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About Our Company
Resources For Photographers
About Our Company
Welcoming New Team Members!
Published May 5, 2023
At Backcountry Journeys we’re beyond lucky to work with the best people in the business. Not only do we have the best guests around, but we also have an incredibly capable, talented, and downright fun team that keeps the machine running. I’m talking, of course, about our ever-growing office staff and the team of guides out in the field. From customer-facing operations that take place throughout the world to all of the work going on behind the scene that makes this all possible, I’d say we have a pretty good thing going on here at Backcountry Journeys.
As I just mentioned, we are growing as a business and as a result, we’ve been growing our team. Within the past couple of months, we’ve added four new photography trip leaders including our first female guides (woohoo!) and a new accountant to our office staff. Remember, you can always read about all of our awesome team members and even see guides’ trip schedules on the Meet the Crew page on our website.
So, without further ado, let’s get into it. I’m very excited to introduce you all to Cassey, Khem, Jon, Elizabeth, and Katt!
As I just mentioned, we are growing as a business and as a result, we’ve been growing our team. Within the past couple of months, we’ve added four new photography trip leaders including our first female guides (woohoo!) and a new accountant to our office staff. Remember, you can always read about all of our awesome team members and even see guides’ trip schedules on the Meet the Crew page on our website.
So, without further ado, let’s get into it. I’m very excited to introduce you all to Cassey, Khem, Jon, Elizabeth, and Katt!
Cassey Mannes – Photography Trip Leader
Casey has actually been working with us for a month or two at this point so many of you are probably already familiar with him. Some of you may have even been out on a trip with Casey. He’s an amazing photographer, one of the friendliest people out there, and his excitement for nature, wildlife, and photography, in general, is contagious.
Casey is a boat captain, pilot, photography guide, fly-fishing guide, and does a lot of freelance photography work as well. He grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and lived there for the first 21 years of his life. After that, he hit the road.
Between the Alaskan summer fly-fishing seasons, Casey spends his time traveling the world, checking off one bucket list item at a time, and capturing plenty of jaw-dropping photos along the way. Casey specializes in both landscape and wildlife photography.
In his own words: “ There is nothing that gets me as high as capturing the beauty of this planet and the incredible creatures that live amongst us and how important it is to preserve the remaining beauty of our natural world. Through my photography, I can take a creative approach in sharing the magnificence hidden within the crevices of Mother Earth.”
Casey, we’re incredibly lucky to have you on board. We’re looking forward to all the good times ahead and all the incredible images you continue to submit!
Casey has actually been working with us for a month or two at this point so many of you are probably already familiar with him. Some of you may have even been out on a trip with Casey. He’s an amazing photographer, one of the friendliest people out there, and his excitement for nature, wildlife, and photography, in general, is contagious.
Casey is a boat captain, pilot, photography guide, fly-fishing guide, and does a lot of freelance photography work as well. He grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and lived there for the first 21 years of his life. After that, he hit the road.
Between the Alaskan summer fly-fishing seasons, Casey spends his time traveling the world, checking off one bucket list item at a time, and capturing plenty of jaw-dropping photos along the way. Casey specializes in both landscape and wildlife photography.
In his own words: “ There is nothing that gets me as high as capturing the beauty of this planet and the incredible creatures that live amongst us and how important it is to preserve the remaining beauty of our natural world. Through my photography, I can take a creative approach in sharing the magnificence hidden within the crevices of Mother Earth.”
Casey, we’re incredibly lucky to have you on board. We’re looking forward to all the good times ahead and all the incredible images you continue to submit!
Khem Suthiwan – Photography Trip Leader
Khem is another one of our new guides and I’ve already been impressed with the images she’s submitted from her shadowing trips. She is an incredibly driven individual who is passionate about experiencing all the world has to offer and we’re very excited to have her onboard.
Khem is an avid world traveler and endurance athlete currently living in Denver, Colorado. She is passionate about far-off places and the cultures that surround them. Khem has actually spent most of her professional career working out of an office in various industries spending her free time photographing her travels and freelancing in the outdoor and endurance sports industries. As she puts it: Joining Backcountry Journeys was the perfect opportunity to blend her passions for travel and photography, and her hope is to make sure each guest has the best experience possible.
Aside from guiding guests with Backcountry Journeys, you can find Khem on her own epic adventures or shooting photos for a local race event. Some of her travels have included trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, hiking to the summit of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, SCUBA diving in the Maldives, and on safari in the Serengeti. In her photography, she seeks to tell the story behind the landscapes and subjects she captures.
Khem’s mission is to inspire people of all backgrounds and abilities to explore and learn about the world around them through travel and photography.
We’re so happy to have you on the team, Khem, and we can’t wait to see all the awesome images you send in moving forward!
Khem is another one of our new guides and I’ve already been impressed with the images she’s submitted from her shadowing trips. She is an incredibly driven individual who is passionate about experiencing all the world has to offer and we’re very excited to have her onboard.
Khem is an avid world traveler and endurance athlete currently living in Denver, Colorado. She is passionate about far-off places and the cultures that surround them. Khem has actually spent most of her professional career working out of an office in various industries spending her free time photographing her travels and freelancing in the outdoor and endurance sports industries. As she puts it: Joining Backcountry Journeys was the perfect opportunity to blend her passions for travel and photography, and her hope is to make sure each guest has the best experience possible.
Aside from guiding guests with Backcountry Journeys, you can find Khem on her own epic adventures or shooting photos for a local race event. Some of her travels have included trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, hiking to the summit of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, SCUBA diving in the Maldives, and on safari in the Serengeti. In her photography, she seeks to tell the story behind the landscapes and subjects she captures.
Khem’s mission is to inspire people of all backgrounds and abilities to explore and learn about the world around them through travel and photography.
We’re so happy to have you on the team, Khem, and we can’t wait to see all the awesome images you send in moving forward!
Jon Resnick – Photography Trip Leader
Another new trip leader we’re excited to introduce you to is Jon Resnick. Once again, I’ve seen some of his recent work from shadow trips and his ability to capture the essence of a place is top-notch.
Jon is a photographer and backcountry guide currently based in Salida, Colorado. He was born and raised in Philadelphia and moved out west in 2010. As he puts it: Even after 13 years his eyes have still not yet adjusted to the beauty the Western US provides on a daily basis.
After years of photography with hand-me-down point and shoots, Jon was eventually introduced to his first SLR, and his world was enlightened. He’s been hooked ever since and has produced some awesome images. Jon has over 10 years of professional guiding experience, taking countless people hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, snowshoeing, and backcountry skiing. Jon is a passionate outdoorsman in his personal life as well. He spends his days hiking, skiing, biking, paddling, and climbing and usually brings his camera along.
He is grateful to have his images published in a range of publications including The Washington Post, Forbes, Outside, and the Wall Street Journal.
We’re incredibly excited to have Jon on our team and to get out in the field and come back with some awesome images and experiences to share!
Another new trip leader we’re excited to introduce you to is Jon Resnick. Once again, I’ve seen some of his recent work from shadow trips and his ability to capture the essence of a place is top-notch.
Jon is a photographer and backcountry guide currently based in Salida, Colorado. He was born and raised in Philadelphia and moved out west in 2010. As he puts it: Even after 13 years his eyes have still not yet adjusted to the beauty the Western US provides on a daily basis.
After years of photography with hand-me-down point and shoots, Jon was eventually introduced to his first SLR, and his world was enlightened. He’s been hooked ever since and has produced some awesome images. Jon has over 10 years of professional guiding experience, taking countless people hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, snowshoeing, and backcountry skiing. Jon is a passionate outdoorsman in his personal life as well. He spends his days hiking, skiing, biking, paddling, and climbing and usually brings his camera along.
He is grateful to have his images published in a range of publications including The Washington Post, Forbes, Outside, and the Wall Street Journal.
We’re incredibly excited to have Jon on our team and to get out in the field and come back with some awesome images and experiences to share!
Elizabeth Carmel – Photography Trip Leader
Elizabeth is the newest addition to our team as a photography trip leader and we couldn’t be more excited to have such an experienced and talented photographer join our team. I haven’t gotten to know Elizabeth very well at this point but if her past work is any indication of what’s to come, then, oh boy, am I excited. I can’t wait to get to know you better!
Elizabeth is a professional nature photographer specializing in unique, expressive landscapes and waterscapes. She is based in the Sierra Nevada mountains near Lake Tahoe where she owns and operates The Carmel Gallery with her husband Olof. Their work is stunning! As Elizabeth puts it: her fine art prints combine dramatic photography, vivid colors, and her own unique artistic touches to create new, captivating visions of the natural world. She does all of her own printing herself on both photo papers and canvas.
Her award-winning images are featured in numerous galleries and private collections throughout the US. These include the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., the California Museum of Photography, the Nevada Museum of Art, and many magazines and books as well. She has also published her own books titled, “Brilliant Waters, Portraits of Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and the High Sierra” with a foreword by Robert Redford and, “The Changing Range of Light” about climate change in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Elizabeth is also the founder and director of NatureStream.tv, a channel and streaming service which broadcasts nature films for relaxation and inspiration. And she is a columnist for Outdoor Photographer Magazine.
Elizabeth is a lifelong outdoors person and an experienced world traveler. She is a whitewater kayaker, Nordic skier, backpacker, scuba diver, competitive tennis player, and drone pilot. She has led multiple photography workshops around the world and loves being around others who share her passion for photography. Elizabeth believes that photography is a way to deeply experience the awe and wonder of nature, which is important for both our well-being and for appreciating our role as stewards of planet Earth.
We’re incredibly lucky to have you as a part of our team and I can’t wait to get to know you better and see the stunning images you send in!
Elizabeth is the newest addition to our team as a photography trip leader and we couldn’t be more excited to have such an experienced and talented photographer join our team. I haven’t gotten to know Elizabeth very well at this point but if her past work is any indication of what’s to come, then, oh boy, am I excited. I can’t wait to get to know you better!
Elizabeth is a professional nature photographer specializing in unique, expressive landscapes and waterscapes. She is based in the Sierra Nevada mountains near Lake Tahoe where she owns and operates The Carmel Gallery with her husband Olof. Their work is stunning! As Elizabeth puts it: her fine art prints combine dramatic photography, vivid colors, and her own unique artistic touches to create new, captivating visions of the natural world. She does all of her own printing herself on both photo papers and canvas.
Her award-winning images are featured in numerous galleries and private collections throughout the US. These include the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., the California Museum of Photography, the Nevada Museum of Art, and many magazines and books as well. She has also published her own books titled, “Brilliant Waters, Portraits of Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and the High Sierra” with a foreword by Robert Redford and, “The Changing Range of Light” about climate change in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Elizabeth is also the founder and director of NatureStream.tv, a channel and streaming service which broadcasts nature films for relaxation and inspiration. And she is a columnist for Outdoor Photographer Magazine.
Elizabeth is a lifelong outdoors person and an experienced world traveler. She is a whitewater kayaker, Nordic skier, backpacker, scuba diver, competitive tennis player, and drone pilot. She has led multiple photography workshops around the world and loves being around others who share her passion for photography. Elizabeth believes that photography is a way to deeply experience the awe and wonder of nature, which is important for both our well-being and for appreciating our role as stewards of planet Earth.
We’re incredibly lucky to have you as a part of our team and I can’t wait to get to know you better and see the stunning images you send in!
Katherine Kohnen – Accountant CPA
Katherine (or Katt) is the newest member of our, behind the scenes, office staff here at BCJ. She is a great addition to the team and I’ve enjoyed working with and getting to know her. She has also introduced us to some new regional vocabulary from the Pittsburgh region with words like “Yinz” which is always fun!
As Katt puts it: She assists with the day-to-day business operations while maintaining the financial aspects of the company. In her role, she is responsible for communicating with our team and vendors to ensure smooth back-office operations.
Katt received her degree in Forensic Accounting at Carlow University in Pittsburgh, PA. She has experience working in public accounting as a CPA and has worked with small businesses to maximize efficiency, profits, and customer service. She has additional experience working as a full-service bookkeeper.
Her interests include hiking, kayaking, and any activities where her dog, Lannie, can tag along. She has a passion for traveling which makes her the perfect fit for BCJ. Katt will be relocating to Colorado Springs in the near future as the Western US has captured her heart. You’ll be able to find Katt and Lannie exploring the region and tagging along on trips throughout the US with BCJ.
Welcome to the team Katt! We’re lucky to have you and I can’t wait to get to know you better and to continue to work with you as our company grows and gets even better!
Katherine (or Katt) is the newest member of our, behind the scenes, office staff here at BCJ. She is a great addition to the team and I’ve enjoyed working with and getting to know her. She has also introduced us to some new regional vocabulary from the Pittsburgh region with words like “Yinz” which is always fun!
As Katt puts it: She assists with the day-to-day business operations while maintaining the financial aspects of the company. In her role, she is responsible for communicating with our team and vendors to ensure smooth back-office operations.
Katt received her degree in Forensic Accounting at Carlow University in Pittsburgh, PA. She has experience working in public accounting as a CPA and has worked with small businesses to maximize efficiency, profits, and customer service. She has additional experience working as a full-service bookkeeper.
Her interests include hiking, kayaking, and any activities where her dog, Lannie, can tag along. She has a passion for traveling which makes her the perfect fit for BCJ. Katt will be relocating to Colorado Springs in the near future as the Western US has captured her heart. You’ll be able to find Katt and Lannie exploring the region and tagging along on trips throughout the US with BCJ.
Welcome to the team Katt! We’re lucky to have you and I can’t wait to get to know you better and to continue to work with you as our company grows and gets even better!
We offer world-class travel photography
experiences around the world.
Each tour is bundled with lodging, meals, and transportation between workshops included, allowing you to focus on photography instead of the stress of traveling.
experiences around the world.
Each tour is bundled with lodging, meals, and transportation between workshops included, allowing you to focus on photography instead of the stress of traveling.
Get Our Trip Catalog
Receive a trip catalog that highlights all of our upcoming photo tours and workshops.Schedule a Trip Consultation
Meet with a photo experience coordinator, and experience a personal touch to your booking experience.Trip Calendar
View our trip calendar and filter upcoming departures by interest or seasonality.Webinars
Our regularly hosted webinars provide photography instruction from our own guides on a wide range of topics.Education Portal
Explore our library of articles that cover everything from common questions, to in-depth guides on how to achieve that perfect shot.BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLCs - Copyright 2025
BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2025
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.