Kathy Lichtendahl
Questionnaire: Kathy Lichtendahl
Membership #31990241
1) Give us a brief overview of your job, photographic, educational, volunteer, organizational board/committee skills, etc.
I have undergraduate degrees in Animal Health, Business Administration and Photographic Communications as well as a Master’s Degree in International Business Studies. I taught commercial photography at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming from 2015 – 2018. I am a Certified Wyoming Naturalist and work as a guide for Road Scholar in and around the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Since early 2024, I have also worked as a photo pro for Muench Workshops. In 2014, I started Light in the Valley, LLC, a company providing a variety of photographic services in the state of Wyoming. I am involved in a wide variety of citizen science projects and have served on the boards of a number of conservation organizations in Wyoming and beyond. I often speak to diverse groups about the role of conservation photography in today’s world.
2) How long have you been an active member of NANPA?
13 years
3) What Summits/Forums have you attended?
A number of on-line forums over the years and the 2025 Summit in Tucson.
4) Have you served as a NANPA volunteer or worked on a NANPA committee? If so, please describe
Yes, I served on the Communications Committee for a couple of years several years ago and then served on and chaired the High School Scholarship Committee for 2 years until we were shut down by the Covid Pandemic in 2020. I led a NANPA Regional Event in Wyoming’s Beartooth Mountains in 2022.
5) What particular expertise and/or qualities would you bring to the NANPA Board?
I have many years of experience serving on boards for a wide variety of organizations. I am aware of the duties required and the time commitment involved to have an effective board of directors. I have spent a considerable amount of time working and communicating with many personalities through my work as a guide/photo pro and teacher.
6) Serving on the NANPA board does involve a time commitment. Do you feel that at this time in your life/career, you can dedicate the time to ensure NANPA’s continued growth and success?
Yes
7) How would you use your abilities to further the NANPA Mission?
Since I first joined NANPA more than a decade ago, I have been an advocate for the organization and for nature photography in all its forms. Because of my location in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, I have the ability and opportunity to interact with photographers from all over the world on a regular basis and to educate many of them on the practical and ethical considerations when capturing images of wildlife and the habitats in which they live.
8) How do you envision NANPA’s role in the future of nature photography? How would you further that role?
Now more than ever I believe it is critical to educate both photographers and viewers on the importance of true visual story-telling. With the rapid and rampant advances in the world of AI, education surrounding what is real and what is computer generated has become a priority. By continuing to stress the importance of quality and honesty in nature photography while also exploring the possibilities offered by advancing technologies, I believe NANPA has a vital role to play in the future of nature photography.
9) Why do you want to serve on the NANPA Board of Directors?
I truly believe I can contribute to the conversation of what NANPA is now and where it is headed. My experiences as a professional photographer, a naturalist, an educator and a volunteer all combine to provide me with a background particularly suited to this role.
