About The Photo Contest Judges

Barbara Banks is a native Sarasotan and has made art since childhood. She studied at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, in Sarasota's public schools and at the Florida State University. Her interest in photography was sparked in high school and continues to be a significant force in her life. Barbara's business is commercial and editorial photography, with an emphasis on people: environmental portraits, editorial, fashion, and weddings. She is widely published locally and regionally and has a studio in downtown Sarasota. To view samples of her work, visit the website at www.barbarabanks.com or call 941.955.9077.

Mike Lang graduated from the University of Colorado in 1987 with a degree in Environmental Design and Planning.  After graduation, he decided to purse a career in photojournalism and freelanced for news organizations in the Denver area, until he was offered a position as a staff photographer at the Sarasota (FL) Herald-Tribune in 1988.  In 2000, Mike was named director of photography at the Herald-Tribune.  He supervises a staff of six photojournalists and was recently appointed to direct video operations for the Herald-Tribune newsroom.  Mike has been a guest faculty member at The Poynter Institute for Media Studies.  He is a member of the National Press Photographers Association, Associated Press Photo Managers and Society for News Design.   In his spare time, Mike enjoys woodworking, camping, kayaking and fly fishing.  He lives in Sarasota with his wife, Mary, and nine year-old son, Sawyer.

Alexandra Libby graduated Magna Cum Laude from Colby College (Waterville, ME) in 2003. She spent two years teaching elementary school at the Greenwich Country Day School in Greenwich, CT before returning to graduate school for a Master's Degree at Boston University in May 2007 with a specialization in Northern Baroque Art. She wrote her M.A. paper on the art and patronage of Peter Paul Rubens. Prior to coming to the Ringling, she held various research and teaching positions at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, The Horvitz Collection, Boston, the Boston Architectural College, the Soprintendenza dei beni archeologici in Florence, Italy, and at David Findlay Jr. Fine Art, Inc. in New York, NY. Alexandra has been Assistant Curator of European Art at the Ringling Museum since June 2007.