Name:     Kent Kobersteen	Profession:     National Geographic Phot Editor
Relationship:  Ludwig WI/OR Line 3rd cousin	Country:     United States of America
Kent Kobersteen is the director of photography and a senior editor at National Geographic where he started in 1983 as a picture editor. Prior to that, Kobersteen spent 18 years at The Minneapolis Tribune (16 years as a staff photographer and two as editor of the Sunday magazine), where he received recognition from groups such as the National Press Photographers Association and the Overseas Press Club. Kobersteen has participated as a photographer and editor on various book projects. He has also taught and directed photography workshops in the United States, Bulgaria, Hungary and Italy. Kobersteen is a member of the Workshop board of directors. This is his sixth Workshop. On Harts Big Picture (looks like a Blog) http://hartsbigpicture.typepad.com/harts_big_picture/photo/ ... National Geographic's DOP Kent Koberstein will lose his job now that photog Chris Johns has taken over. Johns announced he was "combining the photography and illustrations departments, resulting in the elimination of the director of photography position. Kent Kobersteen, who has held the title since 1998 after joining the magazine as an illustrations editor in 1983, will be leaving as of Jan. 21." ... and in PDN online http://www.pdn-pix.com/photodistrictnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000753188 Chris Johns's decision to combine the photography and illustrations departments resulted in the elimination of the director of photography position held by Kent Kobersteen since 1998. ... News of Kobersteen's departure came as a shock to many who know him from his two-decade career at the magazine as well as through his leadership of industry workshops and seminars. Although Kobersteen often exhibited a gruff exterior and could be notoriously blunt with young photographers, he is widely respected for his loyalty to photographers. Indeed, many of the National Geographic shooters view him as a father figure. "He was driven by NGM, and I never heard anyone talk as highly about the magazine as he did," says Alexandra Boulat, who credits Kobersteen with advancing her career. "He was and still is so proud of it." Veteran photo editor Eliane Laffont says National Geographic without Kobersteen will be like gin without tonic. "There are few people who are irreplaceable but Kent was one of them," she says. Kobersteen declined to comment for this story, but in an e-mail to colleagues, the 62-year-old photo editor indicated that he will stay involved in the industry. Birthday:October 24 Hometown:Minneapolis, MN Relationship Status:Married Current Town:Washington, DC College:University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus, Journalism, Art High School:Central High School, Minneapolis, MN '60 Employer:Self-Employed Position:Photojournalism Consultant Time Period:January 2005 - Present Location:Washington, DC Description:Kobersteen lectures and conducts workshops and seminars on photography, journalism ethics and picture editing throughout the world. He was a co-director of photography workshops in Bulgaria and Hungary, and of an editing and production workshop in Bulgaria. He has participated in numerous seminars for professional journalists in Bulgaria and Poland, and for students at the American University in Bulgaria. He has also lectured on National Geographic/Lindblad cruises in the Antarctic and the South Atlantic. Kobersteen has also served as a consultant for publications on photographic contracts and rights issues. Employer:National Geographic Magazine Position:Director of Photography Time Period:September 1983 - January 2005 Location:Washington, DC Description:D of P 1998-2005, Assoc D of P 1987-1998, Picture Editor 1983-1987 Employer:Minneapolis Tribune Position:Editor, Sunday Magazine Time Period:January 1981 - September 1983 Location:Minneapolis, MN Employer:Minneapolis Tribune Position:Staff Photographer Time Period:June 1965 - January 1981 Location:Minneapolis, MN