Keynote Speakers
Known in the industry by her first name only, Elsa has the distinct honor of being the first woman staff photographer at Getty Images. Famous for capturing defining moments, Elsa brings her vision to collegiate and professional sporting events all over
the globe – including some of the most preeminent events, such as the Olympics, World Series, Super Bowl, NBA Finals, US Open, FIFA Men’s and Women’s World Cup, and Men’s and Women’s NCAA Final Four.
After nearly three decades in the industry, Elsa’s genuine passion for bearing witness to some of the greatest moments in sports remains as potent as ever, whether during the regular season or the Finals. Still reveling in her dream job, she approaches each assignment with creativity, compassion, and confidence, always searching for pinnacle moments of athleticism, beauty, and emotion to share with the world.
Dr. Zun Lee is a physician, educator and visual storyteller. He is a 2020 Guggenheim Fellow and currently a Visiting Professor at the University of Alabama College of Communication & Information Studies, where he is also the Inaugural Artist Laureate in Residence at the Holle Center for Communications Arts.
After two decades as a corporate executive, Lee began his visual arts endeavors in street photography but is arguably best-known for his multi-year documentary projects of Black fatherhood and everyday family life. Lee’s work has expanded into writing, placekeeping, performance and other multidisciplinary collaborations. As a cultural entrepreneur, he works with community and academic institutions on sustainable initiatives that use creativity and visual storytelling for increased social impact.
Lee has exhibited, spoken and taught at numerous academic and art institutions in North America and Europe. He’s been a juror for several international photography awards, including the Diversify Photo x Pulitzer Center Photo Grant, Women Photograph Getty Images Grant, NPPF Michel du Cille Fellowship, The Burtynsky Photobook Grant, Pictures of the Year International, and Alexia Foundation Grants for Documentary Photography. His works are widely published and represented in public and private collections around the world, including the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Smithsonian, the Portland Art Museum, and many others. Lee is a member of the Board of Trustees at the Art Gallery of Ontario, one of the largest art museums in North America.
A former staff photographer for the Los Angeles Times, Jay Clendenin’s work blends the honesty of journalism with a cinematic eye for portraiture. Known for his animated, encouraging presence on set, he brings out the best in everyone around him — from film crews and athletes to A-list talent and everyday people with stories to tell.
For Jay, photography isn’t just work — it’s life. Since high school, he’s had a camera in his hand and with a curiosity about how images connect people, he’s passionate about documenting life around him. His career has taken him from newsrooms to the White House and Air Force One, to red carpets and film sets, directing portraits and campaigns for well-known business clients, as well as major film studios including Warner Bros., Disney, Amazon MGM Studios, and Universal.
Starting portrait studios at Sundance, Comic-Con and the Toronto International Film Festival for the L.A. Times, Jay collaborated closely with business and marketing teams to shape creative strategies and visual direction. He’s as comfortable behind the camera as he is leading a team where he combines instinct and adaptability with a sharp sense of humor under pressure.
From George Clooney’s driveway to championship sidelines, Jay’s focus has always been the same: find the image that tells the story.
Breakout Session Speakers
Coburn Dukehart is the Managing Editor of the CatchLight Local program — an initiative to reinvigorate visual journalism in local news. Dukehart has spent more than 20 years as a visual strategist, previously as the associate director of the non-profit newsroom Wisconsin Watch, and as a visual editor at national websites including NPR and National Geographic. Dukehart has an MA in photojournalism from the University of Missouri, and was a member of the 2024 cohort of the Executive Program in News Leadership at CUNY.
In her downtime, she does yoga, brews kombucha and has a complicated relationship with a VW Eurovan. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her family but is always happy to travel.