I am very much overwhelmed at the moment. Amid the chaos of reassessing my studio and rebranding from the ground up, the Master Photographers International announced today the top winners of the International Imaging Competition for 2022 (last year’s entries).
I want to first of all say that God gets all the glory and praise for this. Without Him, nothing about my career would be possible. It’s hard, sometimes, to make art and continue to provide for myself and somehow, God makes a way. So first and foremost, thanks be to God!
Among artists around the world, including the amazingly talented artists in Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and North America, I was selected by a panel of jurors from around the world as the IIC International Digital Art Photographer of the Year.
I cannot describe in words the feelings that are overpowering my ability to speak and keep calm at the moment. It’s hard to continue to work right now, retouching and putting artwork together for clients while thinking about it.
I’m not sure what happens next, if anything at all. But I do know that there are some people that deserve recognition and I’d like to take this opportunity to bring them to the forefront of this post.
First and foremost, congratulations to my friends, Kory Bumgardner, Cheryl Moore, Jessica Vallia, Rachel Owen, Judy Reinford, Kimberly Pennebaker, and my fellow United States photographers and artists. I am so proud to know you and be inspired by you each and every day.
Richard Sturdivant…the man, the myth, the legend. Thank you for your encouragement and support for the past few years. I know where I was before we met and I know that after your mentorship and guidance, my craft was honed in more and I continue to strive to get better, even after this. I can’t wait to continue to learn and grow with your teaching, your guidance, and your continued friendship. You are, by far, the most influential artist in my career and there aren’t enough words in any language that can adequately convey the amount of gratitude that myself and countless others owe to you for raising the bar on the excellence expected of us. Thank you, my friend. Thank you for the continued words of encouragement that I receive on a weekly basis from your check-ins that don’t have anything to do with photography. Your motivation and determination are unmatched by anyone in our field.
Thank you to our little group – Rachel, Chris, Lori, Jessica, Shannon, and Amber – the group that I can rant to without fear and without shame. I love you guys and I’m so thankful that you’re there to challenge me creatively and mentally. Every bit of advice, from art to business, is appreciated and taken in. I’m so lucky to find myself in the company of so many talented and creative people that I often wonder exactly how I got there.
Cris and Deanna Duncan, what can I say? You guys are just amazing people. Every trip to Yellowstone is a treasure. Every time I hear from you guys, checking in or just providing words of encouragement, is a gift that I can’t repay. Not only that, but the majority of the work that was deemed as worthy of being Digital Art Photographer of the Year came from Yellowstone with you guys. I’m certain there’s more for me to accomplish in my business and in my life, just as Find Your Focus brought me to this. I found my focus because of you guys.
Hunter, Katlyn, Scott, Elizabeth, David, Andrea, and Wesley…I’ll never be able to express what having friends like you means. Supportive in every way, including telling the hard truths. I wish Mrs. Ruth could be here so I could show her what her prayers have done. God has been so good to me and once again I find myself wondering how I came to be in the company of good people like you all. Every day I thank my God in heaven that I have friends, family like you.
Thank you to my many other friends, especially those that appeared in the award-winning artwork on display internationally: Nate, Austin, Jake, Andrew, Richard, BJ, Macklin, Brantson, Ryan, Alan, Kris, Olivia, Zach, Mary Grace, Nick, and Kaleigh.
Thank you to my family, Daddy and Mimi, my Dad and Barbie. I’m so thankful that I have you guys cheering me on and expressing your encouragement on a daily basis.
Lastly, thank you to the MPI for this achievement.
Now I’ll be turning my attention back to rebuilding my business and bringing what I’ve learned through the processes of competition to my children and family portraits, with the same level of art and photography that I bring to the table for my high school seniors.
So to every kid that's ever been told to color inside the lines; every young person that loves to tell stories; every artistic child that doesn't know where they belong; to every person that was ever told by their 11th grade history teacher, in front of a room full of your classmates, that you'll never be anything because of "stupid art," this is for you. Because here I am, a kid from Monroeville, Alabama. Remind them next time they doubt you, next time they bully you just because you have an ounce of the talent they do not. There is something out there for you and if you're discouraged by anyone not to reach for it, you'll miss it entirely. This is for you.
Thank you all,
Corey McDonald, M.Photog.,M.Artist,Cr.,CPP, APAI
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