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IPF Newsletter - June 2020

Welcome to the June newsletter of the Irish Photographic Federation.
Strange to be writing this but we now find ourselves in a period of stages on this road of recovery and opening back up the country from what has been a tough few months as we continue with living life under the shadow of Covid -19, and the Coronavirus pandemic. I do hope you are all managing to get through it and hopefully in the coming months' life will get back to the almost the way we are used too though these are uncertain times and it can only be a gradual return to the way we were.
IPF
As we have informed you all to date and with keeping in line with government restrictions, all IPF activities have been suspended until further notice, however, we will continue to monitor the progress made in this recovery plan and will keep you informed as we go through the coming months on our position in relation to the holding of any events. As you can understand the health and welfare of you all and that of Council members is of most importance.

This month we have an update on FIAP related matters from our FIAP Liaison Officer Paul Stanley, and a great article on the recent FIAP Distinctions success of members of the Malahide Camera Club, wonderful achievements.

Finally, with great sadness, we saw the passing our esteemed colleague and Honorary Member of Mallow Camera Club, and former Secretary of the Southern Association of Camera Clubs John Doheny who passed away at the beginning of the month. John was a long-serving member of the IPF Council and was responsible for the first version of the IPF website and the first newsletter among many other contributions he made.
He was a gentleman in every way and a true advocate for Irish Photography.
Our condolences to his wife Geraldine and sons Niall and Alan and Declan, and all his extended family at this difficult time.
Rip. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dhilis


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I wish you all the very best, stay safe and well,

Kind Regards,
Dominic Reddin
National PresidentIrish Photographic Federation

Distinction Updates

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With the Government restrictions in place and looking to the future, the IPF Council cannot see a distinction sitting before (at least) November 2020.

What's Inside this Month?

  • Distinctions Update
  • Three Members from Malahide Camera Club Achieve EFIAP/p
  • FIAP News - June 2020
  • AV 2020 National Championships
  • Who's Image Is It!!!

    Three Members From the Malahide Camera Club

    Achieve EFIAP/p

    Catherine Bushe EFIAP/p

    My name is Catherine Bushe and I have recently achieved my EFIAP/p, and for me, this is the highlight of my photographic year. When I started entering Salons in 2011, I could hardly have foreseen this hugely gratifying outcome! So where did this journey start? To tell the truth, I slipped into participation by accident. Initially, I had little understanding of Salons, and I entered just for the fun of it, certainly with no thought or plan to consider applying for Distinctions. However, as I began to accumulate a few acceptances and awards, I decided to keep going and see where I might end up.
    M1
    I had joined Malahide Camera Club in 2008 and, although taking part in Club activities has always been my priority, I was looking for a personal challenge within my photography. Having completed my LIPF in 2012, I decided then to attempt a few Salons. With enthusiastic support and encouragement from Club members who were already seasoned participants, I entered my first Salon in October 2011, and very soon was hooked! As the acceptances and awards began to trickle in, I decided to attempt the AFIAP., which I undertook in 2013. EFIAP followed in 2015, and subsequently Bronze, Silver and Gold in 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively.
    There is nothing like the anticipation of waiting for results, and then the elation and personal satisfaction of getting acceptances, or, less often, awards! While it is always nice to see an award arriving in the post, for me the best (and rare) satisfaction is to see an image of mine in print in an international Salon catalogue. Maybe one day I will have a successful image feature on the front cover! My awards are stored randomly in a shoebox in the back of a drawer somewhere, but my catalogues are shelved close to hand, and I enjoy perusing them on a regular basis. For me, they are an excellent opportunity to explore other photographers' work, and there is always something to inspire me or to learn from. For that reason, I tend to favour salons which produce a printed catalogue. A disc is a useful record of Salon results but does not provide the same satisfaction as browsing through a catalogue.
    I do not specialise in a particular genre (studio, nature, architecture etc), and I prefer natural light. On the whole, I favour monochrome, with graphic shapes and patterns, tones and textures and have more successful mono images than colour. My first award was from Bristol (2013) with 'Juvenile Gannet', taken on the Saltee Islands in Wexford on a Club outing. My most successful image is 'Braving the Elements' (2017). My two latest images to obtain awards are 'When the tide goes out' (2019), and 'Figures on the Beach' (2019). My awards span a host of countries from Argentina and Bulgaria to Tajikistan and Sweden. More than fifty per cent of my award-winning images are taken in Ireland.

    M2
    First awarded image - Juvenile Gannet 2013
    M3
    Most successful image - Braving the Elements 2017
    m4
    When the Tide goes out 2019
    m5
    Figures on the Beach 2019
    The biggest pitfall I have encountered in the whole process is keeping detailed records. It all seemed very manageable when I originally started out with the AFIAP, but the records quickly became unwieldy. By the time a participant is accumulating 700 acceptances with 20 different images in 20 countries for the EFIAP/p, a spreadsheet is absolutely essential. Not being familiar with spreadsheets, this was a steep learning curve for me! In fact, I 'lost' a year on the Distinction trail due to a basic error in my record keeping - hopefully, an error never to be repeated! So, my advice to anyone starting out on the Distinction route, and I cannot stress this enough, is to keep comprehensive records. It may seem like a lot of work, but it soon becomes routine and is far easier than a tedious search trying to check backwards when the pressure is on and the application deadline is approaching.
    Salons appeal to me because it is an opportunity for my images to compete in a very large pool. Worldwide, different countries have different styles and different tastes in photography. We are a small photography community in Ireland, and it is always challenging to move out of the local comfort zone and try my images on a bigger stage. What appears popular at home, or part of a current trend, may not work for an international audience. An image that does well nationally may not get even an acceptance in a Salon, and the opposite can also be the case – there are no guarantees. It is so rewarding when an image gets international recognition - not necessarily that the international standard is any better or any worse, sometimes it is just different.
    Five members of Malahide Camera Club attained FIAP distinctions this year. While we do not work as a team in entering salons, it is a great encouragement to know that there is someone on the same path, or one step ahead, who, in the spirit of our club, is always ready and willing to offer support and advice when needed. I also would like to acknowledge here the work of Paul Stanley, FIAP Liaison Officer, and his invaluable help and advice.

    Entering Salons for me is addictive. I enjoy the process, which, although an individual pursuit and undertaken at my own pace, requires commitment and perseverance. The outcome is sometimes surprising, sometimes disappointing, but the experience is always hugely rewarding. This is what spurs me on to have another go, and enter yet another Salon.

    Deirdre Murphy EFIAP/p

    M7
    I started on my salon journey about 6 years ago along with a few of my friends in Malahide club. We have journeyed together along the track over the last few years and have had great comradery each year as we successfully pass through each stage. It has been a really enjoyable experience and I think when a few good friends are all doing it its great fun all entering the same salon and exciting if any images take awards as it is great recognition for the club.
    I think one of the reasons I started entering salons was to encourage me to process the images I was taking and to be able to use the images. We all take so many images every year and many of them never see the light of day despite our best intentions and promises to catch up on “the backlog”. I found at one stage I had many images that I really liked and having heard of this mysterious word “Salons” I decided to test the waters.
    The first salon I entered was Tallaght and then Cork. I managed to get my first award at Tallaght and this was a great encouragement. I love when you receive a good catalogue after the salon and enjoy nothing more than sitting down with a mug of tea and a spare hour to pour over the award-winning images. Some of the salon books are inspirational and really good quality.
    My advice to anyone starting the process is to read the guidelines on the IPF website and understand the criteria for each level. It’s also really important to keep an accurate record of the salons entered, the images submitted, the images names and the results. I found the best way to keep things up to date was to update the form as I received the results. That reduced the stress levels as the deadline approached to have the form submitted each year. !!! Paul Stanley the Irish FIAP officer is a fantastic help and does huge work in the background to support all the photographers on their journey.
    I have had a good few awards over the years through AFIAP, EFIAP, EFIAP/b, EFIAP/s, EFIAP/g and EFIAP/p but the biggest buzz is when you receive a FIAP Gold medal as opposed to other gold medals. All awards though are welcome to come through the different stages.
    I enjoy portraiture and nature. I love capturing an expression, an emotion or a look that draws you in. I really enjoy planning for the shoot and the use of different props to vary the poses. A few of us usually shoot together and its always an enjoyable day with plenty of laughs and good humour. I’ve probably had my most success with portraits followed by nature. Nature shots are really rewarding and but unlike the models, just don’t turn to the camera quite as easily……. I have many tails, blurred heads and headless images on my card, but all the more joy when you get that sharp perfect image.
    Some of my favourite images along the way:
    M8
    M9
    The Hat – one of my niece Helen. I was testing out a new softbox I had bought and set it up at home, trying out different lighting and poses. Love the expression on this image.
    Three little mice – Taken on a trip to the UK. It was a really windy day and I was delighted to get this image. It did really well in the salons.
    M10
    M11
    Distraught – This is my friend Yvonne’s daughter Ali. She is a great model and we have had many shoots with her.
    Man with Style– we did a series of shoots with bearded men. It was such a change and we had some really interesting shots.
    M12
    To anyone embarking on the FIAP trail, I wish you every success and enjoyment on your trip.

    Joe Doyle EFIAP/p

    Why Salons?

    My name is Joe and unfortunately not only do I have OCD, but I am also competitive into the bargain. When I succeeded with my IPF Associateship panel on Architecture in 2014, friends recommended taking a break before doing a Fellowship panel. What to do? I saw some friends in my camera club in Malahide competing in international FIAP salons and getting these fabulous catalogues, and I thought I'd have a go.
    M13

    First Salon

    My first salon was Tallaght Salon. Apart from being keen to support local Irish salons, the AFIAP level requires prints, and as Tallaght had a print section, it made it a no brainer. Just like waiting for your film rolls to be developed and come back to you, you get to wait before a results email arrives a while later. Like your first set of rolls, you get some good news and some areas to work on! Through the first few salons, I learned that images that did well at club level may not cut it at international competition level. The realisation that you have up to your photography game if you are to do well in FIAP salons. For me, that still remains the best benefit of FIAP salons. FIAP salons transformed my photography and how I look at images.
    M14
    First awarded image: Madrid’s Financial District.

    New Skills Required

    I also realised that I would have to learn new photography genres that I had not tried before, including portraiture and nature, if I was to ever be able to win Best Author and be awarded a FIAP Blue Badge. Our dual aims in Malahide Camera Club are "to help improve members photography and have fun". What better way to learn new genres than shoot with my friends in the club?

    For portraiture, I have worked with loads of wonderful photographers from many clubs and had such fun and made great images every time. Special mention though to my photography partner Michelle La Grue. There's so much to be said about working with someone with whom you have telepathy and shared vision on the style of photography you want to make. It makes for a really relaxed atmosphere for everyone on a shoot where the best images become possible. For nature, I cannot thank Ita Martin and John Fox enough for all the education and craic on trips.
    M15
    M16
    Gone With The Wind
    Water Rail Walking

    Notable Results

    I had been shooting with Ross McKelvey in Belfast in late 2014 and saw a fantastic catalogue from a dedicated portraiture salon, With Love To Women. The quality of imagery was terrific from the best portrait photographers. So, I entered the 2015 salon simply to get the printed catalogue.

    When the email from the salon organisers arrived on Friday, May 22, 2015, my brain simply scrambled. There was a line in the email "As a result of the overall total score, the title "Best Author" of Salon-2015 was assigned to Joe Doyle, Ireland". I was stunned. A first highly coveted FIAP Blue Badge. I have been so lucky to get more since but you never forget your first.
    M17
    The other result which delighted me the most was an image of my daughter Aoife winning a FIAP Gold Medal. We were in Austria when I saw the snow starting to fall and pre-visualised an image at a nearby location. The image is called “Snow Angel”. Little did I realise that the title was going to be so important. 18 months later, I slipped backwards on black ice under snow in Austria, hit my head on the road and was out cold. Aoife was walking with me and managed to get the flag down the first passing car, which was being driven by a doctor who started the process of getting me looked after.
    M18

    Most Successful Images

    Like all photographers reaching EFIAP/Platinum, I have been very fortunate to have lots of acceptances and awards from salons in nearly 40 different countries.

    In researching for this article, I analysed my own most successful images for the first time and I have been fascinated to discover the top 6 most awarded images are all monochrome images.

    My most successful single shoot for FIAP images was a portrait shoot with my good friend Tim Pile with Anete as the model. As photographers, we all get that sense when we know something special is happening and I certainly had it all the way throughout that shoot. Indeed, my favourite image from that shoot has been awarded 18 times on its own.
    M19

    Advice

    FIAP salons can be addictive. The surge of anticipation for results and that elation when you get a prize, especially a FIAP Gold medal or Blue Badge is intoxicating.

    There is no rush! Whilst I managed to get 100+ different images accepted in 9 months after my EFIAP/Gold, you don’t have to work at that pace. A good friend, Glyn Edmunds, commented that a 6-year plan is good but for him, it was 6 years between levels, not for all of them!

    If working with others, work with those friends who share your outlook on respect - respect for models, respect for nature, and respect for each other’s unique ideas. You won’t go far wrong. Also find and keep honest, reliable, and positive people close to you. They will help you overcome barriers and speed you on your way to the next level in your photography journey.

    What Next?

    Lockdown has been good for my creative process! I have so many ideas of images that I want to make. I have set myself mini-projects both to edit existing shoots and to shoot for new images that I am really looking forward to making.

    I want to say “go raibh míle maith agat” to all those who have worked me on images during this journey. A huge thanks also to Paul Stanley for his tireless effort and support for all the Irish photographers in the FIAP Distinctions process.

    Finally, remember to have fun! Even when shooting the best model, there is time for fun and perhaps a little Photoshop.
    M22

    FIAP News

    Congratulations to the following people from Ireland who recently applied for FIAP distinctions and who were successful.
    • Kevin Day AFIAP
    • Martin Duggan AFIAP
    • Gary Loughran AFIAP
    • Brian McNamee EFIAP
    • Charlie O’Donovan EFIAP
    • Michael Strapec EFIAP
    • Ita Margin EFIAP/b
    • Christina Ní Dheaghaidh EFIAP/b
    • Anthony Demion EFIAP/s
    • Mark Taylor EFIAP/g
    • Catherine Bushe EFIAP/p
    • Joe Doyle EFIAP/p
    • Deirdre Murphy EFIAP/p
    • Morgan O’Neill EFIAP/p
    • Bill Power EFIAP/p
    • Brian Hopper EFIAP/d2
    Given the current restrictions as a result of the coronavirus, we are not able to hold the presentation ceremony and exhibition as we originally planned.
    We will wait until the situation becomes clearer and the Dublin Camera Club know when they will be able to re-open the Gallery in Camden Street, Dublin.
    Once we have this information we can then schedule the event. We will let all recipients know the details when they are known to us.

    The May 2020 Edition of FIAP News is now available on the FIAP website. This 10th Edition contains many important messages from the FIAP President and FIAP Directors. There are lots of wonderful articles and we also have a showcase gallery of images from the FIAP Collection featuring an image from each of the EFIAP Diamond recipients from 2019. Our new section “Recommendations from a Local Photographer” has been launched in this Edition. The requirements for mini-articles submitted for this section can be found on page 73.
    Articles may now be sent for consideration for the August Edition of FIAP News. Submissions for this Edition close strictly on 30th June. Please carefully follow the instructions located at the rear of FIAP News regarding article submission and submit your articles as soon as possible.
    This is the link to the newsletter http://online.flipbuilder.com/tklq/ezeo/#p=1

    Audio Visual 2020 National Championships

    As the Co-ordinator of the Irish Photographic Federation’s National Audio-Visual Championships, I informed the IPF Council on 12th May that I proposed to cancel the above. The venue had been booked again for Aras Chronain, Clondalkin, but due to another event being booked for the 3rd weekend in October, AV2020 was booked for the last weekend - which is the Bank Holiday weekend. Alistair Taylor, ARPS, CPAGB, had agreed to be our judge since last December. No expenditure has been involved! I have notified Alistair.

    I had been in touch with some of those who would have attended. We are reliant on AV workers and supporters from across the country and the Irish Sea attending - our numbers would have been down - and thus the income - and as well as a competition - this is a great social event and many are in the “cocooning” bracket. A short time later, I was informed that the RPS AV International has been cancelled for September for the same reasons.

    The IPF AV Group Committee is meeting by Zoom on 13th June. We have also received sequences from two AV groups in England and have to decide how to view these and to choose the IPF AV group entries. Following the meeting, I will be in touch with all on my AV mailing list on decisions and also for www.irishphoto.ie.

    The East Leinster AV Group have been holding successful Zoom meetings since the closure of the library in Lucan and have had “attendees” from north of the border, Shannon area, East Leinster area, Birmingham and I’ve just been asked for the link from an AV worker in South Africa who was over in Ireland and attended the Celtic Challenge in Cork. So - they may have to change their name.

    Lilian Webb, AIPF, ARPS
    IPF AV National Co-Ordinator

    Who's Image Is It!!!

    Who’s image is it!!! I was posted alike for [Photoserge.com](http://photoserge.com/?fbclid=IwAR2xlex08oclM4Tv3IAKEBMiA6ul7kcYie5gQGnMcIPtEDLb1qOvhv5u-cI) which prompts me to ask who’s image, is it? Can it be that we the photographer can take any old pic? over or underexposed, and by using others presets we get, all be it a super rendition of what the photo could look like. Is it ours? The introduction of digital imaging along with PS has made it easier for the photographer to control their final image. Darkroom techniques are replaced by post-production techniques. at first to burn dodge increase or reduce contrast etc. Now over the years, we have progressed to a level to where we have to say is it a photograph taken by a photographer or an image digitally created in postproduction using the likes of Photoserge and others. Have we reached the stage where the creative mind of the photographer is replaced by presets designed by others? An example could be at a photo demo. a photographer sets up a still life, lighting, composition, exposure then I step in and take the photo as set, this is, of course, a copy of anothers creative process not mine and can never display as such. I believe it the same with postproduction. Who takes ownership of the image? I'd love to read your views. Derek Fannin Drogheda PC

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    Irish Photographic Federation
    Compiled and Edited by Liam Beattie AIPF, ARPS