Jane explores the nuances and unique qualities of the natural, human, and built environment through photography. Her work has been featured in juried and non-juried exhibitions since 2014. Her current project, “Mushrooms in Raleigh” documents the multitude of fungi species located in and around Raleigh, N.C., also seeking to capture the beauty that flourishes from the naturally decaying environment. She is currently developing a documentary photography series on the journey of homeless Turkish dogs from abandonment to rescue to adoption. Casteline is a research administrator at N.C. State University in Raleigh, N.C.

Instagram: @mushroomsinraleigh18

Shannon Johnstone’s photographic work deals with themes that reclaim what has been discarded and make visible that which is hidden. Her project, “Landfill Dogs”, has been featured nationally and internationally, and was most notably on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer (2013) and CNN.com (2014). Her recent project “Stardust and Ashes” was a Critical Mass Finalist (2017), and her newest work, “Roadside Zoo” won an Honorable Mention in the International Photography Awards (2021). Johnstone is a tenured professor at Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C. She is also a Ph.D. candidate in Human-Animal Studies at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.

Website: shannonjohnstone.com

Teri Saylor is an independent journalist and communication professional in Raleigh, N.C., with more than 25 years of experience in journalism, public affairs, and nonprofit management. Born and raised in N.C., and a graduate of N.C. State University, Teri started her career as a reporter and photographer at a small weekly newspaper in eastern N.C., and from there she began a career with the N.C. Press Association, advancing the organization’s mission to protect First Amendment freedoms, and advocating for the newspaper industry. For the past 15 years, she has operated Open Water Communications, a small firm devoted to helping newspapers, magazines, and organizations connect with and engage their audiences through storytelling and photography.

Website: terisaylor.com

Camden Watts is a storyteller focused on charismatic, strong women making a positive impact in their communities. She creates safe spaces for viewers to face dark truths, laugh during lighter moments, and experience the beauty of the South. Watts empowers audiences to tap into their own courage by seeing real examples on screen. She is a self-taught filmmaker who made Brewconomy, The Innocent AK, Landfill Dogs: Behind the Scenes, Trophy, and Abandoned Allies. She also worked on Oh Crappy Day and Brownstone. Watts studied graphic design and photography at Meredith College. (Photo by Shannon Johnstone.)

Website: camdenwatts.com

Ned Phillips is a cinematographer and film editor who has been the director of photography for multiple feature films, including the documentary Truth Underground (2016). Ned graduated with honors in 2006 from Goucher College, where he played lacrosse and majored in both Spanish and in Communications & Media Studies. He completed a Certificate in Documentary Arts at Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies. He directed The Maestro (2018), which was an official RiverRun selection. Ned was the director of photography and consulting editor on Oh Crappy Day (2019).

As a Durham native, Nick Wallhausser was shocked by the change when he visited his hometown after spending nearly a decade in Nagoya, Japan. Impressed with how the city had grown, he gave it a shot and quickly found great creative and social outlets throughout the triangle. With music and events, he found like-minded artists and began an event series and record label named Raund Haus. This led to mixing and mastering countless records from local collaborators to artists worldwide, as far as London and Tokyo. Having a lifetime love of anything Nintendo and Super Mario related, a controller in hand was never a foreign thing. As drone technology became more accessible, it was a natural progression to find a love for flying drones. This led to an interest in video and aerial photography, which has been made easy with the advancements in camera technology on today’s drones. With a love for anything music or sound related and a massive enthusiasm for drones, Nick has transferred those skills into the film world, eager to work with new people to bring their films and creations to life.

Website: twentymighty.com

Aaron is obsessed with audio; be it production recording or music. On the music end, he is an upright and electric bassist. He has released numerous recordings; the latest on Big Round Records with Ecco La Musica and with Sidecar Social Club. Add to all of this – a production audio recordist that has worked on numerous short and long-format films, documentaries, and commercials. A sample list of clients: US Soccer, HBO, Park Stories, Discovery Channel, and PBS.

Website: aaronbittikofer.com

Annie Beth Donahue is a native North Carolinian. She has a degree in music therapy from Queens University of Charlotte but keeps a lot of different plates spinning as an independent consultant. Her typical roles include project manager, integrator, business officer, and CRM admin. Basically, she does the tedious stuff for the big-vision people. But don’t let all that left-brained work fool you. Harkening back to her liberal arts days, Annie Beth loves handling the details for projects involving nonprofits or the arts. In her “off” time, she’s a homeschooling mom of four, the founder of a nonprofit for children with special healthcare needs, and a middle grade author.