OPENING KEYNOTE
"Wild Florida"
Kirsten Hines
KEYNOTE RECEPTION
"Opening Up"
Rob Knight
KIRSTEN HINES
Wild Florida
WEDNESDAY 6:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Meeting Location: St. Augustine Alligator Farm, 999 Anastasia Blvd.
**NOTE: NO ALLIGATOR FARM PHOTO PASS NEEDED FOR THIS EVENT (UNLESS YOU PLAN TO ENTER THE ROOKERY AFTERWARDS)**
Ticket Price: $35
Max No Attendees: 50
Keynote: Florida is widely known for its alligators, panthers, pythons, and pesky mosquitoes, but did you know it also has crocodiles, bears, red widow spiders, and more species of fireflies than any other state? How about a tiny lizard that swims through central Florida’s ancient sand dunes, its very own species of scrub-jay, or that wild flamingos, common two centuries ago, are reappearing? Join Kirsten Hines, author of Birds of Florida and Wild Florida: An Animal Odyssey, for a visual and descriptive journey deep into Florida’s wilds to explore the state’s impressive array of animals, including tips on where and how to photograph this diversity.
Bio: Kirsten Hines is an award-winning writer, wildlife photographer, and speaker based in Coconut Grove, Florida. Her ten books include the wildlife-gardening references Attracting Birds to South Florida Gardens and Recovering Caribbean Nature, and a 4-book series of pictorial histories covering each of South Florida’s national parks. Her photo essay book, Wild Florida: An Animal Odyssey, garnered multiple national and state awards including gold medals for Visual Arts in the Florida Book Awards and the National League of American Pen Women’s Marjorie Davies Roller Nonfiction Award. It was also named one of the best Florida books of 2023 by Creative Loafing in Tampa Bay, describing the photographs as “…[dancing] a thin line between educational and fine art as they capture more than 100 different animals…” Her field guide, Birds of Florida, covers 310 Florida species illustrated by 450 of her photographs, a feat she accomplished in two years. Kirsten’s images have also won numerous awards and have been juried into public art programs, solo and group exhibitions, and prestigious photography showcases such as that of the North American Nature Photography Association. Kirsten’s aim is to inspire conservation action through her personalized storytelling. Learn more at KirstenHines.com.​
 Birds of Florida |  Wild Florida |
|---|---|
 Black Bear by K Hines |  Fireflies by K Hines |
 Flamingo by K Hines |  Red Widow Spider by K Hines |
 FL Scrub Jay by K Hines |
ROB KNIGHT
Opening Up
SATURDAY 6:00 - 8:00 P.M.
Meeting Location: The Waterworks, 184 San Marco Ave.
Ticket Cost: $35
Max No Attendees: 100
*Photo Contest Winners will be announced at the close of the Keynote Address​
Keynote: Opening Up is a personal reflection on more than 25 years behind the camera - both the moments we capture and the ones that quietly shape us. The title was inspired by the collective feeling many of us shared as the world began to reopen after the pandemic, but its meaning runs much deeper.
Through this keynote, Rob shares how his creative journey has required opening up in unexpected ways: navigating personal loss and family change, adapting to a constantly evolving photography industry, responding to the needs of clients and students, and even embracing work in industries he never imagined entering.
Along the way, there have been pivots and pauses, wins and setbacks - each one reshaping his perspective and fueling growth. Ultimately, these experiences led him back to the heart of why many of us first picked up a camera: the joy of exploration, curiosity, and the desire to share how we see the world.​
Opening Up is a reminder that creativity isn’t linear - and that sometimes, growth means returning to where it all began.
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​Bio: Travel and Nature photographer Rob Knight has been a professional artist for over thirty years. He’s been a photographer for more than half of that time and an educator since 2009. Rob is a professional photographer, educator, and a Tenba Visual Artist. He is an Adobe Certified Expert in Photoshop Lightroom, and a two-time finalist for the National Association of Photoshop Professional’s “Photoshop Guru” award. Rob has published two books for Peachpit Press and Rocky Nook Publishing, and his work has been featured in Nature’s Best Photography magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and more. Rob is best known for his destination photo workshops, his easy-going teaching style and his informative critiques. Rob enjoys teaching in a classroom setting, but he loves teaching and exploring with students on location. Rob began leading photo workshops in 2009 with a focus on nature and wildlife photography. Some of his favorite locations are Costa Rica and Grand Teton NP.
