Part of team USA World Photographic Cup

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Karen McCall of Natick
Team USA 2023 World Announced for Photographic Cup

Finalists and Best of Nation will be announced in January 2023
Twenty-two photographers will represent the United States in the
2023 World Photographic Cup. The goal of the international
competition is to unite photographers in a spirit of friendship and
cooperation via a one-of-a-kind battle for the top prize. Teams
enter up to three images in each of eight categories: Commercial
Illustrative, Illustrative Portrait, Landscape, Natural Portrait.
Reportage, Wedding, and Wildlife.
Finalists and the Best of Nation Awards, which hon the top scoring
image from each country, will be announced at Imaging USA 2023
in Nashville, Tennesse.
World Photographic Cup winners Will be announced at an awards
ceremony in Singapore on March 17, 2023.
Founded in 2018, WPC is administered by Professional
Photographers of America and the Federation of European
Photographers with support from additional international
photographic organizations.
TEAM USA 2023
Illustrative

• Karen McCall, M.Photog.M.Artist.Cr.,

Digital Painting Classes

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I offer in-person and zoom classes as well as private mentoring.

Private mentoring classes start at 200.00 per hour.

for a limited time I am offering three 2 hour zoom classes for 500.00.

You choose the pace. Whether you are a beginner or want to bring your images to the next level I can help.

 

Join my facebook group to see where and when I will be teaching

Digital Painting from Drab to Fab.

I post short how to videos, tip and tricks and  where and when I will be teaching. 181684244147988-2

Photographic Excellence Award PPAM 2020

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Karen A McCall.  m. photog, m. artist, certified, asp

Was awarded the photographic excellence award for the 2nd year.

“Mamma says I have to kiss a lot of these” won the highest scoring image in Massachusetts this past March.

This image was created from a studio portrait which was digitally manipulated, enhanced with frogs and then digitally painted.

Story telling is one of the key elements in the judging process.   The judges loved this little girl and the story it told.

Mamma says…. scored a 99  earning it the

Highest scoring image by a certified master of photography.

Highest scoring image by  ASP member 

Court on honor in the artist category.

Elements used to create final image  ” momma say I have to kiss a lot of these.”

 

 

McCall also won the Highest scoring image for a High School Senior.  Grace graduated 2 years ago from Natick High School

 

Lastly McCall was presented with the creative themes award for the   best image that depicts the word “HIGH”

This little goat was taken at Davis Farm and digitally painted to ad a whimsical “high” goat.

 

Diamond Photographer of the Year 2019

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Skill, creativity, consistency. These are just some of the qualities a photographer needs to go four-for-four in PPA’s International Photographic Competition. This year, 20 talented individuals did just that by having their case of four images judged as worthy to enter the Loan Collection and thereby being named Diamond Photographers of 2020.

 

 

 

Karen A. McCall earns Master Artist Degree

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What is the Master Artist degree?

 

The Master Artist (M.Artist,) degree is awarded to photographers for their superior photographic skills demonstrated through the Artist Exhibition category of PPA’s International Photographic Competition (with images evaluated for computer-applied techniques and proficiency), advanced education and service to the industry.MA

Karen McCall   Added to her Master Artist Degree to her standing Master of Photography  degree this past January 2020 at the Gaylord Convention Center in Nashville.

Award Presented the Professional Photographers of America  President Audrey Wancket  master photographer,Cr.,cpp

ASP District Elite Award and Grand Imaging Finalists 2019

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The ASP District Medallion Award is presented to the ASP member in good standing with the highest scoring entry at their District Print Competition.

“Shark Week is Over…You Bully”  Highest scoring image in the Northeast Score of 100

“A Squirley Love”  Second  place winner in the Northeast Score of 100

Both images are nominated for a ” GIA”  at The Professional Photographers of America’s Grand Imaging Awards Gala in January held at

The Gaylord Convention Center in Nashville

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Artist Category

  1. Shark week is over, You BULLY, Karen McCall, MA  Score 100
  2. A Squirrly Love, Karen McCall, MA  Score 100
  3. Wicked, SHERRIE FRYXELL, NY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Photographer Shines at State Photography Convention

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Local Natick photographer Karen McCall was honored at the annual Professional Photographers Association of Massachusetts (PPAM) convention last weekend in Plymouth.  She is both thrilled and humbled to have received a total of five awards including the highest three that the convention judging board can bestow.

She entered 6 “art images” into the competition and received five blue ribbons with three of the images scoring in the top 10 out of over 250 total entries.

McCall was awarded the Photographic Excellence Award, which is presented to the entrant with the overall highest scoring collection of images.  This is the highest honor awarded in Massachusetts.

Her personal project was an art image, featuring farm animals that were composited and digitally painted, entitled “Ham and Eggs” (Pictured below). It was awarded the Highest Scoring Print, Highest Scoring Image by a Certified Professional Photographer,  Highest scoring Image awarded by ACI Color Lab (for digital artistry), and the Judges Choice Award for overall favorite image.

 

 

 

 

 

She was also awarded the Creative Theme Award for her art print entitled “Royal” which features her beloved golden doddle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

McCall holds a master of photography degree from the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and is a certified Master of Photography from Professional Photographers of MA (PPAM).  She was also recently presented with her 5th star. Each awarded star represents merits accumulated from entering images in state competition. She is one of two individuals in Massachusetts holding the highest number of merits.

The winning images will now be entered into the New England competition which takes place in April and will advance to the National level following that.

When interviewed, McCall shared her passion for photography.  Her personal motto is that “It’s not a job when you love what you do.”  She is currently well-known and sought after for photographing local high school seniors and family portraits and has been chosen best of Natick for the past 3 years.  She continues to evolve and loves experimenting with new techniques.  Her art prints are composites, created by seamlessly stitching together multiple single photos, which are then digitally painted for a whimsical look.   McCall is excited to be able to add this type of photo product to her current offerings in addition to the traditional photographs that she is known and loved for.  She is always looking for opportunities to take classes to hone her skills and is now giving back to the photography community by teaching a class herself on digital painting starting in March.

Want to learn more?  Check out her website at karenmccall.com.

Best Gift for Mom? Photos of Course!

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Mother’s Day is coming up on May 13th! Looking for a gift for the mom in your life who “doesn’t want anything” or has it all?  Give her the gift of a priceless family photo!  I know from experience that moms appreciate and value photographs of their children and families more than many other seemingly thoughtful gifts.  Do you have a recent high school grad?  How about one last family picture of portrait of the kids before your grad goes off to college?  Do you have a new baby in the family?  Mothers and Grandmothers alike love receiving portraits of the new mom and baby.  The possibilities are endless!

*Tip: Purchase mom a gift certificate.  In my experience, moms like to be involved in photo process so surprising her with a gift certificate and letting her plan the session can be a bigger hit than surprising her with the photos themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Striving for Excellence

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Did you know that even award winning photographers always have something new to learn? I am always looking for new opportunities for continuing my education as a photographer so that I can improve my craft and serve YOU, my valued clients, to the very best of my ability.  This month I am going to be taking a class at the New England Institute of Photography to sharpen my photo skills and learn about new technology.  I look forward to using my new skills to enhance the experience of my clients.

“When the student is ready, the master appears.” – Buddhist Proverb