{"id":9254,"date":"2024-06-08T15:56:58","date_gmt":"2024-06-08T15:56:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thomasbruce.com\/website_1d889e57\/?page_id=9254"},"modified":"2025-07-29T18:11:34","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T18:11:34","slug":"about-carol","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thomasbruce.com\/website_1d889e57\/about-carol\/","title":{"rendered":"About Carol"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Carol Walker, Master Photographer<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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My love for photography began as a kid with a Polaroid camera, evolved through a Kodak Instamatic, and finally my first Nikon professional camera.<\/p>

My journey included photographing anyone and everyone I could, from high school events to countless bands, both local and national acts, in my quest to follow in the footsteps of my idol,
Annie Leibovitz.<\/p>

I learned through photography school, professional associations and the many friends I made
through them, including the man that would become my mentor, \u201cPapa\u201d Bruce Evensen.<\/p>

And here we are.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Along the way, I traveled the world, fell in and out of love, and had a beautiful daughter who is the \u201cRory\u201d<\/em> to my \u201cLorelei\u201d<\/em> (for all you Gilmore Girls fans); the center of our world is a scrappy little Jack Tzu rescue pup named Bella.<\/p>

I love the music of Billy Joel, and anything that sparkles; I find my Zen on a dance floor, and I will never turn down a nice bottle of wine. Oh, and pizza.<\/p>

But what I love most is helping people see themselves in a new light\u2014whether it’s a high school senior discovering their confidence, or someone who \u201chates having their picture taken\u201d walking away feeling beautiful- or handsome- and empowered; that shift is when the magic happens for
us both.<\/p>

They say, \u201cDo what you love, and you\u2019ll never work a day in your life.<\/em>\u201d I guess I\u2019m one of the lucky ones.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Have Suitcase, Will travel.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When I was in my 20\u2019s, I had the opportunity to travel with my mom. Out of that grew my love for experiencing new places, a respect for other cultures, and an education like no other.<\/p>

I got \u2018bit \u2019by the travel bug! When my daughter graduated high school, we went to California, and when she graduated college in 2023, I took her on her first trip overseas.<\/p>

Some of my favorite memories are from my travels with Mama and I\u2019m looking forward to continuing that legacy and creating new ones with my girl.<\/p>

Although I have to say, as much as I love travelling, I still hate to pack. And I wish I could fit Bella in my suitcase.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Thank You!<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When my friend and mentor “Papa” Bruce Evensen, Master Photographer & Craftsman asked me if I wanted to get my Masters, I told him I couldn’t imagine.<\/p>

Over the years, he’s been my harshest critic, my greatest supporter and my ‘surrogate’ father.<\/p>

And like my own father, he has guided me, corrected me, and when the time was right, let me fly on my own to heights I never dreamed I could reach.<\/p>

For you Bruce: for helping me reach the stars; for my Mom, for believing I could do it all along; for my daughter Lexi, for sharing this unbelievable achievement with me; and for my daddy, who I know had a hand in this somehow from above–thank you!<\/p>

Love you…mean it!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Photographic Degrees<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Professional Photographers of America\u2019s Master of Photography (M.Photog.) degree<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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This degree is awarded to photographers for their superior photographic skills demonstrated by image excellence in portraits, illustrative, commercial, reportage, and albums, as well as advanced education, and service to the industry.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Florida Degree of Photographic Excellence<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Florida Professional Photographers Association recognizes its members for their achievements and contributions to the industry, as well, with their own degrees. The Florida Degree of Photographic Excellence is considered the Florida \u201cMasters Degree\u201d. The FDPE is a degree earned primarily through the FPP\u2019s annual image competition.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Florida Service Award<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The FSA degree is earned by working on or chairing committees, writing articles for the magazine, speaking, judging image competition, or volunteering to assist the FPP with various duties and responsibilities. They signify the member’s desire to give back and to mentor other members.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Florida Education Degree<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The FED is earned for continuing education; attending the annual convention, school, and seminars hosted by the FPP, as well as the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) convention.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Awards<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Al Audleman Award<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Presented in honor of Past President Al Audleman for his many years of service to the FPP. The award recognizes an FPP member who serves the FPP by making extraordinary contributions, gives freely and unselfishly of their time, and has a positive impact upon the direction and success of the FPP and its members.~ Received 2018<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Professional Photographers of America Loan Collection Book<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The PPA Loan Collection exhibits the \u201cbest of the best\u201d from the International Photographic Competition. It is known for being a collection of images that set the standard for quality in the photographic industry. To be included in the PPA Loan Collection a photograph must exhibit technical excellence, impact, composition, creativity, style, presentation, technique, color balance, lighting, and storytelling. Images selected are part of the PPA’s International Traveling Loan Collection, displayed at Imaging USA’s International Print Exhibit and other exhibits, and published in the Loan Collection book by Marathon Press.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Past Presidents Award<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Past Presidents Award for Service is voted on by the Past Presidents of the FPP. This prestigious award is presented annually to someone within our industry who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in service to our association, our industry, and the profession as a whole.~ Received 2010<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Professional Photographers of America Showcase Book<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The PPA Showcase book features selected images from the International Print Competition General Collection.While the top images are selected for the Loan Collection, the next best images are selected for the General Collection. Marathon Press publishes books each year that include prints from both the Showcase and Loan Collections and include the latest work from some of America’s top photographers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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