Meet the Judges

Susan McElhinney is the Director of Photography for Children’s Publications of the National Wildlife Federation. As such, she photo edits Ranger Rick, Your Big Backyard and Wild Animal Baby. As a professional photographer for 25 yrs. she rarely photographed a bird or plant, except when she did a book for National Geographic Young Explores on how to help wildlife. Rather, her focus was heads of state, Congress and other political happenings in the world. She did this as a staff photographer for Newsweek Magazine in the Washington DC bureau through the Carter and Reagan years. For many years hence she freelanced for corporate clients, People, Life, Parenting, Fortune, and National Geographic pubs among others. Later, in an effort to stay closer to home, she began part-time editing with NGS on their kids magazine World. In 2001 she moved over to RR, YBB and WAB and enjoys the daily challenge to entertain with nature stories, teach about plants and animals, encourage kids to get out each day to experience nature and bring wildlife news to two million kids each month.

Veteran Photographer, Jim Carr started teaching Film Camera Workshops at the Big Bend Ranch State park in 1982 for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Carr specializes in both beginner and intermediate skill levels, looking to capture some of Texas' top scenery in Big Bend Ranch near Presidio. The Houstonian switched to Digital Camera workshops in 2005 due to the technological demand.

Most of Jim's free lance underwater work has gone to stock agencies. They have been used numerous times for calendars and advertisements. Jim is also known for his limited edition Landscape prints which he sells.

Jim is a graduate of Brooks Institute for Underwater Photography and the Maine School of Photography in Large Format View Camera and Black and White printing classes. In 2004 Jim completed coursework from Houston Community College in Photoshop, ImageReady and Illustrator Classes. He is a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals.

Earl Nottingham has been involved in professional photography for almost 30 years, and for the past 11 years has served as chief photographer for the Texas Parks & Wildlife department and Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine where he has won numerous state and national awards for his photography of conservation issues. His work has been published widely in regional and national publications such as Smithsonian, National Geographic Traveler, Texas Highways and numerous calendar titles.

Nottingham holds a B.S. degree in Photography from East Texas State University and attended the Photography Institute of America in Atlanta, Georgia. He also holds the Master of Photography degree from Professional Photographers of America. He lives in Temple, Texas with wife Paula and son Adam.