Chicago: Speaker and Panelist Bios
- Todd BaxterFreelance PhotographerChicago - PanelistChicago-based photographer Todd Baxter was raised in New Mexico. He studied photography, painting, and drawing at the University of New Mexico and has taught art and photography for several years in the US and abroad. He moved to Chicago in 2002, working first as a designer and art director at several ad agencies in Chicago before becoming a professional photographer. Liz Miller-Gershfeld from BBDO commented in PDN that "themes of taxidermy, disaffection and 70's era A/V equipment made me look twice at Todd Baxter's unique vision of the world around him. His vision is strong, but its execution subtle." Todd now shoots commercially for clients including Energy BBDO, DDB, Digitas, Conde Nast/GQ, ACE Hardware, Random House, and Punk Planet.
- Brittney BlairPhoto Editor, Chicago MagazineChicago - PanelistPhoto Editor Brittney Blair began her career at Chicago magazine in the summer of 2002 as an intern in the editorial art department. Her eye for detail and keen understanding of photography made her the perfect addition to the design team. During her years at Chicago, Brittney has built relationships with photographers both locally and nationally that serve to make Chicago magazine one of the premiere magazines in the Midwest. She has contributed directly to several award winning issues, including the magazine's prestigious National Magazine Award for General Excellence in 2003. Brittney herself was recognized by Chicago's parent company Tribune Co. in 2007 for spearheading a groundbreaking Photography Special Issue in December of 2006. Brittney has produced numerous cover photos, photo essays, and features for the magazine.
- Liz Miller-GershfeldSr. Art Buyer at Energy BBDOChicago - Main SpeakerA native of Detroit, MI, Liz Miller-Gershfeld began her production career in 1993 working on feature films, television commercials and music videos. She has held her current position as Sr. Art Buyer at Energy BBDO since January 2000, working on client accounts including Wrigley, Jim Beam Brands, Bayer Brands, Dial Brands, and LaSalle Bank. Liz currently lives in Chicago with her husband and two sons, ages two and four.
- Katrina WittcampFreelance PhotographerChicago - PanelistChicago-based photographer Katrina Wittcamp started her career as a photo editor, working first at the Times in Munster, IN, and then for the Chicago Tribune for almost seven years - including three years as the Photo Editor for the Tribune Sunday Magazine. She left the Tribune in 2002 to re-start her career as a freelance photographer and now shoots for numerous local and national magazines, in addition to selling her work through Getty. Katrina and her husband recently rehabbed a 100-year-old storefront building in Ukrainian Village, where they now live with their young daughter Ella. Wittcamp graduated in 1994 from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, with a degree in photojournalism.
- Brian UlrichFreelance PhotographerChicago - PanelistBrian Ulrich lives and works in Chicago and in addition to teaching at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Columbia College, he curates exhibitions, maintains a popular photography blog, and actively lectures across the country including recent talks at the Aperture Foundation, the School of Visual Arts, and the San Francisco Art Institute.
Ulrich earned his MFA in photography at Columbia College Chicago and a BFA in photography at the University of Akron. Since finishing his graduate studies in 2004, Ulrich has had solo exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego; the Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Chicago; the Julie Saul Gallery; and the Robert Koch Gallery. His work has also been included in many group exhibitions such as the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Photography, and will be included in upcoming exhibits at the Walker Art Center; the Carnegie Museum; and Galerie f5.6 in Munich.
In 2007 Ulrich was named one of the years 30 Emerging Photographers by Photo District News magazine. His work has been recently featured in several publications including the New York Times Magazine; Mother Jones magazine; the Chicago Tribune; Artforum; Harper's; Leica World; and Phat Photo (Japan). Brian is represented by Rhona Hoffman Gallery in Chicago, Robert Koch Gallery in San Francisco, and Julie Saul Gallery in New York.
