Juror
Carol Watson
About Carol
From the foothills of the Canadian Rockies in Southern Alberta where she grew up, to the ranches and wildflower fields of Texas she called home for many years, Carol Watson’s art fittingly unearths a fairy-tale beauty that can only be found on the borders of visible light and the imagination. With her own unwitting and modern take on the Pictorialist movement of the early 20th century (a theory that photography, as art, must echo the paintings of the period, and most often done with soft focus, special filters, and lens coatings, along with heavy manipulation in the darkroom), Watson’s images focus heavily–yet softly–on the intangible elements of mood and atmosphere, figuring most prominently in her work with digital infrared images. Fans of Carol’s photography appreciate her creativity and her strong eye for composition and tonality. She has the ability to transform ordinary landscapes and portraits into emotive images that draw the viewer in.
Carol’s love for travel has taken her to many countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Her interest in capturing the memories of those travels led to her growing passion for photography, which she has been actively pursuing for the past 15 years. Totally self-taught, Carol started experimenting with digital photography and has since explored film, lomography, Holga and digital infrared photography. Her background in computer technology led her to embrace the digital darkroom where most of her post-processing takes place.
After submitting a series of digital infrared images to the International Photography Awards, Carol was awarded the Lucie Award for New Discovery of the Year in 2005 and was the first amateur photographer selected to appear in two IPA Best of Show traveling exhibitions. Her images have been displayed in numerous galleries throughout the US and the world. Her work has appeared in various books and magazines including World’s Greatest Black and White Photography and National Geographic Traveler. Collectors of Carol’s photographs include NBA executives, Hollywood actors and CEO’s. Carol has also served as juror or co-juror for multiple photographic competitions and has been the curator for more than a dozen photographic exhibitions. Carol has inspired many photographers to explore digital infrared photography after they’ve heard her speak and show her work at photography clubs and conferences.
Carol was the director/owner of Watson Studio Gallery in Johnson City, Texas for 2 years and President of the Hill Country Photography Club for 3 years. In 2013, Carol moved her studio and gallery to Mineral de Pozos in the central Mexican highlands.
Links to her website and instagram: