Speakers

alex noriega
Alex Noriega is a full-time nature photographer and photography educator, with a particular focus on the American West. Alex made the transition from a career in Information Technology to pursue his passion for photography, and now has 15 years of experience behind the camera.
He has a deep appreciation for large format film photography, and this influence is evident in his approach to digital photography. Alex works slowly and deliberately, refining each composition with care. Though he does not do any compositing or use elements not present in the original scene, he is also not concerned with presenting an objective reality. Instead, he blends the timeless qualities of classic film style with contemporary post-processing techniques to create unique, evocative images.
Alex aims for his photographs to convey a sense of mystery, inviting viewers to engage their imaginations. He designs each image to be clean, simple, and immediately accessible, while also offering something more upon closer inspection. To achieve this, he often excludes the ordinary elements surrounding his subjects, resulting in smaller, intimate compositions. These compositions typically highlight overlooked subjects and details, captured in fleeting moments of light that create an atmosphere not necessarily representative of the broader scene.

Rachael TalibArt
Rachael Talibart is a British photographer specialising in the ocean. Her work is represented by galleries in the UK, USA and Germany, is frequently exhibited and has been featured in major fine art publications worldwide. She recently published her fourth monograph, Sirens: The Gallery Edition.
Much of Rachael's early childhood was spent at sea. This has left her with a life-long fascination for the ocean and the coast it carves. For Rachael, nothing beats a day on an empty shore and her work reflects the powerful emotions of curiosity and wonder that the ocean inspires in her. Rachael graduated from the University of London with a Masters degree in Literature and Art and her work draws on themes she studied. She often works in the tradition of the ‘Sublime’, creating photographs that inspire awe. The sea is a potent subject for this aesthetic and her Sirens portfolio, critically acclaimed photographs of mighty storm waves named after mythological beings, is a prime example.
Rachael owns f11 Workshops, providing photography day tours and workshops in the UK, now in its 11th year. She also leads photography tours for international 'fine art' business, Ocean Capture. An experienced teacher and lecturer, she is particularly interested in the creative aspects of photography and nurturing the unique voice of the individual artist.

Jenny Wong
Presented by Nikon
Jenny Wong is an award-winning photographer that fiercely advocates for the wild places and creatures that have made her career possible. She is a proud Nikon Canada and Gitzo Ambassador, and fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society - her work has been published at home and abroad, and in a few National Geographic digital media as a long standing Your Shot Contributor. Commercially you might see some of her work in front and behind the camera with brands like Canada Goose.
Her keen spirit for adventure has aligned her with various territorial, provincial, and federal tourism boards within Canada and while most see just her landscape and wildlife photography online, she is a generalist at heart. Best known for her work in Canada's Arctic and SubArctic regions, Jenny works closely as a photo ambassador for conservation group Polar Bears International. Jenny feels that “photos don't need to be pretty but they must have depth; they should speak to the textures and emotions that lie between the lines of text” and to achieve that often requires a generalist approach; understanding that small details, humans, landscapes, and creatures are all part of the story.
As a Chinese born Canadian, female photographer, creating equity and space for diversity behind the lens is near and dear to her heart, particularly in outdoor and nature photography where diverse representation is still very weak.

Sarah Mathews
Sarah Mathews is an astrophotographer, educator, and former space industry professional dedicated to making space exploration accessible to all. Inspired by a “pale blue dot” perspective, she views astrophotography as a way to connect with the universe and reflect on our shared humanity, inviting us to look outward to the cosmos and inward to ourselves.
With a passion for engineering, physics, art, and philosophy, Sarah blends science with creative expression in her work. On her YouTube channel, she shares practical insights to support both beginners and advanced users. Her teaching guides others through the technical and artistic dimensions of capturing the night sky, focusing on building confidence and fostering a deeper connection with the cosmos.

Kristopher Andres
Presented by Offbeat
Based in the Canadian Rockies, Kristopher considers the mountains (along with everywhere he travels) to be his second home. Kris is always up for endless adventures with a smile—no matter how “atmospheric” the conditions are. He will be overly excited in almost everything he does in life, capturing each story with the click of a shutter, in any and all genres—from adventure to landscapes to portraiture to food and more! When he’s not out creating, Kris is a full-time yogi working to refine himself every day.

Curtis Jones
Presented by Offbeat
Curtis is an adventure, landscape and portrait photographer from Newfoundland and Labrador who considers Nunavut his second home. Never tiring of seeing the sun rise from a new horizon or watching a contagious smile grow on the faces of friends and strangers alike as they step out of their comfort zone, Curtis seeks to tell stories with his photographs as he lives out his own. Throughout his career, he has had the pleasure of working with world-class athletes, artists, and production teams while shooting in some of the globe’s most raw, wild, and challenging locations. Equal parts adventurer, artist and clown, he is never far from a camera, a tent or a good punchline.

Dee Webb
Dee Webb is a wildlife photographer whose deep-rooted connection to nature began in the remote wilderness of Australia, where her family often cared for orphaned and injured animals. Her love for nature runs deep, and she sees wildlife photography as a form of therapy—a way to stay grounded and connected to the world around her.
Dee’s journey in photography took off four years ago, as she approached it like a degree, learning and growing each day. Now, she works as a guide in Wildlife Photography Guide in Waterton, spends part of the year guiding in Costa Rica, and serves as Assistant Coordinator for Women in Wildlife Photography. This role allows her to share her passion globally, including leading a Women in Wildlife tour to Australia in 2026, along with plans for Iceland and beyond.
Dee’s personal life story is one of resilience, having found solace in photography during her husband’s struggle with mental illness. As a proud mother and grandmother, she’s dedicated to showing her children and grandchildren that life is what you make it, and following your dreams is a journey worth taking.

Lee Nordbye
Lee Nordbye is a landscape photographer, speaker, and teacher based in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. An award-winning and published photographer, Lee is known for a bold photographic style that highlights the intimate details and nuances of the natural world. Call him a fine art photographer with an adventurous spirit, Lee enjoys spending time in the outdoors and immersing himself in his subject in order to capture scenes in the moment. His elegant and soulful approach to photography is matched by a passion to challenge himself, explore wild places, and have fun while doing it.
A recovering accountant, Lee retired in 2016 after 26 years of number-crunching and now dedicates his detail-oriented mind to scanning the landscape for elements often lost in grand, sweeping images. Growing up in Slave Lake, he explored Northern Alberta on motorized vehicles and had an early introduction to camping and hiking in the Rockies. Lee has now shifted his focus to primarily exploring off the beaten track and using his two feet to get there. The result is the creation of a body of photographic work that showcases the landscapes and involves a process that is as rewarding creatively as it is to Lee’s passion and well-being.

Nick Parayko
Nick Parayko is a wildlife photographer and trained biologist driven to capture the beauty and complexity of the natural world. By combining his experience as a biologist with his artistic vision, Nick strives to create images that showcase wildlife in their natural habitats and include compelling stories or themes (be it interesting behaviour, cryptic patterns, or conservation success stories) about his subjects. Nick hopes his images and process taken to find and photograph elusive animals can offer viewers insights and glimpses into a species life history.

Marci Segal, MS
Marci Segal is a seasoned creativity and innovation expert who has dedicated her career to unlocking human potential to foster innovation. With a Master of Science in Creativity and Change Leadership, Marci has worked with countless organizations worldwide, inspiring leaders and teams to freshen their thinking, solve problems effectively, and drive positive change.
As a sought-after speaker, facilitator, and consultant, Marci likes to share practical tools and techniques to free people’s thinking so they can create new futures. Her engaging presentations and interactive workshops enable individuals and teams to embrace new ideas, overcome challenges, and achieve extraordinary results.
A decade ago, Marci traded the bustling city of Toronto for the serene beauty of Canmore, Alberta. Continuously inspired by stunning landscapes, she challenges herself to make images of natural delights.
Marci's commitment to fostering a more creative and innovative world has earned her global recognition. She is the founder of World Creativity and Innovation Day, celebrated annually on April 21st, an initiative recognized by the United Nations.

Hosted By Shane Turgeon
Shane Turgeon is an award-winning nature photographer and the founder of the Lightchasers Nature Photography Conference. His work is primarily focused on the night sky, storms, landscapes and wildlife but he also enjoys his time working as a concert and event photographer. His work has been featured by Canadian Geographic, the Natural Landscape Photography Awards, PhotoLife magazine, the F-stop Collaborate and Listen podcast, the CBC and in 2022 he was short-listed for the prestigious Astronomy Photographer of the Year award from the Royal Museums Greenwich in London.
While pursuing nature and landscape photos for his own personal pleasure are his primary focus in photography, he also has a keen passion for sharing both his art and the mental health benefits of nature photography and passing on his experience and knowledge to other photographers.
Shane is a proud ambassador for f-stop gear and McBain Camera.
Each and every speaker were absolutely amazing! When working on composition I now have a plethora of voices in my head giving me inspiration! The whole conference was a positive experience.Bea Kachmarchyk