North Wales Photographic Association

Cymdeithas Ffotograffig Gogledd Cymru

Member of the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain

No Newsletter this month....

February

PAGB Competition Results
GB Cup - PDIs     Beaumaris and Menai Bridge CC scored 110
                                winners were Rolls Royce Derby PS.
GB Cup for Small Clubs - PDIs Mold CC came 8th out of 40 clubs with a score of 114, Conwy CC 15th with 112;
winners were Tamworth PC with 125.
Linda Bell (Mold CC) was awarded a Bronze Medal for her image "PS: I Love You".
GB Cup for Nature - PDIs    Mold CC came 44th out of 86 clubs with a score of 115, Conwy CC 81st with 99;
winners were Rolls Royce Derby PS with 141.
GB Trophy - Prints Conwy CC came 9th out of 15 clubs with a score of 138;
winners were Chorley PS with 172.
GB Trophy for Nature - Prints Conwy CC came 11th out of 13 clubs with a score of 85; winners were Rolls Royce Derby PS with 114.

EXHIBITIONS TO ENTER

Southampton International Salon c/d 9 ~February
This UK-based International closes on Sunday 9 February. Patronage is from FIAP, PSA and GPU (for those aiming for any of those Distinctions).
Print Sections are: Colour - Mono - Nature (up to 4 images in each). Prints may be mounted (50 x 40 cm) or unmounted.
PDI Sections are: Open (Colour & Mono) - Nature - Landscape (up to 4 images in each). Sizes are 1600 x 1200 max. Cost is £11 for first Section, £3 per Section thereafter - Prints: check website It's probably safest to assume that the closing time is midnight in the UK rather than Pago Pago or wherever. Printed A4 colour catalogue Good luck. http://southamptoninternationalexhibition.co.uk/Default.aspx

Photo2020 c/d 29 February
Cheltenham International Salon c/d 1 April

Landscape Photographer of the Year c/d 5 April

PAGB AWARDS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC MERIT

It would be possible for North Wales to organise a workshop for anyone contemplating entering for the Awards.
Please contact Phil Chadwick if you are interested: chadwick284@btinternet.com

NWPA EXHIBITION - 2020

The Exhibition will be organised this year by the Conwy Camera Club.
and the Selection Day is set for Saturday 27th June and will take place
at the Llandudno Bay Hotel.

Full information regarding entry details, categories, etc. will be

available shortly

A Personal Approach to Landscape Photography
A talk by Glyn Davies his flyer can be downloaded here Glyn davies talk 2020

March

Messsage from John Smith, Organiser of the NWPA PRINT BATTLE

Postponement of the NWPA Print Battle

You may have felt that things had gone somewhat quiet with a lack of any information regarding the NWPA Print Battle scheduled to take place on the 4th April.

It was felt that, as there was no requirement for anyone to meet until the actual competition day, we should not immediately cancel the event but continue with arranging things and watch to see how things developed in what has turned out to be a rapidly developing situation

As free dates and venues later in the year are likely to be at a premium, it was also felt that rather than just send out a cancellation notice, we should actually make plans to try and run it later in the year.

These are now in place and, if it is safe to do so, the competition will be held at Craig y Don on Sunday the 6th September commencing at 2pm.

This was the time and date that the NWPA were scheduled to hold their Autumn Executive Committee meeting. In consultation with the NWPA President and Officers, this meeting is now to take place at 10.15am on Sunday 6th September.

This has the advantage that your Club Delegate can hand in your entry before the start of the meeting therefore allowing you and all your club members to come along for the 2pm start.

The venue has kindly agreed to the change of date for the Battle and a change of time for the EC meeting.

Our Judge, Mike McNamee, has confirmed that he is available; the competition team are available and hopefully so will the Llandudno members and all the other people who had kindly volunteered to help with the running of the competition.

The only thing that is unknown is whether the PAGB will allow us to be six days late in nominating our two clubs to enter their Club Print Championships which are due to take place at the end of October - the closing date for this notification being the 31st August.

Please keep safe and hopefully, if things can go ahead, I will be in touch later in the year,

New dates for The Photography Show and The Video Show 2020

11 March 2020 – Having postponed this year’s event earlier this week, the organisers of The Photography Show & The Video Show are pleased to announce that the event will now run from 19-22 September 2020 at the NEC, Birmingham.
The UK’s leading photography and moving image event, which attracts both professional and aspiring photographers and filmmakers, will retain all of its planned feature areas, including the new Analogue Spotlight and Shutter Street, as well as its sought after Super Stage, Photo Live, Drone Zone x Action Arena and Behind the Lens features.
Speaking about the announcement, Jonny Sullens, Head of Events at Future, said: “We were incredibly disappointed to postpone this year’s event so close to it opening. However, the vast majority of the comments we have received from visitors, exhibitors and speakers prove that it was the right decision given the circumstances.
“We have been working closely with the NEC over the last few days and are delighted to be able to confirm the new show dates so quickly. We thank the venue for its support, and everyone associated with the show for their patience during this unprecedented, difficult time.
“Our aim is to ensure the UK photography and filmmaking communities do not lose this event for another year. We know how much value is placed on the educational aspects of the event, as well as the opportunity to get hands on with the latest equipment, and it’s important that we give visitors a chance to do that in 2020.”
In light of this news, discussions around the timing of the 2021 events are on-going and dates will be announced in due course.
All existing tickets for the 2020 events will be transferred to the new dates, and more information regarding refunds can be found on the event website: https://www.photographyshow.com/

IRISH PHOTOGRAPHIC FEDERATION

Last Saturday, 29th February, the Irish Photographic Federation held their
Distinctions Assessment Day in Portlaoise. This was a well-organised and well-attended
day and we saw very interesting panels at all three levels.

I am delighted to report that Iona O’Neill was awarded her Licentiate
and Ian O’Neill was awarded his Fellowship.
Many congratulations to both of them.

Iona LIPF.jpg Ian FIPF.jpg

MESSAGE FROM THE RPS NORTH WALES REGION

Due to the current COVID-19 situation, we have rescheduled the talk by Ian Munro from Saturday 18th April to Sunday 13th September 2020.

More and more people are getting increasingly concerned about the real or perceived potential risks of attending events, gatherings and the like. We want to exert due diligence towards our Society members and members of the public, and we want attendees at our events to feel safe and comfortable.
Our committee also has the responsibility of safeguarding the region’s finances. A low attendance will result in a considerable financial loss.
That’s why I have made the decision to postpone Ian Munro’s talk until autumn.
Looking ahead: at the moment we’re planning to go ahead with the opening event of the Documentary Photographer of the Year 2019 exhibition on 22nd May.
We’re monitoring the situation and I will keep you appraised about implications on further regional RPS events.

April

CHELTENHAM INTERNATIONAL SALON

This UK-based International closes on Wednesday 1 April.
Patronage is from FIAP, PSA and GPU (for those looking for Distinctions).
COVID-19: FIAP and PSA have agreed that this Salon may proceed with remote judging.
5 PDI sections: Colour - Mono - Nature - Creative - Travel
1920 x 1200 x 5MB maximum
1 section £9, 2 £12, 3 £15, 4 £18, 5 £21
Within each section they have medals for different subjects which may influence your choice of images: either choose images that aim for Medals or avoid those subjects to gain Acceptances by being different to the other entries.
A4 catalogue
Good luck.
http://www.cheltenhamcameraclub.co.uk/wordpress/salon/

Only Mono Battle
Cymru Monochrome regret that, due to the outbreak of Coronavirus, they have
cancelled ‘Only Mono 2020’ which was due to take place on May 16th at
St Paul's Centre, Port Talbot.
The proposed date for 2021 is 15th May 2021. The judge is booked already for the
new date, but the venue has not yet confirmed.

FIRMWARE

Here's something that you had possibly already set aside to investigate on a rainy day or being snowed in (or even an unimagined lockdown) but never actually got round to:

Firmware in your camera. What is Firmware? Firmware is a camera's basic Software and coding, which the camera maker installs at the time of manufacture.

The software is stored internally in your camera's non-removable memory, and its settings persist even when you turn your camera off. It's the heart of your camera, controlling all its functions from the various features to essentials such as autofocus and image processing. But every now and then a manufacturer may issue a Firmware Update to either correct a problem or to offer improved or new facilities. And so it is important to keep your Firmware up-to-date.

Where will you find out whether your Firmware needs updating? In your camera's menu, in something like Setup you will find "Firmware Version". make a note of the number which will be in the format "1.2.0".

Then compare it with the number you will find on the Manufacturer's website. If they're the same you don't need to do anything. If there is a difference you may implement the Update. Manufacturers always list the changes introduced by each Firmware Version so you can decide whether it's worth doing or not.

How do you do it? Google with something like "Canon M5 firmware update" and that will lead you to the manufacturer's website. Download the Update and follow the instructions; the important thing is to always ensure that you perform the Update with a fully charged battery.

If you own Olympus (and probably others too) there is an app you install on your computer. You just then plug in your camera and it pretty much all happens for you.

Helpful hints from: Andy Polakowski

Photographic Society of America Worldwide
Exhibitions

A message from the PSA Exhibition Services Vice president, Brian Magor and the PSA Executive Vice President, J.R. Schnelzer
You will all appreciate that we are faced with a grave situation world-wide with the COVID 19 virus pandemic. The essential message is that we follow the health advice of our various governments, keep safe, and always think of the welfare of others.
For the immediate future, the issues of photographic exhibitions recognized by PSA, is of lesser importance, than the common good for our members, Clearly, those exhibitions that are judged live by panels, meeting together, cannot and should not continue. PSA's position is that it would not be ethical to expose judges to potential exposure to COVID 19 virus. Exhibitions may be able to convert to on-line judging, and PSA stands ready to assist when possible. Those exhibitions that cannot, may have to postpone their judging's or cancel them. Public showings of exhibitions are now clearly out of the question, on-line galleries will replace the need for public showings, and are acceptable from the PSA stand point. Both PSA and FIAP have recognized the severity of the situation and have relaxed rules for exhibitions. Hopefully, exhibitions will make clear on their websites what course of action they are taking. Entrants should consult these websites to find out what decisions are being made. It may be months before the picture becomes clearer and some exhibitions may have to be held over until next year.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding.

Mold Camera club has sent out their club newsletter for our perusal...to view it click here

May

NWPA Exhibition 2020

Dear Fellow North Wales Photographers

Firstly, I hope you are all well in these virus infected times.

The Annual showcase of North Wales club photography cannot of course go ahead in the
normal way - with a selection event to which you all would have been invited.

But the exhibition is still happening! The selection of the best photographs produced
by members of North Wales clubs will be judged remotely by our three judges.

David Butler MFIAP, EPSA, ARPS, BPE5*, Hon LCPU
Terry Donnelly FRPS, FMPA, FSWPP, FBPE, MPAGB, EFIAP
Tillman Kleinhans ARPA, EFIAP/s, DPAGB, BPE4*, Hon LCUP

This change in the arrangements has of course resulted in a much-reduced cost to the NWPA.
So now the good news!
This year it will be FREE to enter your photographs to the exhibition.
NWPA will refund the cost to those who have already entered.

We would like to still have a print exhibition; the Royal Cambrian Academy in Conwy is booked,
but this cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, the print selection will go ahead, albeit with the selection in digital form. For those images selected we will ask you to produce a printed and mounted copy of your photograph(s) only if allowed and nearer the date.

The digital section will be as normal, just with remote judging. A digital compilation will be produced with all the selected images, print as well as pdi. All the selected images will be
shown on the NWPA website as in past years.

So, club members, let’s try to make the most of this difficult situation and produce
a fantastic showing of our work.

Upload your images using this link to the NWPA Website.

http://nwpa.co.uk/Exhibition_rules.htm

Closing date for entries is 31st May 2020.

Tony NWPA Exhibition Organiser (tony@greatorme.com)

Message from Judges and Lecturers Secretary

Hello and hope that you are keeping well and safe.

I had a telephone call from Christine Langford asking if would be an idea to ask those
of you who Judge or do talks for the NWPA to go on a list on the website indicating
that you would be happy to either Judge or give a talk online. (Zoom etc).
Clubs then could get in touch with you to know that programme you use,
I know that the season is drawing to the end but we are not sure when
we can gather together again.

Please let me know your feelings on this.

Keep well & safe
Kind regards
Phil
(chadwick284@btinternet.com)

NWPA Exhibition 2020

This year it will be FREE to enter your photographs to the exhibition.

Have you entered yet?

So, club members, let’s try to make the most of this difficult situation and produce
a fantastic showing of our work.

Upload your images using this link to the NWPA Website.

http://nwpa.co.uk/Exhibition_rules.htm

Closing date for entries is 31st May 2020 - Just over a week to go

Tony NWPA Exhibition Organiser (tony@greatorme.com)

Notes for Programme Secretaries:

Clubs all around the country are using Zoom and others to keep their
activities and interests alive.
Here in North Wales both Sue Clark and Jason Wharam have offered
their services for judging or talks.
On the South Wales website (thewpf.co.uk) there is a long list of their
judges and speakers happy to perform online.

Peter Young, the PAGB Treasurer, wrote an item concerning expenses
in a recent e-news. In case you did not read it, I have copied it below.

Online Speakers

When a judge or lecturer (I’ll call them speakers for convenience) is listed
in the PAGB Handbook, he/she has entered into a compact with all the clubs affiliated to the Alliance. That compact says, in essence, that the speaker
will give his/her time to the clubs for no remuneration. Reasonable expenses
are payable and those are listed on pages 44 and 107 of the PAGB Handbook
and on our website. In the main, they cover travelling expenses,
subsistence and consumables. At no point are we seeking to make money
by visiting a club. We do it because we feel that we want to give something
back to the hobby that has given us so much enjoyment over the years.
We want other clubs to benefit from what we have to say, even if it’s
only the fun of pulling us to pieces in the pub after a meeting. It is different
for the relatively few lecturers who do make a charge. There is a note on
page 44 regarding Expenses that says, “Please note – some lecturers will
charge a fee, or additional expenses, over and above the PAGB expenses. “Lecturers who charge a fee or additional expenses are listed under a
separate section at the foot of each federation’s entry. Lecturers who
charge a fee of £50 or more are required to pay a one-off fee to the PAGB for their entry in each new edition of the handbook – currently £20 at the date of this edition – in return for which they are able to list additional information such as website, additional distinctions etc. Such additional lecturing fees must be agreed at the time of the booking.”

Covid-19 and the onset of online speaking have not changed any of that.
The few who charge a fee may continue to charge a fee at the same level
as before and the majority who may not charge a fee still may not charge
a fee. Of course, no expenses are normally chargeable by the speaker either because there will have been no expenses.

It appears that some clubs feel that they should be paying something to an online speaker. Those clubs have no reason whatsoever to feel that way. Of course, there has never been any reason why a club may not make a gift to a speaker if they feel that they have been part of something special. That has also not changed in the current circumstances. While a fee is taxable, a gift is not. However, a request by the speaker for a gift turns it into a taxable fee.

I understand that a post has been made on Facebook saying, “In my experience, nothing that is 'free' is ever valued.” Clearly the writer does not understand
the system. I am aware of one Federation that has recommended that a
club may make a gift of up to a certain sum of money. I’m not in favour of that.
A recommended maximum will become a norm, not a maximum. Some clubs
rely on their weekly subscriptions to cover the costs of an evening.
They will be unable to afford the new norm.

As a member of my own Federation said, “I always enjoy an e-mail of thanks or a signed card”.

Peter A Young LRPS CPAGB AFIAP APAGB – PAGB Treasurer

June

No Newsletter this month....

July

No Newsletter this month....

August

No Newsletter this month....

September

No Newsletter this month....

October

Welsh Government Firebreak Lockdown FAQs:

Can I leave home to exercise?
Yes. Exercise is important for physical and mental health, and you can leave home as often as
you like to exercise as long as you do so from home and alone or with members of your
household (and/or a carer).

    What kind of exercise is permitted?
    There are no legal limits on this, but in practice this is constrained by other restrictions that
have   been imposed such as the closure of leisure centres, gyms and swimming pools. As one
of the purposes of the restrictions is to reduce pressure on the Welsh NHS, we also ask people
to avoid activities that involve a significant degree of risk (for example swimming or other
exercise at sea, or in lakes, rivers or other waterways).

Are there any limits on how far I can run or cycle for exercise?
There are no limits on the distance you can travel during exercise, though the nearer you stay
to your home, the better. Your exercise should start and finish from your home and you should
exercise alone or with a member of your household.

Does taking a walk count as exercise?
Absolutely. All time spent outdoors is beneficial, as long as people avoid interacting with people
they do not live with.

Can I do other things while out for exercise?
Yes, as long as they are also permitted, and do not involve gathering with people from other
households outside a permitted “bubble”. Combining exercise with walking a dog or going to
a shop to buy food, for example, is considered to be reasonable. Leaving your home to
exercise should not be used as an excuse to undertake other activity which is not permitted.
The purpose of leaving home is to exercise. Going for a walk and then having a picnic or
spending a prolonged period on a park bench, for example, is not considered to be exercise
and is not intended to be a reasonable excuse.

My area is currently subject to local restrictions – do these continue as well?

No – the circuit breaker lockdown will apply in the same way across Wales.

INTERNATIONAL SALONS - FIAP

Have you ever thought about entering these but were unsure, why not consider
it now? FIAP (International Federation of Photographic Art) is one of the
three main patrons of Internationals and their first Distinction, AFIAP,
requires just 40 acceptances in FIAP patronised salons using at least 15 different
images in at least 15 different salons with FIAP Patronage, spread over at least
8 different countries. The UK counts as 4 countries so that's half of them.

And there is a very good reason why now is a good time to start. The FIAP Distinctions
go in steps: AFIAP, EFIAP, EFIAP/bronze etc but you can only apply once a year
and you cannot leapfrog. The cut-off date is effectively 31 December and your
completed application should be with the PAGB by the end of March following. There is
also a requirement that “your first acceptance must be received at least 12 months
before you can be awarded your AFIAP certificate”.
And so if you start now you will have plenty of opportunity to apply for AFIAP
at the end of 2021; you may already have a FIAP acceptance if you’ve entered one of
the UK Internationals, the recent Welsh International for instance.

Entering Internationals is similar to the National Salons (the BPEs). It is always
up to 4 images per section but, as well as the usual Colour and Mono, they have
many more and varied sections. Costwise they are often cheaper than BPEs
especially when you enter one of the many circuits, where your images are
judged in 3, 4 or 5 different places. If these places are in different countries
it can quickly give you the 8 different countries you need, although a circuit
still only counts as 1 salon (that’s FIAP for you). For instance, a recent circuit had
5 sections and 3 countries for €35, which works out at about 55 pence per image!

The language used by Internationals is English, payment is by Paypal (you do not
need a Paypal account) and often an actual printed catalogue is supplied to all entrants,
successful or not.

Go to the FIAP website for the list of current salons, closing dates and costs: https://www.myfiap.net/patronages

INTERNATIONAL SALONS - GPU & PSA

The two other patrons are GPU (Global Photographic Union) and PSA (Photographic
Society of America). GPU distinctions can be applied for ay any time and are based
on points accrued for acceptances and awards. Non-GPU acceptances can be included
but you get double points if they are GPU. This is by far the simplest of International distinctions and the UK representative is Tony Davies, Conwy CC [tony@greatorme.com].

PSA distinctions can be a little more difficult to fathom but there is an excellent document
available from Andy Polakowski, Mold CC, [andypfoto@gmail.com] which will help.

Keeping accurate records of your acceptances is essential and it is best to start
with a system that suits you.

Advice is freely available from the aforementioned names.

PAGB e-news
The latest edition (268) includes a feature on Sharon Prenton Jones, Conwy CC,
based on her admission to the Masters of Print Hall of Fame.
Go to: www.pagbnews.co.uk

World Cup for Clubs
The 15th edition of this major event closes on 4 December 2020.
Go to: http://cfoto.hiho.it/fiap2020.php

GB Cup and GB Trophy
These popular national competitions for clubs close on 24 January 2021 and provide a great
focus for clubs to showcase their best images.

The GB Trophies for prints and the GB Cups for projected images are held together as a coordinated set of events each January and both have an Open event and a Nature event.
Clubs may enter any or all of the individual events without pre-qualification. From 2021
there is no longer a GB Cup (Small Clubs) event.

Go to: http://www.thepagb.org.uk/competitions/gb-cups-and-gb-trophies/

ZOOM

Many clubs are using Zoom to keep their members interested in photography, with
lectures and competitions. The great advantage is that it is possible to invite
lecturers and judges from any part of the country whose expenses could not possibly
be afforded if they were actually visiting. I recently watched a presentation by
a photographer who was in Tiblisi, Georgia at the time.
Other lectures are provided by the RPS - free to members and with a small charge to
non-members,

If you have some recommendations, please let me know and we can share them.

November

No Newsletter this month....

December

THE NWPA AGM

The Annual General Meeting was held on Sunday, 6th December, via Zoom and we had an attendance of 21 members

The election of Officers and Postholders shows:

Officers:
President - Ian O’Neill
Vice-President - Linda Bell
Immediate Past President - Andy Polakowski
Secretary - Terry Mills
Treasurer - Iona O’Neill

Postholders:
PAGB Delegate - Tony Davies
Competition Sec. - Peter Jepson
Awards Officer - Phil Chadwick
Web Master - Ian O’Neill
Judges & Lecturers Organiser - Jason Wharam
Newsletter Editor - Christine Langford
Exhibition Organiser - Blaenau Ffestiniog CC

Selectors:
Andy Polakowski, Ian O’Neill, Sue Clark, Phil Chadwick
Sharon Prenton Jones, John Bell & Linda Bell

Subscriptions

In view of the Covid restriction on activities, the meeting approved
the motion to make no charge for existing clubs for 2021.

N.B. Each club is responsible for arranging their own
insurance covers

Andy Polakowski APAGB

Earlier this year the PAGB approved the award of APAGB to our own Andy Polakowski for his 40 plus years of service to the photographic community of North Wales and beyond.

Because of the Covid problems we had been unable to make the
presentation to him.

However, the NWPA AGM was held on Sunday via Zoom and, at a pre-arranged signal, John Bell knocked on his door and made the special Presentation.

Congratulations to Andy.
This is very well deserved and long overdue for this recognition.

THE WELSH INTERNATIONAL SALON OF PHOTOGRAPHY

This week Dwyfor CC linked up with the Rhondda club in South Wales for a presentation on Zoom of many of the Awards from the Welsh Int. Salon, accompanied by a commentary by Peter Young, the Chairman of the Salon.

In previous years Peter has brought the Salon to Llandudno for us to see some of the inspiring images. Of course, this was not possible this year and Peter is showing this on Zoom instead.

Several North Wales members featured in the list of awards, including two Gold Medals

Sian Davies – Selector’s Medal in the Open Colour

Tony Davies - PAGB Ribbon in Open Monochrome
Lynne Morris - Selector’s Medal in Open Monochrome, FIAP Silver Medal in Open Monochrome, FIAP Gold Medal in Open Colour

Sharon Prenton Jones - FIAP Gold Medal in Open Monochrome, WPF Ribbon in Open Monochrome

Other acceptances were by:

John Bell, Linda Bell, Ken Croston, Rolf Kraehenbuehl, Andy Polakowski & Richard Walliker

Many congratulations to all of these members. There was an entry of over 7,000 from all over the world, so any acceptance at all was an achievement.

All the acceptances can be seen on the website: thewpf.co.uk

Watch out for advertisements in the PAGB’s e-news for this and other
exhibitions to enter next year