Dina Litovsky is a Ukrainian-born documentary and portrait photographer based in New York City since 1991. Her work draws on visual sociology to examine subcultures and leisure in contemporary culture, often focusing on power, spectacle, and the social choreography of public life.

Litovsky holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from New York University and an MFA in Photography from the School of Visual Arts. Her images have appeared in publications such as National Geographic, TIME, The New Yorker, GQ, New York Magazine andThe New York Times Magazine.

In 2020, she received the Nannen Prize, Germany's leading award for documentary photography. Other awards include PDN 30, Pictures of the Year International, NPPA Photojournalism, and American Photography. Her exhibitions include solo and group shows at the Museum of the City of New York, Noordelicht Festival, Netherlands; Annenberg Space for Photography, LA; Anastasia Photo Gallery, NYC; Australian Center of Photography, The Fence, USA; Tanto Tempo Gallery, Japan; LightFactory Museum, Charlotte.

Litovsky also writes a Substack newsletter In the Flash, where she explores visual culture, editorial photography processes, and industry insights.

Adama Delphine Fawundu is a visual artist, educator, and cultural organizer whose interdisciplinary practice is rooted in photography and expanded through textiles, video, sound, handmade paper, and found and organic materials. Central to her work is what she terms Kpoto Patchwok, a methodology grounded in ancestral intelligence, embodied memory, and ecological knowledge. Through this approach, she explores how stories are carried, preserved, and transmitted through our bodies, landscapes, and material culture.

Elizabeth Krist was a photography editor at National Geographic magazine for over 20 years, and now serves on the board of Women Photograph, advises the Eddie Adams Workshop, and is a contributing editor for Virginia Quarterly Review. She curated National Geographic’s Women of Vision exhibition and book, as well as five Photoville installations. Elizabeth helped program events for National Geographic and for CatchLight. She teaches for ICP, and collaborates with the New York Portfolio Review, Apple, Vital Impacts, Leica, and the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards. She recently finished editing two 2026 books with Michael Yamashita. NPPA recognized her with their 2025 Outstanding Leader Award.

Lynn Johnson photographs the human condition. Johnson has worked for LIFE and Sports Illustrated and published 40 feature stories in National Geographic Magazine. She is known for finding beauty and meaning in elusive, difficult subjects—threatened languages, zoonotic disease, the gender spectrum, and the many mysteries of the brain—Science of Touch, Blast Force Injury and Profound Autism. Hate Kills, her master’s thesis as a Knight Fellow at Ohio University, probed the impact of hate crimes. And at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications, she helped develop CORE— a program that challenged master’s students to push past their comfort levels. She is the recipient of numerous awards and grants including the Robert F. Kennedy Award, the Chris Hondros Fund, and has been a Pulitzer finalist on two occasions. 

David Campany is a curator, writer, editor, educator and Creative Director of the International Center of Photography, New York.

David has worked worldwide with institutions including Tate, Whitechapel Gallery London, MoMA New York, Centre Pompidou, Le Bal Paris, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Fundacion MAPFRE Spain, The Photographer’s Gallery London, ParisPhoto, PhotoLondon, and The National Portrait Gallery London. He has published with Aperture, Steidl, MIT Press, Thames & Hudson, Phaidon, MACK, Frieze, The New Yorker, The FT Weekend, and The Telegraph.

Recent curatorial projects include Eugène Atget: the Making of a Reputation, Latitudes: François-Xavier Gbré and Nuits Balnéaires, HARD COPY  NEW YORK (artists: Daniel Arnold, David Black, John Divola, Jerry Hsu, Shaniqwa Jarvis, Ari Marcopoulos, Ryan McGinley, Thomas Ruff, Collier Schorr, Stephen Shore, Asako Narahashi, Gray Sorrenti, Andre D. Wagner) co-curated with Aaron Stern, International Center of Photography, New York,  2026;  Jeff Wall. Photographs, Gallerie d’Italia, Turin 2025; Edward Burtynsky: the Great Acceleration, International Center of Photography, 2025; IMMERSION: Gregory Halpern, Raymond Meeks and Vasantha Yogananthan (International Center of Photography, New York, 2023), William Klein: Yes. Photographs, Paintings, Films 1948-2013 (International Center of Photography, New York, 2022), ACTUAL SIZE! Photography at Life Scale (International Center of Photography, New York, 2022); A Trillion Sunsets: A Century of Image Overload, International Center of Photography, New York, 2022; and Gillian Laub: Family Matters, International Center of Photography, New York, 2021.

David has written or edited over thirty books.

Melissa O’Shaughnessy was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1960 and attended Georgetown University and the University of St. Thomas, graduating with a degree in journalism. She is now a photographer based in New York City. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including a solo show at the Municipal Art Society of New York and group exhibitions at the Museum of the City of New York and the International Center of Photography.

Her work is included in the anthologies “Bystander: A History of Street Photography”, “Women Street Photographers”, and “Reclaim the Street: Street Photography’s Moment”.

Her first monograph, “Perfect Strangers: New York City Street Photographs” was published by Aperture in 2020. She is a member of UP, an international collective of 26 photographers.

Debra Klomp Ching is the co-owner of the Klompching Gallery (est. 2007) in Brooklyn, New York. The gallery specializes in the exhibition and sale of contemporary fine art photographs. Artworks by its international roster of artists can be found in the collections of MoCP, George Eastman Museum, LACMA, MOMA and Victoria & Albert Museum among many others. In addition to owning and operating the gallery, she is a freelance consultant, writer, curator and educator. Her writing has been published in several publications, including being a guest editor for Photography Quarterly (issue No. 99) and the commissioning editor/publisher of (re)collect – Jonathan Shaw (2006). She is a regular judge for photography awards, including the LensCulture Emerging Talent Award (2017), San Francisco Bay International Photography Show (2018), and the Arnold Newman Portrait Award (2018). Debra Klomp Ching is also an Adjunct Faculty member at the School of Visual Arts (SVA), the co-founder of the Fresh Annual Photography Exhibition and the Rhonda Wilson Award.

IG: @debraklompching @klompchinggallery

Polly Irungu is a Kenyan-born, Washington, D.C.–based photographer, photo editor, and community builder who deeply believes in the power of visual storytelling to create access, equity, and change. Driven by curiosity, care, and a strong sense of responsibility, Polly is especially committed to uplifting Black and African women creatives whose stories have historically been overlooked. She previously served as a White House photographer and photo editor, and she cares deeply about representation, fairness, and building systems that allow talented people not just to be seen, but to thrive.

Through her work as a photographer and as the founder of Black Women Photographers, Polly is most energized when she’s connecting people, opening doors, and helping creatives gain the confidence, resources, and opportunities they deserve. Passionate about mentorship, collaboration, and community-building, she values both the craft of photography and the business behind it—believing sustainable careers are just as important as powerful images. Whether documenting history, leading conversations about equity in the creative industry, or supporting emerging photographers, Polly approaches everything with intention, generosity, and a belief in collective success.

Éléonore Simon is a Paris-based photographer and writer working across street photography and fine art. Her practice has developed between France, New York, and Chile, where she spent five years photographing Valparaíso. Back in France since 2022, she contributes her pen to artists and publications including revue EPIC and Process Magazine. Her photography has been exhibited internationally and published in magazines and anthologies dedicated to contemporary street photography.

She is a member of UP Photographers and Les Filles de la Photo, and a frequent guest and judge at international photography festivals. Alongside her artistic practice, she serves as COO of Irys, a photography-first social platform and ecosystem dedicated to photography.

Alan Schaller is a London-based photographer and Leica Ambassador whose work has become a defining reference in contemporary black-and-white street photography. Working primarily in urban environments, his images are known for their strong contrast, graphic composition, and careful attention to light and form. His work has been exhibited internationally in over 30 solo shows and published widely, and he regularly collaborates with cultural institutions, brands, and publications.

Alongside his artistic practice, Alan has played a key role in building global photography communities. He is the co-founder of Street Photography International and the founder of Irys, a photography-first social media platform and ecosystem created to support photographers, foster meaningful connections, and create real-world opportunities beyond the feed.

Hiroko Hirota is a Tokyo based photographer. She studied Broadcasting at Nihon University College of Art and spent one year as an exchange student at Washington State University. After graduating, she worked at a commercial film production company in the advertising industry.

In 2020, she held her first solo exhibition at the Leica Professional Store Tokyo and published her debut photobook. In 2024, she was selected as a finalist for the Fujifilm Photo Salon Young Photographers Support Project, which resulted in a solo exhibition at Fujifilm Square Tokyo. Later that year, she presented a second solo exhibition at the Leica Professional Store Tokyo.

In 2026, Hirota was selected for the Women Street Photographers Artist Residency in New York City.

The British-born, New York-based photographer Phil Penman has dedicated over 25 years documenting the ever-changing scene of New York City's streets. His distinctive black-and-white approach to street photography has cemented his reputation as one of the most significant visual chroniclers of the modern metropolis.

Before rising to prominence for his personal street work, Penman built a substantial career as a news and magazine photographer. His reportage has appeared in prestigious international publications, including The Guardian, Paris Match, National Geographic, Time Magazine,The Independent, and The New York Review of Books. Throughout this period, he photographed major public figures and captured historical events.

His dedication to documenting history is perhaps most evident in his powerful work following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. This searing reportage has been featured across major news outlets like NBC's Today show, the BBC, the History Channel, and Al Jazeera, and his compelling images are now preserved within the archives of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, serving as a vital record of that tragic day.

Penman's contributions to documenting modern American history have continued to earn high-level recognition. His poignant images covering the pandemic lockdown in New York City were acquired by the U.S. Library of Congress. This acquisition places his contemporary documentation alongside the work of legendary Depression-era documentarians such as Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange, underscoring the cultural and historical value of his photographs.

His signature street photography, characterized by its sharp contrasts and evocative sense of moment, has been widely exhibited. His work has been displayed in Galleries around the world. Most recently his work was shown as part of the 100 Year anniversary of Leica.

Penman is also an enthusiastic educator, touring the world to teach photography workshops for the renowned Leica Akademie. His expertise and influence in the field have been formally recognized; he was recently named among the “52 Most Influential Street Photographers,” a list that honors him alongside genre legends like Henri Cartier-Bresson, Sebastião Salgado, Diane Arbus, and Garry Winogrand.

His books have successfully brought his work to a broader audience:

Street (2019): This best-seller captured the raw energy and diverse life of New York's boroughs.

New York Street Diaries (2023): This follow-up also achieved best-seller status and was featured at the prestigious Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, further establishing his place in the fine art photography world. The book sold over 7500 Copies in its first two years after release.

Big New York (2024): Where his work was featured alongside photographic legends Elliot Erwitt and Thomas Hoepker.

Street Scenes (2025): His most recent book launched as the number one Street Photography book on Amazon and continues to be sold around the world.

Nina Welch-Kling is a New York City-based photographer. The German native combines her background in architecture and design with her passion for roaming the city streets to guide her often mysterious photographic depictions of everyday life. Welch-Kling earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus in Interior Design from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1990 and a Master in Architecture from The University of California, Los Angeles in 1993.

In 2020, Welch-Kling was a recipient of the LensCulture Critics’ Choice Award as well as a finalist in the LensCulture Street Photography Awards. Welch-Kling's work has been included in multiple international photography exhibitions as well as numerous magazine and online publications including The Guardian, British Journal of Photography, Dazed, Musée Magazine, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and TheModernMet.com. Welch-Kling’s work is included in the book Women Street Photographers, edited by Gulnara Samoilova published by Prestel. In 2021, she was one of eight women named a Hasselblad Heroine. Welch-Kling's first monograph, titled Duologues was published by Kehrer Verlag in the Fall of 2022.

Gulnara Lyabib Samoilova is an American photographer with over 40 years of experience in documentary, street, and fine art photography. She graduated from the International Center of Photography in 1994 and worked as a staff photo editor and photojournalist at the Associated Press.

Throughout her career, Gulnara has received numerous awards for her photographs, including first prize from the World Press Photo. Gulnara's work is part of collections at the Museum of the City of New York, Houston Museum of Fine Arts, and New York Historical Society.

She is the founder of Women Street Photographers, an online and in-person global community, as well as an artist residency in New York City. Additionally, she is the author of the best-selling book Women Street Photographers (2021, Prestel) and a portfolio book (2023, Peanut Press). With her vast experience and expertise, Gulnara has organized and curated over 30 successful exhibitions in four continents, including the first Women Street Photographers Festival in New York City. The festival, sponsored by Leica Camera, features group and solo exhibitions, grants, panel discussions, and photo walks. In addition to her curatorial work, Gulnara is also an inspirational speaker, guest judge (Lens Culture, Lucie Photo Book Prize, UNESCO) and portfolio reviewer (Arles Les Rencontres de la Photographie, PhotoNola), and a LOBA nominator.

Mary-Irene Marek is a seasoned marketing executive with a deep passion for the photography industry and a career dedicated to serving its vibrant community. With a master's degree from the University of Massachusetts, she began her professional journey with the Eastman Kodak Company, where she developed a keen understanding of the evolving visual media landscape. Immersed in a period of rapid technological advancement, she embraced the shift from analog to digital, recognizing early on the transformative power of new tools and platforms in shaping the way photographers and filmmakers create, share, and connect with their audiences.

Her expertise expanded as she took on a leadership role at Adorama Camera in Manhattan, overseeing a team of filmmaking and photography professionals. In this capacity, she played a pivotal role in shaping marketing strategies, building industry partnerships, and fostering engagement among creatives and professionals alike. Her forward-thinking approach helped position the retailer at the forefront of innovative storytelling and content production, ensuring that photographers had access to the latest innovations and educational resources to elevate their craft.

Now, as Vice President of Marketing at Leica Camera USA, Mary-Irene continues to drive community and brand growth, leveraging her deep industry knowledge and strategic vision. She remains committed to empowering photographers, filmmakers, and visual storytellers through impactful marketing initiatives, educational programs, and community-driven efforts. Her ability to anticipate industry shifts and champion emerging technologies enables her to craft compelling campaigns that resonate with both seasoned professionals and the next generation of creatives.

Leica Camera USA

@leicacamerausa