Digital Artists & Photography Associates Group

For whatever reason, some exhibitions are a tough nut to crack – GDPU 2013 proved so for DAPA this year, with many multi-award winning images not achieving acceptance marks.  Do we get disappointed?  Of course!   However,  it can also be fuel to the fire of inspiration, making us work harder to produce even higher quality images.  Can we do it?  Oh, yes we can!    So onto the stats… as a group we achieved 17 acceptances and 3 awards. Harry Wentworth was awarded a Gold Medal for The Foolishness of Youth.  Cherry Larcombe received a Silver Medal for Alone and Ross McKelvey a Selectors Award for Underground Glamour.

The Foolishness of Youth by Harry Wentworth

Alone by Cherry Larcombe

Underground Glamour by Ross McKelvey

A relatively new kid on the block, but you wouldn’t know it, as Robin Hood and its organisers run a tight ship.  An easy to use online application followed by speedy emailed results – well done.  Now onto the important bit, the DAPA results.   We managed a whopping 53 acceptances and 6 awards.  Well done to Roger Evans who was Highly Commended for Down and Dirty and Hang a Left, Roger was also awarded the Dave Bowen Selectors Awards for Marnie Wells-Nicholls.   Terry Donnelly was awarded the Kim Bowen Selectors Award for Over the Sticks.  Ross McKelvey was awarded a Gold Medal for One Black One, One White One.  John Powell was Highly Commended for Another Place.

One Black, One White by Ross McKelvey

Down and Dirty by Roger Evans

Hang a left by Roger Evans

Marnie Wells-Nicholls by Roger Evans

Over the Sticks by Terry Donelly

Another Place by John Powell

Putting together a panel of three images to achieve an acceptance can be time consuming, but when done well, is worth the effort.  There’s something special about viewing a group of images on a theme!

Three DAPA members entered this competition and achieved a total of 13 acceptances.  Alan Ranger was also awarded a Commended for his panel Posts.

Posts by Alan Ranger

Sometimes it takes the addition of new members to a group to make one think about the reality of a situation.  I’m saying this as some of us grumbled about only gaining a couple of acceptances, not receiving any awards… and were generally losing site of what a great achievement it is, considering the statistics, to gain a single acceptance –  let alone an award.  So thanks to new member Paul Dunmall for keeping us grounded.

Rushden has revealed the results and DAPA are happy to announce 37 acceptances and 6 awards.  Roger Evans was awarded a PAGB Gold for Marnie Wells Nicholls and a Highly Commended for Down and Out.   Ross McKelvey was awarded a BPE Ribbon for Fredau.   Jacqui Jay Grafton was awarded her first BPE Ribbon for Cook WILL be pleased!  John Powell was awarded a Highly Commended for Living in the Past.  Alan Ranger was awarded a Highly Commended for Bahhhhh. 

Marnie Wells Nicholls by Roger Evans

Bahhhhh by Alan Ranger

Down and Out by Roger Evans

Fredau by Ross McKelvey

Cook WILL be pleased! by Jacqui Jay Grafton

Living in the Past by John Powell

Each month DAPA members work towards differing distinctions within BPE.  Some however, cast their nets further afield and chase international exhibition awards.  A favourite on the FIAP circuit has always been the Great British Small Print Exhibition, a circuit of exhibitions that always prove good value for money due to the large amount of acceptances that may be acquired.  DAPA did particularly well this year.

Ross McKelvey achieved two FIAP Gold Medals for One White One, One Black One and Subway Muscle.  An Honorary Mention for Geraldo along with 23 acceptances.  Jacqui Jay Grafton achieved 16 acceptances and a Best of Show Gold Medal and a Circuit Award for  Meerkats in the Snow.  Terry Donnelly achieved 44 acceptances and a massive 9 awards - Over The Sticks  was awarded a Salon Award, an Honorary Mention and a Circuit Award.  Manhattan Showers  won and NCPF Ribbon and a PSA Gold Medal, Venom received an Honorary Mention, Losing My Religion was awarded an Honorary Mention and Tube Strangers a Circuit Award,  Southbank Smooch a Salon Chairman’s Award.  Cherry Larcombe received 17 acceptances, including a Chairman’s Circuit award for Lisianthus in Vase.   Harry Wentworth also received 19 acceptances.

Losing my religion by Terry Donnelly

One Black, One White by Ross McKelvey

Geraldo by Ross McKelvey

Venom by Terry Donnelly

Meerkats in the Snow by Jacqui Jay Grafton

Over the sticks by Terry Donelly

Subway Muscle by Ross McKelvey

Manhattan Showers by Terry Donnelly

Lisianthus in Vase by Cherry Larcombe

Southbank Smooch by Terry Donnelly

Tube Strangers by Terry Donnelly

Results are rolling through thick and fast at present… expectations are high – will it be disappointment, satisfaction, or a little of both?  It really is an emotional roller coaster ride, this game of entering images into competition.    That said, DAPA are happy to announce a tally of 37 acceptances and 4 awards.

Roger Evans was Commended for Hang a Left - and achieved his BPE4* with acceptances from this exhibition – well done Roger.  Terry Donnelly was awarded two BPE Ribbons for Southbank Smooch and Over the Sticks.  Ross McKelvey was awarded a PAGB Ribbon for Subway Muscle.

Hang a left by Roger Evans

Over the sticks by Terry Donelly

Southbank Smooch by Terry Donnelly

Subway Muscle by Ross McKelvey

We’re happy to announce that here at DAPA, after a couple of not so good sets of results, normal service has resumed!  A total of 7  members entered and achieved 59 acceptances and 6 awards.

John Powell was awarded  Highly Commended for Living in the Past, this award is also a special one for John as it enables him to apply for his ABPE distinction.  John says: ‘It took 16 months, 23 exhibitions, 112 acceptances (using 35 images), having gained the minimum 20 awards from 11 different images.  Hopefully I can carry on and perhaps progress to FBPE in 3 or 4 years from now.’

Ross McKelvey was awarded a Bronze in the monochrome section for Under the Weather.  Angela Adams was awarded a Commended for The Collector.    Jacqui Jay-Grafton was awarded a Commended for Meerkats in the Snow.   Terry Donelly did the double, with a Commended for Over the Sticks and a Selectors medal for I will not be caught.

Under the Weather by Ross McKelvey

Meerkats in the Snow by Jacqui Jay Grafton

Living in the Past by John Powell

Over the sticks by Terry Donelly

The Collector by Angela Adams

I will not be caught by Terry Donnelly

Southport was a tough exhibition to gain acceptances in for DAPA, with previous award-winners plus tried and tested images not making the grade - that said, our combined effort achieved 21 acceptances and 3 awarded images.  Harry Wentworth was awarded Second Place Monochrome for Charlie and the Queen. Roger Evans was awarded a PAGB Ribbon for Down and Out.  Ross McKelvey was awarded a Certificate for Captive Moments.

Chaarlie and the Queen by Harry Wentworth

Captive Moments by Ross McKelvey

Down and Out by Roger Evans

Results for 2013 are slowly filtering through.  DAPA didn’t do too badly at Clay Cross, managing a total of 28 acceptances for the group including awards for: John Powell who was Commended for Mud, Sweat and Glee.  Terry Donnelly was also Commended for Southbank Smooth.  Last but not least Ross McKelvey was Commended for Subway Muscle and Johnny Fee.

Mud Sweat and Glee by John Powell

Southbank Smooch by Terry Donnelly

Subway Muscle by Ross McKelvey

Johnny Fee by Ross McKelvey

New year, new start… and what a fantastic start!  DAPA Group are proud to announce a joint second placing in the PAGB GB Cup, with Smethwick Photographic Society on 189 points.  And also the Best Monochrome of the competition – awarded to Ross McKelvey for Seana.  We were both beaten fair and square by The Wigan 10 – who amassed a fabulous 200 points.  Well done Wigan you’ve set the bar high - we’ll be snapping at your heels next year!

Seana by Ross McKelvey (Score: 14)

Harvest of the skies by Harry Wentworth (Score: 14)

Over the sticks by Terry Donnelly (Score: 14)

Venom by Terry Donnelly (Score: 14)

The Girl Who Waited by Angela Adams (Score: 13)

Manhattan Showers by Terry Donnelly (Score: 13)

Lucy Garner Node 4 by Roger Evans (Score: 13)

James’ Blanket by Ross McKelvey (Score: 12)

Dogs of war by John Powell (Score: 12)

Contemplation by John Powell (Score: 12)

South Bank Smooch by Terry Donnelly (Score: 12)

Johnny Fee by Ross McKelvey (Score: 12)

Rough Justice by Ross McKelvey (Score: 12)

Andy Capp by John Powell (Score: 11)

Marnie Wells Nicholls by Roger Evans (Score: 11)