Chris Ayers
As a senior engineering manager for Adobe Lightroom, Chris leads multiple teams that radically change how people enhance their images. AI and Machine Learning are fueling powerful and intuitive software that allows people of all experience levels to craft and edit their vision expertly. New digital tools are integrating video and photography editing into a single process, saving time and reflecting the needs of content creators.
In all of Chris’ endeavors, the through-line is human connection and enabling people to capture and share spontaneous moments that matter, in places they love, with the people they care about most. Follow him on Instagram: @ChrisAyersPhoto
Prior to working at Adobe, Chris contributed to groundbreaking work at Apple Inc. that allowed the operating system to natively decode the vast majority of third-party RAW formats for the first time. These imaging frameworks are now used in over 500 Mac, iOS, and third-party apps, along with the iPhone camera. In doing this work, Chris developed close relationships with virtually all major camera manufacturers worldwide–including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Leica, Panasonic, PhaseOne, and Hasselblad― creating a seamless RAW experience for photographers.
Chris’ own work as a photographer has spanned three decades ― covering Namibia’s first democratic elections as a photojournalist, serving as a staff news photographer on Capitol Hill, creating executive lifestyle portraits for advertising campaigns and annual reports, and documenting the work of non-profit organizations who are working with young scientists, and championing eco-tourism that supports Indigenous communities in the Yucatán.