How can photographs change minds and protect what matters most? Join four acclaimed image‑makers for a dynamic conversation on how visual storytelling shapes public perception, influences policy, and preserves cultural memory.
What You’ll Learn
• How images drive conservation outcomes and cultural preservation
• Ethical guardrails in the digital era—editing, authenticity, and trust
• Collaborating with NGOs to educate, fundraise, and advocate
• Real-world case studies where photographs shifted awareness, empathy, or policy
Featured Panelists:
Bob Talbot
Filmmaker • Photographer • Marine Conservation Advocate
Bob Talbot is renowned for his stunning marine photography and award‑winning cinematic work that has brought audiences face‑to‑face with whales, dolphins, and fragile ocean ecosystems. His imagery has not only mesmerized viewers but also galvanized public support for marine protection. Talbot’s lifelong commitment to ocean advocacy makes him a powerful voice in conversations about how photography can inspire stewardship of the natural world.
Kevin Osborn
Nature Photographer • Software Engineer • MFA, Brooks Institute
Growing up among the forests and peaks of the San Bernardino Mountains instilled in Kevin Osborn a deep love for the outdoors—one that guided him to Humboldt State University, where he earned a B.S. in Natural Resources. After establishing a successful career as a software engineer, Osborn pursued his passion more formally by earning an MFA in Photography from Brooks Institute. Now based in Santa Cruz, where mountains, ocean, and redwoods converge, he continues to explore how nature photography can deepen environmental appreciation and awareness. His work reflects both technical mastery and an enduring sense of curiosity: “Three more years of school have taught me much about photography, but mostly it has reminded me of how much more there is to learn.”
Craig Lovell
Photographer • Cultural & Environmental Documentarian
Craig Lovell’s diverse body of work spans landscapes, world cultures, sacred sites, performing arts, and environmental subjects. Known for his ability to blend artistry with cultural sensitivity, Lovell has spent decades photographing traditional communities and natural spaces threatened by modernization and ecological change. His images reveal beauty while honoring authenticity, making him a compelling storyteller in the realms of both conservation and cultural preservation.
Rick Murai
Photographer • Educator • Specialist in Sacred Sites Documentation
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Rick Murai recently concluded 35 years of teaching creative photography in Northern California’s Central Valley. His lifelong fascination with sacred sites has taken him across Asia, India, South America, the Middle East, Russia, Western Europe, and Oceania. Murai’s award‑winning work has appeared in LensWork, Camera Arts, Silver Shotz International (AU/NZ), and other respected publications. He has received multiple honors, including Travel Photographer of the Year (UK) awards (2008, 2011) and the Jurors Award at the California State Fair (2010). In addition to exhibiting internationally, he leads workshops around the world, from Italy and Ireland to Morocco and Southeast Asia, while mentoring photographers seeking deeper meaning and purpose in their work.
Moderated by Dr. Megan McKenna
Marine Scientist • Educator • Policy Expert • Specialist in ocean science, conservation, and public policy
Megan earned her Ph.D. from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She began her policy work at the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission in Washington, D.C. She later served as a lead scientist at the U.S. National Park Service, integrating remote sensing into natural resource management. Back in California, she has focused on ocean conservation and sustainability through big data analytics and cross-sector collaborations addressing solutions from local to global scales. At the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, she teaches in multiple programs, including the graduate Environmental Policy and Management program, the online Master of Public Administration in Sustainability, and undergraduate initiatives like the California Coast and Climate Semester and the Middlebury School of the Environment. Her teaching highlights applied science, systems thinking, and the link between local actions and global change. In 2025, she was honored with the Faculty Excellence Award at MIIS for her outstanding teaching.
Free and open to the public. Whether you’re a photographer, environmental advocate, student, artist, or simply someone who cares deeply about our planet and its people, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
This event is part of PhotoCarmel 2026: A Celebration of Photography on the Central Coast.
Where: Irvine Auditorium (next to the Atrium Gallery) • 499 Pierce Street, Monterey, CA
☕ Coffee & cookies served before and after the discussion