Rachael Talibart

Rachael will explore the concept of chaos and why it motivates her photography. Through the stories behind some of her photographs, she will explain  how photography has enabled her to have a deeper connection with the natural world. She will share her thoughts about context and originality in nature photography, and the workflow she has adopted to keep her feeling fulfilled and creative.

Bio:

Rachael is a full-time, professional photographer specializing in seascapes. Her work is represented by galleries internationally. She owns f11 Workshops, providing location, classroom, and online training, including printing and book making and she is an experienced public speaker. Rachael has a particular interest in the creative aspects of photography and feels privileged to support the creative development of a number of aspiring photographers.

Learn more about Rachael on her website. 

Rachael will be supporting Sea Shepherd with 5% from the registration fees donated to their mission.

Kyle Goetsch

Namibia is often known for its dry landscapes, red sand dunes, and vast open spaces, but every few years, when enough rain falls in the arid south, everything changes. In this talk, I’ll take you on a photographic journey through a transformed Namibia, where thunderstorms sweep across the horizon, dry riverbeds flow again, and the desert bursts into unexpected life. From grasslands to storm-drenched dunes, this is a glimpse of a rarely seen side of Namibia, unpredictable, dramatic, and deeply rewarding for those who chase the rain.

Bio:

Kyle Goetsch is a nature photographer based in Cape Town, South Africa, with a background in biochemistry and a PhD in cardiovascular research. Since leaving the lab to pursue photography full time in 2015, he has focused on capturing the diverse landscapes, wildlife, and night skies of Southern Africa. His photography ranges from dramatic coastlines and desert storms to quiet wildlife encounters and rare seasonal events. With a deep interest in light, mood, and wild spaces, Kyle’s work blends technical precision with a strong sense of place. He now leads workshops and photographic adventures across Southern Africa, helping others experience and photograph the natural world with greater creativity and connection.

You can learn more about Kyle on his website.

Kyle will be supporting Save The Rhino with 5% from the registration fees donated to their mission.

Matt Oliver

I’ll explore the various themes that shape my photographic practice, beginning with the question of place, where we choose to point our cameras. Whether it’s the comfort of returning to familiar local areas or the excitement of venturing further afield to discover new landscapes, our choices reflect deeper creative impulses. I'll discuss the unruliness of nature and how we interpret and respond to its inherent chaos through photography. I’ll share how I personally engage with this challenge, while also offering broader reflections on the role of self-awareness in the creative process. Through certain techniques and perspectives, we not only attempt to make sense of the natural world but also quiet the mind, heighten our observation, and ultimately deepen our connection to what we see.

Bio:

I am a profesional commercial photographer of 30 years and a passionate landscape photographer, working mainly in the Peak District National Park. I enjoy speaking at local clubs, and recently gave a presentation at the Imaginature 2024 festival in Portugal. I have written articles for various online and print publications, and sell books, prints and workshops.

You can learn more about Matt on his website.

Matt will be supporting World Land Trust with 5% from the registration fees donated to their mission.

Mieke Boynton

I love shooting in fog, as it has the power to simplify busy nature scenes and to enhance the mood of the landscape. I’d like to share all the reasons why I love shooting in fog, what weather apps I use to check for fog predictions, what specific equipment I use to get the best out of foggy conditions, and how I adjust my camera settings to achieve the best in-camera captures. I will include some comparison images to show certain scenes with and without fog, and I will also discuss processing tips/tricks.

Bio:

Mieke is a professional landscape and aerial photographer from Victoria, Australia, where she runs a fine art photography gallery in the foothills of the mountains with her husband, photographer Matt Palmer. When she’s not in the gallery or printing their work, she can be found exploring and photographing the beautiful alpine region she lives in, or travelling through an inspiring landscape overseas, or sitting at her computer editing, writing articles, mentoring photographers via Zoom or giving camera club presentations.

Learn more about Mieke on her website.

Mieke will be supporting Leave No Trace with 5% from the registration fees donated to our mission.