Photo & Video Contest Judges
Wildlife In Focus is honored that the following individuals have agreed to help judge the contest as needed.
Photo Contest Judges
Stephen B. Freligh
Nature’s Best Photography, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief
Steve Freligh is co-publisher of the award-winning magazine, Nature’s Best Photography, and has more than 25 years of experience in the photo publishing industry, including projects with Discovery Communications, the National Geographic Society, the National Wildlife Federation, Smithsonian Institution, and more.
Steve is also Director of the annual Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards competition and curator of the
associated print exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
Jeff Parker
Professional Photographer
Jeff’s photographs have appeared in many publications and websites including: Outdoor Photographer, Audubon Magazine, NANPA’s Expressions, American Profile, American Airlines’ Celebrated Living, Texas Journey Magazine, Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, Texas Wildlife Magazine, and Wildlife Photographic.
He thoroughly enjoys helping other nature-lovers improve their photography techniques and also showing them great places to do so.
Earl Nottingham
Professional Photographer
Earl Nottingham is a Texas-based photographer whose work spans over 45 years, including the past 25 years for the Texas Parks & Wildlife department where he served as chief photographer, documenting the landscape, wildlife and people who tell the story of conservation in the great state.
His work has been showcased in numerous regional and national publications and outlets such as Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas Highways, Texas Monthly, Smithsonian, National Geographic Traveler and the Associated Press.
Photographic awards include those from Associated Press Managing Editors, Outdoor Writers of America, Association of Conservation Information, International Regional Magazine Association as well as a Regional Emmy Award. His book, “Wild Focus”, is a 25-year retrospective of his work at Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Bill Gozansky
Professional Photographer
Bill Gozansky is a professional photographer, guide, and photo editor based in western North Carolina. He specializes in travel, nature, and wildlife photography. Bill’s quest for images enables him to explore unique destinations and to interact with diverse cultures across the globe. He currently leads photographic safaris to Namibia, Costa Rica, Alaska, and Western North Carolina. In a private or small-group setting, Bill teaches field techniques of professional travel, nature, and wildlife photography in these remarkable natural areas. Bill Gozansky was the editor of Wildlife Photographic magazine (9 years) and the author/photographer of the Take Better Pictures – Professional Instruction Series | Nature & Wildlife and Travel & Landscape Guides.
Bill’s award-winning images have been represented by galleries, exhibited in numerous art shows and competitions, as well as sold as fine art prints to private collectors. Bill licenses his work through various photo stock agencies and his images have been published in many books, calendars, and periodicals from around the world.
Jesse Dolin
Destination Stewardship Coordinator
An avid outdoorsman and fisherman, Jesse is excited to support projects that connect people with nature and the paradise that is the Oregon Coast. When not working, Jesse can be found fishing, crabbing, clamming, or foraging for something to add to the dinner table and share with friends.
László Potozky
Director: Environmental Partnership Foundation – Romania
Photographer and Conservationist
I am an environmentalist by profession, so some time ago when I decided to embrace a new hobby, it was almost obvious that it has to be connected to my work and passion for wildlife. Since then I spend almost all my spare time trying to photograph the living beauty. Wherever I travel in the world, I’m looking to get as close as possible to the local flora and fauna and to capture it.
https://laszlopotozky.viewbug.com/about
Lance Krueger
Professional Photographer
Lance Krueger is one of the most published whitetail deer and wild turkey photographers in the world. As a native Texan, Lance is a full-time professional photographer and outdoor writer who travels extensively photographing wildlife, hunting and fishing scenes throughout North America. Lance’s extensive photographic coverage of the whitetail deer and wild turkeys for over 35 years includes more states and provinces than any other professional photographer, and he has photographically captured whitetail deer and wild turkeys doing, literally, everything whitetail deer and wild turkeys do.
Video Contest Judges
Wildlife In Focus is honored that the following individuals have agreed to be judges.
Ben Masters
Videographer, Founder of Fin and Fur Films
Fin and Fur Films is a Texas-based production company that specializes in wildlife, adventure, and conservation stories. We’re a small and effective team that typically creates 3-5 short films per year and a feature film every 2-3 years. We’ve had the honor to work with numerous conservation organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and Texan by Nature, and our movies have been seen on Netflix, AppleTV, PBS Nature, wide theatrical releases, and international television broadcasts. We are strong advocates for the wildlife in our films and are most proud of our movies when they result in boots-on-the-ground conservation, directly benefiting the wildlife and wild places we all love.
https://www.finandfurfilms.com/
Austin Alvarado
Professional Videographer
Austin is works with Fin and Fur Productions and has racked up an impressive list of credits on wildlife and adventure film projects for National Geographic, Disney+ and PBS. The team’s latest project is Deep in the Heart, the first blue-chip wildlife documentary ever produced about Texas wildlife. The film will premiere later this year and aims to inspire Texans to conserve our remaining wild places, to show the connectivity of water and wildlife, and to recognize Texas’ conservation importance on a continental scale.
https://www.finandfurfilms.com/
Ramon Villarreal
Owner – Lumenbrite
As the founder of Lumenbrite, Roman possesses extensive expertise as a lead trainer, designer, and business strategist. With a teaching career spanning over 20 years, Roman has consistently delivered exceptional digital media programs and projects to organizations of all sizes, including renowned entities such as Disney, the US Armed Forces, Sony Entertainment, and numerous others.
Roman’s contributions and industry influence have been acknowledged at Adobe MAX, where he has been a presenter for several years. His achievements include attaining the distinguished title of being a MAX Master, a testament to his exemplary knowledge and skills in the field.
Roman’s experience, combined with his proven track record of success, exemplifies his position as a highly respected figure in the industry and a driving force behind Lumenbrite’s reputation as a trusted provider of top-notch training and design services.
https://lumenbrite.com/
