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Irish Photographic Federation Newsletter

February 2021

IPF
Welcome to the Irish Photographic Federation's February Newsletter 2021. As we move slowly into the new year we still find ourselves in the midst of this pandemic (Covid - 19) and unfortunately we are still in lockdown, with limited movement. Hopefully as the year goes on we will start to see an improvement in the lowering of the spread of the virus with the roll of the vaccines and we eventually get some control over this virus that had changed our lives so much so over the last year. My colleges on the IPF Council will continue to work collectively to support the clubs that are affiliated to the Federation and keep things going as much as much as possible.

I was very pleased that we were eventually able to hold the IPF Annual General Meeting on Sunday last, February 21st, and was very impressed with the amount of clubs that joined in and participated in the event. Having discussed and reported on what we did manage to achieve in 2020, I was glad to advise those in attendance that we will continue to host Distinction sittings online for the foreseeable future, with the first two taking place in March 2021. We also intend to host the National Club Championships which will, more than likely, be held online. The National Shield was held online in 2020, but it's too early to say if it will be held online again in 2021, or at a physical event in Kilkenny. We will make a decision on the National Shield as the year goes on when we have a clearer view of what's the safest thing to do. A sub-committee is also working hard behind the scenes on a new competition that will replace the traditional annual Photographer of the Year & Nature Photographer of the Year competitions. More information on all of the above will be circulated in the coming weeks to advise all the clubs and their members of these events.

I was also pleased to see, at the AGM, my colleagues Bob Morrison, Gerry Kerr and Patrick Kavanagh re-elected back on to the Council for another three years, and my own nomination to stay on. I also welcome Ita Pentony, Sheamus Costello & Ross Mckelvey who were co opted onto Council throughout the year and were ratified at the AGM.

I would also like to acknowledge and pay tribute to Denis Whelehan who stepped down from Council after many years of trojan work and dedication to helping out in many ways with the work associated with the Federation. Among the many things he was responsible for - he had been the Photographic Society of America’s Irish representative for the whole of Ireland, for many, many years, was on the Awards Committee and responsible for the medals for every competition of the IPF, and also looked after the archives. Thank you Denis, you'll be missed.



On a personal note I was pleasantly surprised when I received the the Seamus Scullane IPF medal as the outgoing President, my term ran a little over the normal length of three years (three years and eight months to be precise) . My successor will be elected in at the next Council meeting which will be held on March 13th. However I truly enjoyed my term as President and will be ever grateful to my colleagues on Council who had the confidence in me and supported me throughout.

Until next time - stay safe,

Dominic Reddin
President
Irish Photographic Federation

What's Inside this Month?

  • Distinction Sittings Update
  • AV Championships
  • FIAP News
  • Notice re Club Insurance
  • Lockdown In An Irish Rural Community: The story behind the book, By Alan Mahon AIPF
  • Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020
  • Blast from the Past!

    Distinctions Update

    IMG_8013
    The next distinction sittings will be:

    • Licentiates - Sunday, 21st March
    • Associates and Fellowships - Saturday, 27th March
    Both sittings will be opened to a general audience. The online assessment we have already run show that the audience experience is very good and a great way of finding out what is required for successful panels. To get the link for the upcoming sittings, check out the website as from 1st March, looking under Distinctions.

    More Applications

    More assessment sittings will be arranged as more people apply. We will continue to accept applications for online assessment, and will arrange assessment sittings as we receive enough applications.

    If you are thinking of going for an online assessment, it is very important to remember that unmounted prints of your images will be essential to the assessing. The images should be printed to the standard required for the level you apply for, and printed on the quality of paper you would choose for a “physical” assessment. Full details of the prints and digital requirements will be sent to all applicants.

    Assessment Protocols - Repetition

    Regular members of assessment audiences will know that “repetition” in a panel may cause it to fail. This not a cut and dried issue, but we will shortly publish advice on the issue, for the benefit of applicants.



    Bob Morrison,
    IPF Distinctions Secretary
    22nd February 2021

    IPF AV Group News


    The Northern Ireland Photographic Association All Ireland Audio Visual Festival & Championship 2021 took place online on Saturday, 20th February 2021, judged by Howard Bagshaw, ARPS, MPAGB.

    The IPF AV Group inaugurated this All-Ireland competition some years ago. The virtual event was attended by 66, with some participants having two looking on! Previous judges from England and Wales were included in the attendance which also included folk from Shannon to Ballymena

    Congratulations to those from the Irish Photographic Federation who won awards.

    Award
    Name
    Sequence
    Commended
    Pat Collins (Celbridge Camera Club)
    Of Artists, Kings, Wives & Mistresses
    Commended
    Edwin Bailey (Shannon Camera Club)
    Frank
    Best Photo Harmony
    Lilian Webb (Celbridge Camera Club)
    Wild Lights
    Bronze Medal
    Rita Nolan (Celbridge Camera Club)
    Crossing the Liffey in Dublin
    Gold Medal
    Liam Haines (Offshoot Photographic Society)
    From Rags to Riches


    Lilian Webb
    IPF AV Co-ordinator

    FIAP News

    FIAP Distinctions
    We have now reached the end of the application period for this year’s distinctions. During March we will be double-checking all applications and preparing them to be sent to FIAP by the closing date of 30 March 2021.

    FIAP are guiding that it can take up to 3 months for them to complete their checks and to issue the certificates and pins.

    The FIAP Liaison Officer will be in contact when more is known.

    Please also be aware that FIAP have revised the requirements for all FIAP Distinctions and that these revised requirements will be effective from 01 January 2022.

    There was a special edition of the IPF Newsletter which contained all this information, and during March the IPF Website will be updated to reflect these revised requirements.

    FIAP Colour Biennial
    The Irish entry of 10 prints and 20 digital images has been selected and sent to France where the Biennial is being hosted.

    The judging is to take place at the end of March 2021, subject to Covid-19 restrictions.

    We will let you know the outcome when the results are announced.

    FIAP Nature Biennial Catalogue
    FIAP arranged the Nature Biennial early in 2020. The catalogue for this event is now available on the FIAP website at this link www.fiap.net/en/biennials/20th-fiap-nature-biennial-2020-Russia

    FIAP News
    The latest edition of the FIAP News is also available on the FIAP website at www.fiap.net/en/fiap-news

    Paul Stanley
    FIAP Liaison Officer for Ireland

    Notice - Public Liability Insurance

    It is a condition of membership of the IPF that all regions, clubs and special interest groups carry their own public liability insurance in order to protect the Club and its members in the event of a claim.

    It is important to be aware that public liability insurance is not confined to physical club meetings and outings. Every form of club activity must be backed up by the presence of a public liability policy. This includes online activities. Failure to carry insurance could leave the Principals being held personally liable in the event of a claim.

    Please also note that there should never be a reliance on the property owner's insurance cover, which, in the event of a claim, will likely only come into effect if the property owner can be proven to be negligent.

    Rory O’Connor
    IPF Treasurer

    Lockdown In An Irish Rural Community

    The story behind the book

    By Alan Mahon, AIPF
    Alan
    March the 27th 2020 will be a date that will stay in the minds of many people all over Ireland. This was the day that full lockdown began. It was implemented by the Irish government in an effort to try and curb the spread of the deadly virus, Covid-19.

    For me it was a situation made worse by the fact that I had been unemployed for about a year beforehand. In my ‘spare time’ I would often travel around County Wexford and beyond taking photographs - a hobby I developed since leaving school. Now, all of a sudden, I found myself out of work and nowhere to go. In order to keep myself sane I began to do a lot of walking, all within 2km of my home, as that was the limit anyone could travel when the lockdown began.
    Runner
    I would meet other people out walking, jogging or working in their gardens. I would often stop to have a chat with them and many would have interesting stories to tell of how this sudden change in lifestyle affected them. As I always carry my camera with me, I began taking photographs of them and writing about their situation. As time went on, the restrictions began to ease, which meant that I could travel that bit further.

    It wasn’t just people I photographed, but also events that took place during the lockdown such as outdoor bingo, street singing and even a French horn recital in a cornfield.

    It was interesting to see how people managed. For the most part everybody was in a good mood. We had exceptionally fine weather during April, May and June, which enabled people to get outdoors to walk, cycle, jog and even do some gardening. The coronavirus brought out a lot of good in people. They helped one another, started to talk to each other and got involved in community activities. One person said to me that they had the first real conversation with their neighbor in almost twenty years. It wasn’t that they didn’t get on but they were so busy with the hustle and bustle of normal life that they never found the time to stop and have a chat.

    With the fine weather we had, people would say that nature did better during the lockdown. I’m not so sure about that. I think it was more of a case that nature always thrived. It’s just that we never noticed it before as our lives, beforehand, were so busy with the distractions of modern living.
    Night sky

    The weeks rolled into months and it wasn’t long before I had quite a collection of photographs and stories compiled. With so many photographs taken I thought of the idea of creating a photo documentary on how the lockdown affected the people in my community. For years I always wanted to produce a book showcasing my photography but I never had the courage or confidence to do it. It’s funny how being out of work, nothing to do and a virus forces your hand.

    Even though the book shows how people adapted and helped one another, it also portrays the tough times that occurred in my community during lockdown. The closing of pubs, schools, guest houses and sport facilities was a big blow to us. I even documented a funeral during the lockdown. It was tough for families that found themselves bereaved. Families had to restrict numbers of their own relatives attending funerals. It was awful witnessing the bereaved being unable to hug and embrace each other.

    I was very pleased how the book turned out, especially with the quality of the printing. The support I got from people was amazing. I would like to acknowledge my wife, Geraldine, for pushing me into seeing out this wonderful project. To the people that are featured in the book, I would like to pay tribute to them for agreeing to be my ‘victims’.

    This is a hard cover book of 192 pages (10 x 10 inches). It is for sale in most book shops in Wexford town but, because of the lockdown, you have to restrict your travelling so getting to them is not possible at present and besides, most of these shops are closed. However, if you want to obtain a copy you can email me at mahonalanphotos@gmail.com or phone me at 087 6260889. The cost is €35, which incudes postage within Ireland (€40 to UK).

    I’m sure we will come out of all this strange time very soon but in the meantime stay safe and keep taking photos.
    Alan Mahon book pages 18 & 19

    Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020

    The President has signed the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017 into law.

    While photographers are not the intended target of this new legislation, the IPF is advising club members who engage in “People” photography to acquaint themselves with this new legislation.

    Link to the Act. http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2020/act/32/enacted/en/html

    Rory O’Connor
    IPF Treasurer

    Blast From the Past!

    Des Clinton has unearthed some old photographs of some council members and others at IPF events from the past. How time flies!
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    Irish Photographic Federation
    Editor: Ita Pentony LIPF