Montana-based photography educator and the former director of Rocky Mountain School of Photography. As an Adobe community expert and instructional design specialist, he collaborates on a team that develops educational content for Adobe, helping photographers master software and develop reliable workflows.

When he’s not designing curricula, Forest can often be found tinkering in his backyard observatory. A lifelong astronomy enthusiast with a degree in astrophysics, he’s passionate about capturing the wonders of deep space through astrophotography. He employs his passion for education by sharing everything he learns with other space-loving photographers. He is also an alumnus of the Minerva Exoplanet Observatory Team.

In addition to speaking at the Night Photo Summit and lecturing for the B&H Event Space, Forest solves workflow issues for photographers through his company, Everlight Education, and shares tutorials with over 120,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel.

Partner, Instructor, Director of Collaborations at National Parks at Night, Night Photo Summit and Nightscaper Photo Conference

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Gabriel Biderman is a travel and self-taught fine art photographer who has been exploring the night skies for over 20 years. Gabe loves the “process” of creating the image and pushing the limits to see what we can do when we capture time for seconds, minutes or even hours. He is well-versed in both film and digital, and enjoys blending the surreal look of the night to enhance historic and urban landscapes.

Gabe is also a co-founder of National Parks at Night, the leading source for night photography education and hands-on workshops since 2016. He has also been teaching night photography with CreativeLive, Rocky Mountain School of Photography, Maine Media Workshops, B&H Photo, and at various trade shows and institutions since 2008.

Gabe’s work has been exhibited in New York, London, San Francisco and Hawaii, and he is the author (with Tim Cooper) of Night Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots.

Astrophotographer & Youtuber

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Ian Lauer is an astrophotographer and YouTuber who helps people reconnect with the night sky. He creates fun, approachable videos that turn complex space and astrophotography topics into engaging stories for curious minds.

Off YouTube, Ian leads immersive astrophotography workshops and stargazing tours, guiding participants through unforgettable nights under the stars and hands-on astrophotography experiences.

With a background in astrophysics and years of experience in the telescope industry, Ian has worked with institutions such as NASA and MIT on deep space imaging and satellite tracking projects. Today, he blends science, storytelling and adventure to remove the academic stigma attached to astronomy, bringing the excitement of the night sky to the general public.

Deputy Director, Exploration Technology Directorate at NASA Ames Research Center

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Jaya Bajpayee serves as the deputy director of Exploration Technology Directorate at NASA’s Ames Research Center. She provides executive leadership, strategic planning and direction of NASA’s advanced supercomputing, human systems integration, intelligent systems, and entry systems and technologies. Previously Jaya served as the director of programs and projects, overseeing SOFIA, VIPER, the small satellite technology program and the small satellite virtual institute. Jaya came to NASA Ames in 2017 as the deputy director of science.

Jaya spent nearly 25 years at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center as a project manager, designing and building NASA science missions and NOAA geosynchronous operational environmental satellites. She spent 4 years at NASA Headquarters leading on-orbit operations of astrophysics missions.

Jaya enjoys traveling, meeting new people, and photography. She especially enjoys the calm, magical nature of night photography, saying it makes her feel one with the universe.

Landscape and Astrophotographer

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Jess Santos is a wanderer at heart, constantly on a road trip to anywhere. She spends most of the year teaching and adventuring in the Wild West chasing the vibrant colors of desert landscapes and the distant glow of the Milky Way. Although she calls Arizona home, she is always excited to explore and photograph new and different ecosystems, and she is especially fascinated with life in extreme environments.

Photographer

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Joshua Snow is a former mechanical engineer, and a current landscape and astro photographer, educator and multimedia artist based in Moab, Utah. Josh’s photography showcases unique and immersive compositions inspired by his experiences in nature with a touch of fantasy.

Photographer

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Katrina Brown is an avid nighttime photographer who loves to make images instead of take them. She thoroughly enjoys the complex dance of choreographing elements to work together to make what a lot of people think is an impossible photo.

Shooting at night sparked a passion within her and she’s been chasing those images ever since. Creating her own light when there is little to none in the night scene has become her joy in photography, and she loves to help others find that as well.

Night Photographer

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Ken Lee is a night photographer. He drives long hours in a dusty car listening to weird music, stays out all night creating photos, gets dirty, hangs out with other creative sleep-deprived weirdos, sees the stars drift across the sky, and always finds the best taco stands.

He has been exploring the Southwestern United States as well as parts of the East Coast for over a decade, brandishing a camera, tripod and colored flashlight. He especially loves creating night photos of abandoned historical places, unique features and beautiful landscapes. These are experiences that he absolutely cherishes.

Ken also currently has several books of night photography of abandoned locales that he is working on with a publisher. His images have appeared in National Geographic books, Omni Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Westways Magazine and numerous other publications.

Partner, Instructor, Director of Ticketing and International Travel at National Parks at Night, Night Photo Summit and Nightscaper Photo Conference

Lance Keimig is a Vermont-based photographer who is best known for night photography made at the intersection of the natural and built environments. He is the author of two books, including Night Photography- Finding Your Way In The Dark, which has been translated into seven languages.

Lance is a partner in National Parks at Night, an organization dedicated to promoting and preserving dark skies and our national parks through photographic education. He has taught night photography and led international photo tours since 1998, and organized two night photography conferences in 2006 and 2011. His work is represented in the permanent collections of many institutional, private and corporate collections.

Partner, Instructor, Director of Marketing at National Parks at Night, Night Photo Summit and Nightscaper Photo Conference

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Matt Hill is an upstate New York-based photographer, artist and educator. His passion for night photography is eclipsed only by his urge to share this knowledge and to continue to hone his skills. He’s very forward about the fact that he rarely shoots photos during the day.

Matt is also a cut paper artist. Fascinated by the dilation of time and portraiture, he combines these crafts into projects that include paper fashions in long exposure portraits at night. His career is driven by a fascination with technology, business and art. He has edited a featured film, created stop-motion videos and hundreds of livestreams, built a few businesses, and has been a marketing director at two prestigious companies in the photo industry over a 25-year career.

All of these experiences inform his practice of night photography—the common thread woven throughout. Growing up in the Adirondacks infused a love for wilderness in Matt. He carried this through to being a partner at National Parks at Night, which brings together two of his favorite things. It also allows him to promote conservation of precious lands via making art. Exploring wild spaces with people who also care passionately about dark skies and wilderness is a dream come true.

Astro-Landscape Photographer

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Royce Bair has been a professional magazine and illustrative advertising photographer for 3 decades. He also finds satisfaction helping other photographers achieve their vision through his writings, international lectures and workshops. As a dark sky advocate, Royce was one of the early innovators to focus on a new style of night photography that some call “nightscapes,” or starry night skies with a foreground landscape feature. His unique astro-landscape images have received worldwide syndication through The Huffington Post, and he is the author of the book MilkyWay NightScapes.

Partner, Instructor, Director of Finance at National Parks at Night, Night Photo Summit and Nightscaper Photo Conference

timcooperphotographyworkshops.com | IG

Tim Cooper began his career as a commercial and assignment photographer working for clients such as The North Face, The Ritz Carlton, Vasque boots, 3M and Blue Note Records. His photographs have appeared in Travel & Leisure, The New York Times Magazine, Outdoor Photographer, Ebony, Modern Luxury and Private Clubs as covers, advertising, art and editorial illustration.

Tim has been a photography educator since 1993, teaching workshops and seminars across the country. He is the author of the several training videos, three books in the series of Complete Photoshop for Digital Photographers, and co-author of Night Photography, Snapshots to Great Shots. His e-books are The Realistic HDR Image and The Magic of Painting with Light. His latest book is HDR Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots.