Events Calendar

This is a link to an events calendar I set up for WPS members. If I find anything else interesting I will add it to the calendar.

http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=kjrt4t571bku1fukip54ghspjk%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Europe/London

1st CPNO International Exhibition of Photography

This is the first time I’ve entered an exhibition in China and didn’t really know what to choose to send…so decided to hedge my bets and send a bit of variety.

My entry comprised “Heroes of the Ice” and “Ivy Impression” (two of my two most successful images ever) plus “Free Range” and “Rain & Sun”. Acceptance mark was 14 (max 22)…scores as follows…Heroes 12, Ivy, 13, Free Range 14, Between Rain 17….so it looks like the more conventional-looking images went down best in Macau.

These were the accepted ones…

Rain and Sun

Free Range

Power Boat Racing

Weather was fairly kind, but didn’t get any real action.

Theme for May

The theme for May is “minimalism”. The April theme “Dark” is ongoing…please bring images for both themes to the next meeting.

EFIAP Bombshell

Excuse me if I’m slightly hopping mad this morning! I opened my post!!! It doesn’t usually get much reaction from me….a dentist appointment, a club reply form and a bank statement might be typical of our morning post. But this morning….A BOMBSHELL!!!

Having achieved AFIAP last February (2008) along with Maureen and Mike from the group, I set about the next task of reaching AFIAP. By June last year, I had reached the required target number of accepted images and awards, new works, percentages outside UK and countries … and all I had to do was to wait until December 2010 to apply. That’s why my entries to salons have fallen lately – no need to spend the money!!!

EFIAP requirements were: After achieving AFIAP… 60 new acceptances and 3 new awards over another three year period. 15 new pieces of work must be used and work must be accepted in a minimum of 5 countries.

From today, everything changed…the letter was from Ian Platt of the PAGB…the new EFIAP requirements have been published and they’ve moved the goal posts!

The first thing that I saw was that you must now hold the AFIAP for only ONE year before applying for the E. New requirements for EFIAP take into account your AFIAP acceptances and awards as well, so there is no longer a line drawn under the AFIAP, which meant that you, in effect, started from scratch for the E. That sounded pretty good…but then I read on….

Here are the new regulations:

Total acceptances, including AFIAP acceptances = minimum 150
Different works (images) = minimum 50
Number of different salons = minimum 30 ( a salon is a competition with a different name, not the same salon in different years, so Smethwick, for example, counts as ONE salon, however many times you entered it, also circuits count as one salon, even though there may be 5 different competitions in the circuit).
Number of different countries = minimum 15
Number of awards = minimum 5

So, I did a laborious tot up of where I’m now up to. There was good news and there was bad news….I had more than enough acceptances, awards and different images. I only have 13 countries, so immediately I realised that I’ll have to enter a couple more countries….that’s not really a problem…should be able to pick up the odd acceptance in two more countries without too much problem.

but….and it was a very big but….

30 different salons? no way….counting the Austrian Supercircuit and the Holland Circuit each as one salon, I have only 16 out of 30 FIAP salons required. So, suddenly I feel I have to start all over again…I need 14 more salons!!! and that looks like a lot of money…

To add 10 extra countries is bad enough, but to introduce a minimum number of 30 different salons seems very unfair without giving at least a couple of years notice, especially when that hasn’t been a stipulation at all before.

So, whilst I’m licking my wounds this morning, take heed…if you are embarking on this course of AFIAP and EFIAP, get your work entered around a lot of different salons from the word “go”.

Now, where’s that salon list…must get started….14 more competitions to find….

Pooooooh, not fair.

Another attempt at a still life.

I wasn’t 100% happy with my previous attempt so thought I would have another go…

 

I think I am happy with this version. It took 12 layers to achieve the final effect.

(I couldn’t work out how to add this image onto the original thread!)

Counter-terrorist Powers

Hi All

Can I wish you all a happy eostre and don’t forget you can get some exciting (and dark)  photos in the rain.

I expect you all have heard rumours about the new powers that police have been given to stop and search under the recently introduced amendment to the Terrorism Act 2000.

It would also appear that some police and PCSOs are also listening to the same rumours rather than the law. I don’t want to repeat the scare stories here but rather try to clarify as far as I understand it (bearing in mind I am only a photographer not a legal expert).

Here is a link to the act in question: Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11). The section that is causing the problems is section 44 where (under subsections 1 and 2) constables in uniform have the right to stop and search any vehicle or person… That in itself is a terrifying power but, and this is what gets conveniently forgotten, in an authorised area and

“… only for the purpose of searching for articles of a kind which could be used in connection with terrorism…”

The authorisation must be given by someone with a rank of at least assistant chief constable and must be ratified by the Home Secretary within 48 hours. So if you are in a area that is unlikely to be a terrorist target it is unlikely that s44 will apply.

Notice also it is a power to stop and search there is no right to question – although it may be prudent to answer sensible questions.

Suspicion is not a requirement so if an officer suggests you have been acting suspiciously taking photographs then s43 applies not s44 where they have to show they have reasonable suspicion of (you) being a terrorist.

Under s44 or s43 the police do not have any power to delete any photos, in fact the powers are to find evidence of terrorism so deleting any photos would be destroying any evidence!

There is a very interesting Hansard Debate raised by Mr John Randle on the 1st April this year where it quite clearly states

“…section 44 does not prohibit the taking of photographs…”

“…the ability to take photographs in a public place is not subject to any set of rules or to statute. There are no legal restrictions on photography in a public place except where the picture is taken with the intent of committing a crime or terrorist act.”

Reference is also made to Google Street View which by its very existence invalidates almost any consideration that photographers are collecting information for terrorism when out with their cameras as this information is already in the public domain and readily available on the internet. It also illustrates the public’s right to photograph almost anything from a public place.

One other aspect of the new legislation is section 58A (which came into effect in February this year) on the collection of information which makes it an offence to elicit, attempt to elicit, publish or communicate information about an individual who is or has been a constable, or a member of the armed forces or intelligences services. This is often interpreted to mean that it is now illegal to photograph police and members of the armed forces.

Clarification has come from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Shahid Malik) and I quote

“…The important thing is that the photographs would have to be of a kind likely to provide practical assistance to terrorists, and the person taking or providing the photograph would have to have no reasonable excuse, such as responsible journalism, for taking it.

…

I want to be clear about this: the offence does not capture an innocent tourist taking a photograph of a police officer, or a journalist photographing police officers as part of his or her job. It does not criminalise the normal taking of photographs of the police. Police officers have the discretion to ask people not to take photographs for public safety or security reasons, but the taking of photographs in a public place is not subject to any rule or statute. There are no legal restrictions on photography in a public place, and there is no presumption of privacy for individuals in a public place.”

So get out there and photograph what you will, just be aware that until (and probably after) new guidelines are issued and cascaded to the constable on the beat you are likely to get occasionally harassed for having and using this terrible device know as a camera. As long as you know where you stand with regard to the law, even if certain others don’t, you have a chance of surviving the un-warranted (pun intended) intrusions with all but a little dignity still intact.

Mike

Processed Still Life

I’ve been experimenting with some photoshop layers to produce a ‘impressionist’ type effect.

What do you think ? I’m thinking of entering it as a print at Havant.

 

Blue Bottle with Flowers

..More results from Southport

As well as any excuse to pimp my images I thought you may be interested in some of my acceptances from Southport.

Scored 13

Scored 13

Scored 13

Also got 5 others accepted.

4. Blackpool Illuminations

5. White Cottages at Arnside

6. Bellvue Ace

7. Stag in Flight

8. 92203 Coming out of Tunnel.

Dark theme

First of my “dark theme” pictures…for comment please…

Out of Season