A Shefford-based photographer who has won a clutch of awards this year now has a snap in the final 12 of a prestigious international competition.
Karen Brammer, of Daisy Dog Photos, has won a massive haul of 20 national awards this year – 18 bronze, one silver and one very rare gold bar from the Guild of Photographers.
Her gold-winning photograph, showing a bee, has now been selected out of 13,000 as one of the last 12 in the international Image of the Year competition.
The fact that the shortlisted photo shows a bee has an air of irony for Karen, 44, whose allergies meant she almost died from a wasp sting in 2013.
She told the Comet: “Your newspaper covered my near-fatal brush with death after being stung by a wasp.
“I went into a severe life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylactic shock four years ago, where I ended up fighting for my life.
“I am severely allergic to both wasps and bees, so to win gold and reach the final with an insect that has the potential to kill me is even sweeter.”
On being shortlisted in the final 12, she said: “I couldn’t believe it.
“I’ve had a really successful few months, winning many bronze and silver awards and a gold bar, but to become a finalist has left me pinching myself in disbelief.”
Karen, who enters the guild’s photography competition every month, says the challenge helps her to push herself on and develop her skills.
Guild director Lesley Thirsk said: “One of the guild’s aims is to drive standards and creativity among photographers. Our monthly competition certainly does that, for the standard of entries we see each month is quite staggering.
“To have an image recognised by the guild in the monthly competition is difficult enough, so to have an image selected as being one of the best in a category for the end of year final is without doubt an incredible achievement, and shows just how talented Karen is.”
Karen’s image will be printed along with the other 11 for the competition final this month, when judges will come together to choose the overall winner.
The outcome will be announced at a plush awards night in a Cheshire mansion next February.
To find out more about Karen and her photographs, have a look at daisydogphotos.co.uk.
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