MEET THE JUDGES

Finding the right mix of three professionals in the photography industry to serve on a panel of judges for our photo contest is no simple task. An important facet of the judging team is its diversity, and each judge's background and knowledge come into play.

The combined experience the 2010 South Texas Pro Classic judges possess should provide a balance of skill, perspective and artistry, resulting in a lovely collection of images representing both the land and the inhabitants of the Rio Grande Valley.

We are honored and fortunate to have the following panel:

MARK GODFREY, director of photography for The Nature Conservancy, worked for several newspapers before covering the Vietnam War for the Associated Press and later for both LIFE and TIME magazines. He was a member of the photographer’s cooperative MAGNUM Photos and later director of photography for U.S. News & World Report. He has photographed a number of books for The National Geographic Society, including The Mighty Aztecs, Frontiers of Science and the National Geographic Outdoor Guide to the Great Lakes. He joined the staff of TNC in 2003.

~ Photo by Susan McIlhinney

Ten years ago AMY LEINBACH MARQUIS spent a summer in Malaysia to research, photograph and write about endangered sea turtles—an experience that sparked her career in environmental journalism. She returned to the U.S. and spent the next four years editing photos for National Wildlife magazine. In 2004 she became an editor for National Parks and has covered a wide range of park issues. Amy acts as an affiliate with the International League of Conservation Photographers and was recently named a Founding Fellow with the International League of Conservation Writers. She and her husband Tom reside in Boulder, Colorado, where she continues to work closely with photographers and write about the parks she loves.

~ Photo by Nicole Yin

WILLIAM (BILL) PLUNKETT is a professional photographer living in Longview, Texas. He is the former Director of Digital Photography for The New Mexico Photography Field School in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He now spends most of his time pursuing his stock imagery, fine art print business and leading small groups and private workshops. Bill is a charter member of NANPA (North American Nature Photography Association) where he serves on the Board of Directors and is the President-elect, becoming President in March 2011.

~ Photo by William Plunkett