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Oscailt
Irish Photographic Federation Newsletter
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Happy New Year to You All
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Welcome to the January Newsletter, our very first of 2021. I guess it’s fair to say we're all glad to see the end of 2020 and the dramatic changes it has brought to all our lives. Unfortunately, this pandemic that we have been living with since last March is still very much with us and it is hard to say how long more we will have to adapt to the challenges it has brought to our everyday lives.
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For now, the IPF plans to continue hosting its annual events online until such time as it is safe to go back to hosting the physical events, as we have done traditionally over the years. As the year came to a close, it was great to see, looking back, that we managed to eventually get events to continue, although in a different manner. To that I want to acknowledge the work of my colleges on the IPF Council for continuing to work collectively to support the clubs that are affiliated to the Federation and keep things going as much was possible.
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Our last physical event was way back in February 2020 in Carlow, with the running of the POTY and NPOTY. Congratulations to the various winners and the overall winners. Photographer of the Year 2020 was awarded to Michael Strapec of Blarney Photography Club, and Nature Photographer of the Year 2020 was awarded to Feargal Quinn of Navan Camera Club. Our thanks to the national coordinator, Julie Corcorcan, and for the assistance of the members of Carlow Photographic Society.
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We did manage to host the National Shield online very successfully and congratulations to the various category winners and overall winners Blarney Photography Club. Special mention must also go to Andy Magan, the national coordinator of the event, who, with the assistance of both Kilkenny & Carlow club members, did a tremendous job.
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The FIAP Distinctions Presentation Ceremony for 2020 was also held online through Zoom and we were delighted to have Riccardo Busi, President of FIAP, in attendance at the event. Congratulations to all who achieved their distinction and a special word of appreciation must go to Paul Stanley, IPF Liaison Officer, who organised the event and assisted all those who applied for their various distinctions in 2020. Paul was ably assisted with the background work associated with the distinction applications by John Butler.
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One of the more challenging events which we also oversaw in 2020, and now into 2021, was the process of bringing the IPF distinctions process online. In November 2020, and as recent as January 9th 2021, we managed to hold two very successful distinction sittings online. Congratulations to all those who were awarded with a distinction. These events could not have been held without the work of the Distinction Committee, under the stewardship of Des Clinton (Chairperson) Paul Stanley (Vice-Chair) and Bob Morrison (National Secretary). Coordinating these two events through Zoom was Andy Magan who did a great job keeping it all together very professionally.
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We have also now completed a list of very distinctive lecturers and judges which clubs can use now for club events, calendar programs, competitions, etc. This task was no small piece of work and I would like to thank the committee involved in compiling these lists together, and especially John Butler who is the chairman and continues to oversee the work involved.
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Before I sign off for this month let me again wish you all the very best for 2021 and especially your endeavors with your photography. I do hope we see the end of this pandemic sooner rather than later and look forward to meeting up with you all again.
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Until next time - stay safe,
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Dominic Reddin
Irish Photographic Federation
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What's Inside this Month?
- Distinction Sittings Updates
- Affiliations for 2021
- Distinction Holders' Annual Fees for 2021
- Drogheda Photographic Club Success
- Dublin Camera Club - Online Course
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Distinctions Sittings - Update
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Distinction Assessment in 2021
For much of 2021, distinction panels will be assessed online. How long this will last will depend on the on-going Covid-19 pandemic and, for now, is not predictable with any accuracy.
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Online assessing, at any level, takes considerably longer than the normal physical assessing. This means that all applications taken between 20th January and 28th February will not be for pre-designated assessment days, and will not be subject to the usual quotas for each day. Instead, we will accept the applications first and then organise online sittings, notifying each applicant of the day on which his/her panel will be assessed. We hope to deal with all the 2021 applications in as timely a manner as possible.
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Applying for Assessment 2021
You will apply online, as heretofore, and the application form will be much the same as for previous years. The important differences will be that you will not be able to nominate an assessment day, but will be asked to tick an option agreeing to “Online Assessing”. If this option is not ticked, your application will be accepted but it will be assumed that you wish to wait for “Offline Assessing Only”. When “physical” assessing does return you will not need to re-apply but will be listed for the first available such sitting.
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Preparing for Online Assessment
Applicants should prepare their submissions for online assessing on the assumption that they will be scheduled for assessment sooner rather than later. This particularly means making (unmounted) prints of your images (see below). Each submission will involve both digital images and unmounted prints.
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DIGITAL IMAGES: The digital images for a submission should not include the author’s name or an image title. For a Licentiate submission the images should be numbered 01 to 10, plus a hanging plan numbered 11. Equally, Associate or Fellowship panels (including the hanging plan) should be numbered 01 to 16, or 01 to 21, as appropriate. The hanging plan should not show the author’s name or image titles, but should show image numbers to match the digital files.
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PRINTS: It is essential that the print version of the panel should be printed to the highest standard appropriate to the level applied for. Despite the online assessing, this remains a print assessment and a designated assessor will examine all prints, as would happen in a “physical” assessment. The prints should be on A4 paper, no larger, and should be on the same paper as would have been used if this was a normal print assessment. Do not include a print of the hanging plan. Also, do not put your name, or a title on the print, including the back of the print.
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We look forward to seeing your images and wish everyone success with their applications.
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To All Clubs & Special Interest Groups:
For the attention of the Secretary or Treasurer
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The new membership year commenced on 1st January 2021 and all Clubs and Special Interest Groups who wish to be affiliated to the IPF for 2021 should kindly do so before the 31st of January 2021.
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As it is not unusual for contact details for Clubs and Special Interest Groups to change during the year, I am asking members pass on the details below to you Club Secretary or Treasurer just in case they didn’t receive my recent email.
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The affiliation requirements are as follows:
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- Each Club or Group must register online
- Pay the appropriate fee by PayPal or by Bank Transfer to IBAN
- Submit a copy of their public liability insurance
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All other clubs and Special Interest Groups should use
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Distinction Holders' Annual Fees, 2021
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All IPF Distinction holders (except those who have paid a lifetime fee) are due to pay their annual fee for 2021 on 1st January. The standard annual fee is €25 (€15 for distinction holders over 65). There is also the option to pay the lifetime fee of €400.
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From the 1st January 2021 you will be to pay the annual fee by going to the Irish Photographic Federation website (www.irishphoto.ie).
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- Select the “Distinctions” heading and from the drop-down menu, then select “Annual Fees”
- Now you will see the “Distinction Renewal page”. Select your Renewal Type (one of Annual Standard, Annual-Senior, or Lifetime)
- Then confirm your personal details by typing in your name, email address, club (if applicable), your IPF Distinction level and the date of your most recent IPF Distinction
- Payment Options will default to IPF PayPal Account
- We kindly request that where at all possible payment should be made using PayPal. If that is not possible then please select “Offline Payment”. If not using PayPal to pay then the only other payment option is by Bank Transfer to the IPF Account, the details of which are:
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IBAN: IE17IPBS99063900293981
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- Please ensure that your name is included as a reference in the payment details to the bank
- Please note that cheques or cash cannot be accepted as payment for distinction annual fees
- Once you have selected your payment option, select “Continue” to confirm your payment.
- You will receive an email from Renewals@irishphoto.ie confirming receipt of payment for your distinction annual fee. If you do not receive the email receipt please let us know by replying to Renewals@irishphoto.ie
All Distinction Holders will receive a renewal reminder email during January 2021. If you have paid you annual fee on 1st January or shortly thereafter you will not receive this email reminder.
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IPF Distinctions Renewals
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Drogheda Photographic Club success
FIAP World Cup 2020
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The world governing body for amateur photography, FIAP, recently held the FIAP World Cup for Clubs 2020. This prestigious competition is open to photography clubs in all countries in the world. The competition attracted 230 competing clubs, including the Drogheda Photographic club, who each had to submit a panel of their best 20 photographs, either colour or monochrome, or a combination of both. The aim of the competition is to find the top photography clubs around the world. Competing club photographers are allowed to enter a maximum of two photographs on any subject. This world cup competition was judged by a panel of top international judges recently and results released.
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Competing club photographers are allowed to enter a maximum of two photographs on any subject. This world cup competition was judged by a panel of top international judges recently and results released.
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Drogheda Photography Club finished in 5th position overall, a great achievement. Club member Judy Boyle won one of the individual awards with her image “The Wake”.
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The winning club was Eurasia from Russia, with Wigan in UK in 2nd place, followed by Northern Ireland club Catchlight in 3rd place, and Smethwick club from Birmingham in 4th place. The Drogheda club were represented in the competition by Janice Mulligan, Chris Costello, John Sheridan, Des Clinton, Vadim Lee, Mick Feeney, Eric O Neill, Yvonne Cawley, John Butler and Gabriel O'Shaughnessy. This great result represents the best scoring club in the Republic of Ireland.
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Yvonne Crawley, Happy Hair
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John Butler, Mother & Son, Dungarpur
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Gabriel O'Shaughnessy, My Doll
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Dublin Camera Club
“Introduction to Photography” - Online Course
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Like so many IPF affiliates, the Dublin Camera Club has been greatly affected by the restrictions required to combat the Covid 19 pandemic; the club’s premises where it holds its meetings and exhibitions has been closed since last March. However, thanks to the ZOOM platform, DCC moved quickly to hold its meetings on-line and has been able to continue and expand its programme of presentations, competitions and workshops through both lockdowns. The club has found that ZOOM greatly expands the range of speakers and activities internationally, with presentations from among others the famous Smethwick club and the president of FIAP.
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And most importantly, DCC has successfully moved its highly regarded “Introduction to Photography” Course on-line which allowed it to attract participants from outside its natural Dublin catchment area. The reaction was so positive that another course is planned to commence on Wednesday 27th January 2021.
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The course is a general introduction to photography and is suitable for both absolute beginners and people with a little basic photographic knowledge, including those using their camera phones. It comprises nine weekly on-line modules delivered live by experienced members of the club, covering how your camera works and how to use it to produce great images. The course covers:
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- The main principles of exposure to ensure your images are crisp and sharp
- The basics of editing your images (post-processing)
- The elements of good composition
- Tips on specific photographic genres – monochrome, people, travel and landscape
Each module will provide an interactive question and answer facility, comprehensive notes emailed the following day, and suggested exercises based on its content. In addition, participants have:
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- temporary membership of the club allowing attendance at all its presentations and workshops
- an experienced mentor assigned who can answer your queries, comment on images and (COVID regulations permitting) host two Saturday walkabouts to practice what is preached
- access to a dedicated Facebook support group for the course
At the end of the nine modules, a Course Exhibition of images taken by participants will be hosted on the club's website. And they will also be able to become a full-time member of the club for an annual fee of €60 in the first year (a 50% discount on the normal fee).
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The course costs just €120 and would be an ideal gift for anyone thinking about taking up photography.
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COVID 19 also meant that the club was not in a position to hold its Annual Exhibition in 2020, the highlight of every club’s year. So DCC instead hosted a showcase Christmas Exhibition, self-selected by club members across all grades to show the images they feel best reflects their photographic practice. The exhibition commenced on the 9th of December and will run until the end of January.
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Got News?
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Have news for us?! Great! Send it in!
Suggestions for future editions are also most welcome! |
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