Photography, Community & Nature

Many of us use photography to capture beautiful moments in nature, but photography also has the power to connect, inspire, and uplift individuals and communities, in the Columbia Gorge and beyond.
On Thursday, December 9 at 6 p.m. (Pacific) Friends of the Columbia Gorge hosted a live panel discussion with photographers Ken Pitts (Gorge Refuge Stewards), Nic Raingsey (Climbers of Color, PDX Climbers of Color) and Linda Steider (Steider Studios, Made in the Gorge). The discussion was followed by a moderated Q&A.
From promoting stewardship in the Gorge to diversifying representation in the outdoors, these photographers will discuss their motivations behind the lens. Get inspired by their stories and learn the many ways in which you-and your camera-can leave a positive impact on your community.
Featured Speakers:
* Ken Pitts has 40 years' teaching experience and is currently a sustainability educator working for Oregon Metro as an outreach specialist to grades 6-12. He is a volunteer for Gorge Refuge Stewards and spends his free days photographing wildlife and helping others fall in love with nature.
* Nic Raingsey is a photographer and community advocate focusing on amplifying diversity and representation in the outdoors. He is part of the leadership team for PDX Climbers of Color and a photographer for Climbers of Color (Seattle). He is pursuing an Outdoor Industry MBA to continue his work increasing diversity and representation in outdoor media.
* Linda Steider is a wildlife photographer whose work is in private collections across the country. Retired from weekend art shows, with many awards won in fiber and glass, she now focuses solely on photography and co-owns Made in the Gorge, a gallery/gift shop in downtown Hood River. Passionate about birds and wildlife, Linda volunteers for Cascades Pika Watch, East Cascades Audubon Society, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife conducting surveys; and with Global Owl Project restoring habitat, collecting data and other tasks as needed.
The speaker presentations and panel discussion will be followed by a moderated Q&A session.
Moderator & Host
* Kassy Delgado is Friends of the Columbia Gorge's community engagement specialist and an avid hiker with over a decade of experience in working to connect communities with nature.
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