J-School to Host National Geographic Photography Lecture Program

Washington (Oct. 15, 2003) -- Three renowned National Geographic Contributing Photographers-in-Residence will lead Masters of Photography workshops at the Missouri School of Journalism, aimed at both students and the university community. "Through the Lens with the Masters of Photography," presented by Sam Abell, Karen Kasmauski and Emory Kristof, will be held Oct. 29-31.

The two-day program will comprise classroom lectures, a review session where the photographers will meet students one-on-one to critique portfolios and a public lecture with slide presentations by each photographer.

The photographers will present their work at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 29, in Gannett Hall's Fisher Auditorium, followed by a question-and-answer session and a book signing of the new National Geographic book "Through the Lens," which showcases 250 of National Geographic's most spectacular photographs. The event is free and open to the public.

"The university outreach program is a new initiative that takes National Geographic's special way of looking at the world - through the photographer's eye - to university communities," said Terry Garcia, National Geographic's executive vice president for mission programs. "Besides furthering National's Geographic's mission to diffuse geographic knowledge and promote conservation, we hope this initiative will inspire people to see the world in a new way."

The Contributing Photographers-in-Residence program was launched two years ago to support and showcase the work of preeminent free-lance photojournalists who have contributed outstanding work to the National Geographic Society over the years. The photographers, in turn, help develop projects and programs that advance the Society's mission.

Sam Abell began working with National Geographic in 1970 and has published 10 books with the Society, most recently "The Mississippi and the Making of a Nation: From the Louisiana Purchase to Today," with historians Douglas Brinkley and the late Stephen Ambrose, in 2002. He has photographed more than 20 articles for National Geographic magazine. "Sam Abell: The Photographic Life" was published in 2002.

Karen Kasmauski has documented many social issues, such as radiation, viruses, population and aging, and has contributed 26 articles to National Geographic magazine since 1987. Her work has won top honors in the annual Pictures of the Year competition as well as special recognition in the Magazine Photographer of the Year category. Her new book, "Impact: From the Frontlines of Global Health," will be published by National Geographic Books this month.

Emory Kristof is a specialist in underwater, scientific and high-tech subjects, including deep-ocean work beyond normal diver limits. He pioneered the use of robot cameras and remotely operated vehicles and created the preliminary designs of the electronic camera system for the ROV that found the Titanic. He has photographed 40 articles for National Geographic magazine, most recently "Dawn in the Deep", about deep sea vents, in February 2003.

The Missouri School of Journalism is home of the nation's photojournalism program. Students shoot photographs, write, design and edit for a wide range of J-School publications including the Columbia Missourian newspaper; and Vox and the Global Journalist magazines. Students also participate in the staging of two contests -- Pictures of the Year International and College Photographer of the Year -- as well as the Missouri Photo Workshop, all of which enable them to interact with the industry's top editors and photographers.