Digital Artists & Photography Associates Group

Advanced Photographer Magazine’s

Camera Club of the Year 2011

L-R: Alan Ranger, Paul Gallagher, Mike McNamee, Anne Adams, Cherry Larcombe, Will Cheung

Thursday 2^nd February saw four DAPA members and members from eight other camera clubs descend on Epson HQ in Hemel Hempstead for the live judging of the final of Advanced Photographer Magazines Camera Club of the Year 2011. During 2011 camera clubs across the UK battled to win one of 8 themed photography rounds to win a place in the final.  DAPA won the Landscape Round with member Alan Ranger’s hauntingly beautiful picture – Derwent Marina.

The event commenced with a short intro by magazine editor Will Cheung and was followed by lunch.  The day proper began at 1.30pm with a workshop run by renowned landscape photographer Paul Gallagher followed by a colour management lecture delivered by Mike McNamee, both from Aspect2i.  After an enthralling 2 hours, the live judging was minutes away.   Comfort breaks were had, tea and coffee was drunk and seats were taken.  Over the next 60  minutes, three judges (Paul, Mike and Will) scored and critiqued over 40 prints.   Judging over, another break and we were back in the room for the prize-giving.

As you already know… DAPA won (277 points from 300), with Great Notley second (260) and Conwy a close third (258).  DAPA would like to thank the magazine and all those concerned for a great day out.  We are honoured to have won, especially as this is our 10^th Anniversary Year.

The Foolishness of Youth by Harry Wentworth

Derwent Marina by Alan Ranger LRP

European Brown Hare by Anne Adams

Days of Despair by John Powell

Forgotten Scarf by Cherry Larcombe

22 acceptances and 2  Natural History awards for DAPA

All at DAPA have been reminded that you can’t take a single judging too seriously and must focus on the cumulative scores and acceptances of an image.  Why?  Although we’re proud to announce our acceptances and awards for this competition, there were many disappointments too, for members with mult-accepted and multi-awarded images not making the judges grade.  Onwards and upwards and congratulations to Paul Ashton who was awarded a Commended for Arctic Tern and Sand Eel and for Anne Adams who was awarded a Highly Commended for European Brown Hare.

Arctic Tern and Sand Eel by Paul Ashton

European Brown Hare by Anne Adams

Roger Evans – BPE2*

Whilst working in London in the 80s Roger was a keen sportsman:  ‘when not playing myself, I was photographing others,’ says Roger.  ‘I was lucky enough to photograph in many of the top venues – Crystal Palace, White Hart Lane, Henley, Hickstead …. Oh to have that access now! ‘

Roger’s first really successful photograph was not however a sports image:  ‘It was of Harrods. Shot on 25 asa Kodachrome slide film with a pull zoom.   I shot on a tripod at a two second exposure and pulled the zoom during the exposure. I ended up with a porcupine shaped Harrods building. I sold the image to them and they used it as the centrepiece of their Christmas advertising campaign.’   Rogers image of Harrods also made the front cover of their first magazine, was displayed on billboards  and on the underground.  However, this didn’t make Roger his fortune:  ‘I got the princely sum of £75 – I think we know who got the best end of that deal.’

Then came the wilderness years, with work and family taking precedence: ‘In 2006 I wanted to try out digital imagery and I’ve not looked back since. During the Christmas of 2007 I taught myself Photoshop and joined a local camera club with the aim of producing competition standard images.’ For the past two seasons Roger has achieved Photographer of the Year at Chester Photographic Society:   ‘Nobody there interested in taking the next steps to national and international level and although photography is quite often a solitary pursuit, it is nice to have company and support on route to ones goals.

Around this time last year I stumbled across DAPA via Flickr and realised that it was exactly what I needed. I set myself a modest goal in my first year of some form of qualification, be it BPE or FIAP and thankfully I’ve achieved both. Now that I’m hooked, my second year targets are DPAGB, EFIAP and BPE3 – a tough ask, but with the help and support of the group and some dedication on my part I think they’re attainable.’

I agree Roger, you’ve become an asset to DAPA and have the talent and hunger to go far.

Three awards and 27 acceptances for DAPA

DAPA members are working towards FIAP distinctions at different rates and within the confines of FIAP timescales.  Hence, we don’t always have a full compliment of members entering FIAP competitions at any one time.

That said, Smethwick has always been a favourite and a benchmark for the following year with regards high standards of accepted images.  So… we’re proud to announce that the five members who entered achieved 27 acceptances and three awards, Anne Adams was awarded a PSA Ribbon, and both Harry Wentworth and Paul Ashton recieved Highly Commended.

The Foolishness of Youth by Harry Wentworth

Four Spotted Chaser by Paul Ashton

European Brown Hare by Anne Adams

41 acceptances and 1 award

A huge thankyou to the organisers of the Guernsey Salon for publishing results so speedily and well done to solo judge Peter Paterson for completing the mammoth task of judging.  John Powell maintained the DAPA awards haul at the exhibition with Honours for Living in the past.

Living in the Past by John Powell

32 acceptances and 9 awards for DAPA Group

Many will know how nail-bitingly agonising waiting for exhibition results to arrive can be, especially when still delivered by the postman!   However, for one DAPA member it really was worth the wait.    We are delighted to announce that Roger Evans recieved 12 acceptances and 5 awards from this competition.  Roger was a little shell-shocked: ‘well the postman has arrived and I still can’t believe my results, I currently feel like I’ve drunk four double espressos… I might just make it off the ceiling before this evening’.

Cherry Larcombe recieved the Peter Cheetham Medal for Alone.  Phil Dodd recieved the Sandy Cleland Medal for Donna J.  Roger Evans recieved a PAGB Silver Medal for Over and Out, a Commended for Silver Studded Blues Mating and Get me out of here, a Ribbon for Charge, and Down and Dirty.  Robert Powell recieved a Commended for Moncarch Butterfly.  Angela Adams was awarded a Ribbon for The Spell Sill.

Alone by Cherry Larcombe

Donna J by Phil Dodd

Over and Out by Roger Evans

Two Silver Studded Blues Mating by Roger Evans

Get me out of here by Roger Evans

Charge by Roger Evans

Down and Dirty by Roger Evans

Monarch Butterfly by Robert Powell

The spell sill by Angela Adams

Five crowns in four years… is this a record?

Sincere congratulations to DAPA Member John Powell for achieving his BPE5* in just four years!

“I started entering BPE exhibitions in November 2007,” John tells me, “and gained my first BPE Crown Award for 25 acceptances in April 2008.”  By August of the same year John had swiftly gained his second crown (for 50 acceptances) and been bitten by the exhibition/competition bug.    “July 2009, almost a year later I gained my third crown for 100 acceptances, and my fourth crown followed in October 2010.”  By BPE4* photographers will have achieved 200 acceptances at national exhibition photography level.    Just one year later and John had his 5th crown with 303 acceptances, of those 54 achieved awards: ” I calculate that I’ve entered 65 exhibitions, with 61 different works to achieve my BPE5*,” says John.

John Powell BPE5*, EFIAP, DPAGB

Dingwall sees two members increase their BPE * rating

Dingwall has always been a rather difficult competition for some DAPA members to excel in.  This year hasn’t proved any different… however the group achieved, 41 acceptances and three awards.  Roger Evans was awarded an SPF Silver Medal – The Sandy Clelland Award for Down and Dirty, plus The Peter Patterson Award for St Pancras, London.  Angela Adams was awarded a Certificate of Merit and BPE Ribbon for The spell sill.

Our other good news is that acceptances from this competition have enabled two DAPA members to move forward with regards their BPE Crown Awards.  Very well done to Anne Adams who achieved her BPE2* and John Powell his BPE5*.

St Pancras, London by Roger Evans

Down and Dirty by Roger Evans

The spell sill by Angela Adams

It’s that time of year again, where we’re inundated with results in a single weekend – and a real rollercoaster ride it’s been too!  The subjectivity of judging art has really been highlighted with three sets of results announced in a such short succession, there have been pats on the back and commiserations, highs and lows and for DAPA an increase in acceptances and awards.

Twenty-five acceptances and nine awards:  Alan Ranger recieved a Silver Medal for Ullswater and a Highly Commended for Sea Neighbours.  Anne Adams recieved a Highly Commended for European Brown Hare.  Jean McDonald recieved a Highy Commended for Lone Tree.   Roger Evans recieved a Commended for Cockchafer. Keith Naylor recieved three Commendeds for Group Snooze, Broadlands and Herringfleet Mist. John Powell recieved two Commends for Living in the past and No Going Back.

Also a huge well done to Roger Evans who achieved his BPE1*.

Ullswater by Alan Ranger

Sea Neighbours by Alan Ranger

European Brown Hare by Anne Adams

Lone Tree by Jean McDonald

Cockchafer - Melolontha melolontha by Roger Evans

Group Snooze by Keith Naylor

Herringfleet Mist by Keith Naylor

Broadlands by Keith Naylor

Living in the past by John Powell

No going back by John Powell

Anne Adams and Roger Evans add to DAPAs awards haul for 2011

The results are just in!  This has proved a difficult competition to gain acceptances and awards, even for seasoned BPE entrants.  DAPA achieved 24 acceptances and 2 awards: Anne Adams achieved a Judges Award for European Brown Hare and Roger Evans a Highly Commended for Visions of Sail.

Visions of Sail by Roger Evans

European Brown Hare by Anne Adams