Announcing the Shoot & Edit Workshop in Bolivia

Photo Leader: Karen Kasmauski (National Geographic veteran)

Karen Kasmauski and Bill Douthitt: A Shared Visual Journey

In the realm of visual storytelling, Karen Kasmauski and Bill Douthitt – an award-winning duo of photographer and editor – have become modern-day explorers, capturing the pulse of humanity in its raw and most beautiful form. From the rainy skies of England to the jungles of the Congo and from the kaleidoscope of colors in India to the deserts of the Sudan, they come back with photos, anecdotes and stories to share with the world.

This isn’t just a tale of two careers; it’s a respectful inter-dependence of two kindred spirits, bound by a strong connection to their craft and to each other. Their combined journeys spanning over 30 years has taken them from the icy expanses of the Arctic tundra to the frenetic energy of Tokyo’s streets, in pursuit of moments that unveil the essence of the human spirit.

Karen Kasmauski: The Quiet Visionary Behind the Lens

Picture a young girl, born into the nomadic life of a military family, experiencing the ever-changing landscapes of America. This was Karen Kasmauski, whose destiny was sealed the day her father sent her a Nikon camera from Vietnam. Little did he know, he was handing her the key to unlock the world.

Karen’s path was not a smooth road. It was a rugged trail, winding through countless nights in dark rooms where she coaxed images to life from delicate negatives. Her camera became her bridge to understanding the human condition. She began with stories in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee, and she worked at the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, near the Navy base. When she shoehorned her way into National Geographic in Washington, DC, it became her vessel, whisking her away to 65 countries, exploring distant lands and connecting with people that were kindred spirits.

In the AIDS-ravaged villages of Zambia, Karen found herself face-to-face with resilience personified. “I was shooting a health project about the impact of HIV/AIDS,” she recounts, her voice tinged with awe. “Amid the grief, I met a woman who had lost her husband and children to the virus. She was one of the most resilient people I had ever met—there was so much strength in her eyes. I spent hours photographing her, not just as a subject, but as a human being whose story needed to be told.”

What is her most potent tool? Empathy. It’s the invisible thread that connects her to her subjects, allowing her to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. She doesn’t chase the flashy stories; instead, she ventures into the hardest stories, returning with perspectives that others overlook. “It’s not just about getting the shot,” she insists. “It’s about understanding the person in front of the lens.”

Bill Douthitt: The Storyteller’s Alchemist

While Karen roamed the field, Bill Douthitt was on a parallel quest. His journey began in the realm of words, but he soon discovered the alchemical power of images to translate complex ideas into universal understanding. He states, “Pictures, used judiciously, can tell powerful stories.”

Bill’s editing room became a depository of visual stimuli, where he strategized how to distill vast pictorial archives into powerful stories. “I’ve always believed that editing is about distilling a vast collection of images into a clear, powerful narrative,” Bill explains, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of the challenge. “But it’s more than that—it’s about supporting the photographer, helping them find the images that tell the story completely.”

His stories took him from the cutting edge of climate science to the mysterious depths of space, always searching for the human thread to tie it all together. One of his most challenging edits? Handling the photographic treasures from the legendary Titanic expedition. “Those photos had historical significance, and I felt the weight of that responsibility,” Bill recalls. “It wasn’t just about the ship—it was about the people whose lives were lost that night. I wanted to make sure the story we told honored their memory.”

Tales from Assignments

Their journey hasn’t been all breathtaking vistas and triumphs. In Sudan, Karen found herself documenting a famine that clawed at the fabric of humanity. “I saw children who were on the brink of starvation,” she recounts, her voice heavy with the weight of memory. “One boy, no older than six, was trying to care for his younger brother. It was heart-wrenching, but I knew I had to keep photographing. People needed to see this—to understand what was happening.”

But for every shadow, there’s light. In the depths of Papua New Guinea’s jungles, Karen experienced a moment of pure wonder, capturing a remote tribe’s first encounter with a camera. “I was there to photograph their reaction to seeing a camera for the first time,” she recalls, her eyes sparkling with the memory. “It was an incredible moment of shared wonder and curiosity. They were as fascinated by me as I was by them.”

Riding the Waves of Technological Change

Karen and Bill have surfed the tsunami of technological change that has swept through their industry. Karen was one of the first to embrace the digital revolution at Nat Geo. “There was a steep learning curve,” she remembers, “but I embraced it. The ability to see your work immediately opened up new possibilities for storytelling.”

Bill, too, caught the digital wave, using it to expand the scope of his editing. “Digital editing allowed us to combine images with multimedia elements—videos, sound bites, infographics—to create more immersive stories,” he explains.

“At the end of the day,” Karen asserts, “it’s not about the gear or the software. It’s about capturing the emotion of the moment and conveying that emotion to the viewer.”

Photo Workshop in Bolivia: Their latest destination

Picture this: The year is 2024. The place? The dizzying heights of La Paz, Bolivia, where the air is thin, the mountains are steep, but the colors are rich. Both, adventurous as ever, are leading a small group of photographers on the adventure of a lifetime. Besides the challenge of altitude there is the language barrier but with skill and grace they know that body language crosses all boundaries. A smile and a gesture are enough to get people to relax and that is when the real photos get captured.

This “Shoot & Edit” Workshop, organized by the photographer Sergio Ballivian of Sergio Photo Tours, will be a true photographic journey. From the bustling streets of La Paz, perched at 12,000 feet, to Lake Titicaca and the Island of the Sun, the birthplace of the Inca civilization, participants will immerse themselves in the ancient Aymara culture. For four days, they’ll spend time on the island where life moves at the pace of footsteps, where there are no roads or vehicles to disrupt the rhythm of centuries-old traditions. “Besides capturing the serene beauty of the highlands,” Karen explains, smiling with anticipation, “part of the ‘assignment’ for our students will be to find a story to tell about these resilient people who live surrounded by nature’s beauty but don’t have all the modern comforts to enjoy. This is the type of environment where I feel at home.”

The grand finale? The otherworldly Uyuni Salt Flats, where the earth mirrors the sky, and ancient mummies keep their secrets in volcanic tombs. Here, amidst llama shepherds and quinoa farmers, they will guide their students in capturing the sublime and the everyday for three days. “The landscape is stunning,” Karen muses, “but it’s the people and their stories that make the experience special.” The challenge will be to not get overwhelmed by the raw beauty, but to find the humanity of the people that live on the edge of a salt desert, surrounded by volcanoes living in a high-altitude desert. Their assignment is to get the photos and end up with a compelling narrative.

When the shooting stops, Bill unveils the job of editing, transforming raw captures into stories that sing. “It’s one thing to take a beautiful photograph,” Bill says, “but it’s another to weave that photograph into a story that resonates.” This is the kind of challenge that makes him a dedicated advocate of the photographers. By the end of day 10, everyone is back in La Paz for the final edit and the presentation of their portfolio, showcasing a new body of work that signals a subline jump from where they were to a new photographic vision.

The Years Ahead

Despite the miles traveled and accolades earned, Karen and Bill see themselves as educators of their craft. “Photography is a journey of discovery,” Karen often tells her students, her voice filled with the passion as when she first held a camera. For her, there’s always a new technique to master, a fresh perspective to explore, a novel way to engage with subjects.

Bill nods in agreement. “Good editing is about constantly refining your approach,” he adds, always up for a new challenge, the next story waiting to be shaped. This mindset of lifelong learning has kept them at the forefront of their industry, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in photography and good storytelling.

Through their work at magazines, NGO’s, book publishers, galleries, universities, and their immersive workshops around the world, they’ve become examples for visual storytellers. What’s their recipe? A potent blend of technical prowess and empathy, seasoned with a good dose of curiosity about the world and its inhabitants. It’s clear they found their calling in life and the adventures that await are more wonderful stories to share with the world.