Stratford Photo GroupKeeping you up-to-date

June 2014

Issue 3

Introduction

What's on in June/July?Spring is almost over and summer will arrive soon, long days and short nights.

The group programme is very short with only the Annual General Meeting in the schedule on the 10thJune. Awards to the winners of the competitions during the 2013­2014 season will also be made. Pleasedo try to attend as it gives a good opportunity for members to voice their opinions on various subjects.

June is with us and it brings the longest day of the year. In Stratford­upon­Avon on the 21st the sun risesat 04:45 and sets at 21:31; 16 hours and 46 minutes to spend with your camera. This year it falls on aSaturday so there are excuses for not being out and about.

Photograph kindly contributed by Jenny Wren

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The Route to an International DistinctionIn the last few years several members have been pursuing the international distinctions provided by theworld body of photography FIAP. John Harding has achieved EFIAP and Malcolm Ranieri and DickPrior have this month been awarded the first level distinction of AFIAP. This article shows the routetaken to achieve this.

¨ There are around 30 Exhibitions each month all around the world with FIAP patronage. Allwith online entry and many with print sections.

¨ There will be at least 14 of these in the UK this year and we assist members who wish toenter any of these with advice and practical help.

¨ At the last count there are 49 different countries with FIAP exhibitions in 2014.

¨ There is a huge variety of sections to enter.

¨ Costs vary but many are cheaper than British Open Exhibitions

Distinctions

• There is a distinctions scheme based on acceptances in exhibitions.

• In the UK this is overseen by the PAGB http://www.thepagb.org.uk/fiap_1.htm

• The Liaison officer is Dave Coates ARPS, MPAGB, APAGB, EFIAP/p and all applicationsgo through him. Detailed information can be found on the PAGB website (The GB bodyaffiliated to FIAP). http://www.thepagb.org.uk/fiap_1.htm

• The distinctions are not without cost but it is a one off payment.

• The process is bureaucratic so be aware of the requirements and record keeping requiredbefore you set out. Also make sure you keep high­res versions of all your accepted picturesin a safe place along with a spreadsheet of all your acceptances.

AFIAP

¨ First level of distinction for FIAP

¨ You need 40 Acceptances with at least 15 different photographs. This success must havecome from at least 15 different salons with FIAP Patronage, and those salons must be fromat least 8 different countries. A Circuit counts as a single salon. 10% of pictures must beprints.

EFIAP

¨ Second level of distinction.

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¨ You will be required to have gained (including those used for your AFIAP award) at least 250acceptances with a total of at least 50 different photographs. This success must have comefrom at least 30 different salons with FIAP Patronage, and those salons must be from atleast 20 different countries. 10% of acceptances must be prints.

Strategies

• UK Based exhibitions are familiar and most have Print sections to satisfy the 10% print (4prints) requirement for AFIAP. At the same time England, Wales and Scotland count as 3different countries. There are 15 of them and this is where you should start on the trail forAFIAP.

Date Salon Country

Jan Port Talbot Internationa l WalesJan Bristol Salon EnglandFeb Southampton EnglandMarch Scottish Salon ScotlandMarch Great British Small Print Circuit England and WalesApril Cheltenham Salon EnglandMay Solway Small Print EnglandJune Edinburgh International ScotJuly South Devon EnglandJuly Midlands Salon EnglandAug RPS International Images for Screen EnglandAug Northern Counties International EnglandSept Swansea International WalesSept Tallaght Rep of IrelandNov Wrekin Salon EnglandDec Yorkshire Salon England

Most of these have print sections and quite a few will accept unmounted prints so postage isless and you can save return postage by not having them returned.

Other areas of the world to consider at this stage are the former Yugoslav Republicsof Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovenia which have nearly 70exhibitions between them. Also India has 21, Italy 18 and Turkey 17.

Getting the AFIAP award should not take more than 12 to 18 months with 15­30 Salons butapplications can only be made from November to March. EFIAP may take longer as you willneed a further 210 acceptances in further 12 different countries.

The full list of Salons can be found on http://patronages.fiap.net/salons.html .

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SPG have put on a very good show for this exhibition with 11 Awards including 2 best pictures and afurther 74 images accepted in the exhibition.

Open Colour Prints Awards

Looking out Malcolm ­ Ranieri 1stThe scullery window ­ Philip Welch CommendedView over the Avon ­ Philip Welch Commended

Accepted in the Exhibition

Ladies of the Samarkand bazaar ­ 1 Dick PriorLadies of the Samarkand bazaar 2 ­ Dick PriorI'll be gone when the morning comes ­ Dick PriorJuke box dreams ­ Dick PriorBallet shoes ­ Dick PriorParty girl ­ Dick Prior

Steam on the North York moors ­ Malcolm RanieriSteaming into Portmadog ­ Malcolm RanieriRiley in winter ­ Malcolm RanieriMeriden Street ­ Malcolm RanieriThe stop and go man ­ Malcolm Ranieri

Bird of prey ­ Fred ReeveBeached ­ Fred Reeve

Are you ready for a little magic? ­ Philip WelchLegend of the desert ­ Philip WelchA covering of frost ­ Philip WelchI'm starting to fade ­ Philip Welch

Open Monochrome Prints Awards

The Old Silk Road ­ Dick Prior Highly Commended

Accepted in the Exhibition

The end of days ­ Dick PriorHatton lock ­ Dick PriorKyrgyz nomad child ­ Dick PriorPenny arcade ­ Dick PriorSecrets and lies ­ Dick Prior

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Leicester and Leicester Photographic Society Open

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Big Daz ­ Malcolm RanieriThe wartime office ­ Malcolm RanieriManx tram at night ­ Malcolm RanieriShakespeare's church ­ Malcolm Ranieri

Queue in silence ­ Eric Wallbank

Caught napping ­ Philip WelchGriffon vulture ­ Philip Welch

Great Central Railways Prints

Awards

78019 at Woodhouse ­ Malcolm Ranieri Commended

Accepted in the Exhibition

Winter steam ­ Malcolm RanieriThe king arrives ­ Malcolm RanieriFreight mainline meet ­ Malcolm RanieriGoods train ­ Malcolm Ranieri

Open Sports Prints

Awards

Ruck ­ Dick Prior 1st

Horse driving trials – Through the water Ed Phillips Highly CommendedHorse driving trials – Dressage Ed Phillips Commended

Launch pad ­ Dick Prior Commended

Accepted in the Exhibition

Horse driving trials ­ “Cones” obstacle course Ed Phillips

Catch! ­ Dick PriorCounterattack ­ Dick PriorLineout ­ Dick PriorLineout 2 ­ Dick Prior

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Projected Images

Great Central Railways

Accepted in the Exhibition

777 departing Quorn ­ Malcolm Ranieri78019 Morning Passenger ­ Malcolm Ranieri9F departing Loughborough ­ Malcolm RanieriApproaching the Signals ­ Malcolm RanieriLast Train of the Day ­ Malcolm RanieriThe Rural Railway ­ Malcolm Ranieri

Open

Awards

Monks on the bridge at sunset ­ Eric Wallbank Commended

Old Gloucestershire Copper ­ Philip Welch Commended

Accepted in the Exhibition

Autumn's Riches ­ Ed PhillipsDragonfly Detail ­ Ed PhillipsEvening at the Marina ­ Ed PhillipsRuby­tailed Wasp ­ Ed PhillipsYellow­faced Bee ­ Ed Phillips

East German Freight ­ Malcolm RanieriSteam in the Rockies ­ Malcolm RanieriThe Boilermakers ­ Malcolm RanieriThe Collection ­ Malcolm RanieriThe Stationmaster ­ Malcolm RanieriWelsh Slate Train ­ Malcolm Ranieri

Storm Approach ­ Fred ReeveTranquilty ­ Fred ReeveWiddale Fell ­ Fred Reeve

After the sunset ­ Eric WallbankFire­eater, Tonga ­ Eric WallbankInle Lake Fisherman, Burma ­ Eric WallbankSouth Pacific lagoon ­ Eric WallbankWorship at Golden Rock ­ Eric Wallbank

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Derelict Bakery ­ Philip WelchRiver in the Morning Light ­ Philip WelchSurfing Dude ­ Philip WelchThe Sentry ­ Philip Welch

Sport

Accepted in the Exhibition

Arena Polo 01 ­ Ed PhillipsArena Polo 03 ­ Ed PhillipsDrag Racer ­ Ed PhillipsHill­climb Vintage Bugatti ­ Ed PhillipsTop­Fuel Dragster ­ Ed Phillips

Recent International Exhibitions

John Harding

Arctic Norway – 2 AcceptedLucknow India – 5 AcceptancesBridge 2014 Turkey – 3 AcceptancesEcological Truth (Serbia, Bosnia, Bulgaria) 15 Acceptances1st Impressions India – 2 AcceptancesMFVSZ Slovakia and Romania – 3 Acceptances

Dick Prior

Bridge 2014 Turkey 5 Acceptances and a PSA Silver Medal for ‘Ghost on the Stairs’.

Malcolm Ranieri

Bridge 2014 Turkey 2 AcceptancesSwiss Photo Artists 2014 7 AcceptancesNovi Sad 3rd International ‘Woman 2014’ 2 acceptancesEquinox 1 India 4 Acceptances

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Annual CupsPrints

Colour Beginners

1. Loxley Church Andrew Dow2. Glass Bridge David Howard3. Vroom Steve Frazer

Colour Advanced

1. Too Cold For Golf Heather Wood2. A Portrait of Decay Ed Phillips3. Old Gloucestershire Copper Phil WelchHC East German Freight Malcolm RanieriHC Great Uncle Herbert Dick PriorHC Hot Spring, Yellowstone Derek Wood

Creative Beginners

1. Ghost Flight David Howard2. Canal Walk Steve Frezer3. Please John Edwards

Creative Advanced

1. Morning Mist John Harding2. Homage To The Plant Illustrators Ed Phillips3. Volcanic Colours Heather WoodHC Titania Queen of The Fairies Dick PriorHC Maybe Should have Bought A Smaller Size Irene Jutton

Beginners Monochrome

1. Mistress Of The Tower David Howard2. Hypnosis Steve Frazer3. Zebras Spooked at the Waterhole Mary Kirkby

Advanced Monochrome

1. Looking Out Malcolm Ranieri2. Ruck Dick Prior3. Wolf Running Girl Dick PriorHC Uphill to Church Derek WoodHC Imperial Gas Cliff Armstrong

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Beginners Nature

1. Mating Lions Mary Kirkby2. Blue Steve Frazer3. Ring Tailed Lemur with Baby Mary KirkbyHC In The Rain Steve Frazer

Advanced Nature

1. Blue Mason Bee – Defensive Position Ed Phillips2. Long Keeled Apollo Dick Prior3. Natures Volcanic Valley – Maui Derek WoodHC Pale Tussock Moth Caterpillar Dick PriorHC Cheetah Observing Heather Wood

Projected Images

Beginners Colour

1. Boats Russ Thomas2. Dunes at Dawn Mary Kirkby3. Nijmegen Beach David HowardHC Sunset Fishing Trip Andrew DowHC There’s Always One Peter Gilbert

Advanced Colour

1. The Stop Go Man Malcolm Ranieri2. A moment of Concentration Phil Welch3. Gormleys Statues, Crosby Beach Heather WoodHC Traditional Entertainment Ed PhillipsHC Jinty Speeding Malcolm RanieriHC Giants Causway Rob Shaw

Beginners Creative

1. Lamborghini Steve Frazer2. Louvre Steve Frazer3. Colour Palett(e) Russ Thomas

Advanced Creative

1. Rusting Derek Wood2. Lady of Caerlaverock Dick Prior3. Featuring the Trombone John HardingHC Haunted Dick Prior

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Beginners Monochrome

1. Duelling Zebras Mary Kirkby2. Back Alley Russ Thomas3. Back in the Day Steve FrazerHC Evening Light Cookhill Peter Gilbert

Advanced Monochrome

1. Bentley Irene Jutton2. Elsie Irene Jutton3. Wolf Running Man Dick PriorHC Tarr Steps Derek WoodHC Approaching Metropole at 180mph Rob ShawHC Goods Train Malcolm RanieriHC Portrush Rob Shaw

Beginners Nature

1. Fledgling Thrush Steve Frazer2. Dancing Sifaka Mary Kirkby3. Cheetah Playing with Bone Mary Kirkby

Advanced Nature

1. Bluebells Irene Jutton2. Globular Springtail Drinking Ed Phillips3. Kyrgyz White Winged Snowfinch Dick PriorHC High brown Fritillary Tianchan Mountains Dick PriorHC Detail Southern Hawker Dragon Fly Ed Phillips

My favourite lensI have a very clear favourite lens – a Canon F2.8L IS 70­200 Mk II. It produces fantastically sharpimages even when wide open and the sharpness extends right to the edges of the image and when onoccasions I use automatic focus it is fast and accurate. As with all Canon L telephoto lenses it is wellbuilt and has a very reassuring solid feel to it. The four stop IS system makes it a great lens to produceHDR images without the use of a tripod. One has to be a really dedicated pixel peeper to see anychromatic aberration

To me the drawbacks with it are that the brokeh is not quite as good as the Mk I (but this is probably apurely personal opinion). As with all Canon long focal length lenses it sticks out like a sore thumb and itweighs a lot when one is carrying it all day.

Fair to say that it is rather expensive but in my opinion well worth the money.

Do you have a favourite lens and would you like to pen a few words about it? Pleasee let us know so thatit can be used in future editions.

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Malcolm receiving his AFIAP award from Stewart ­ unfortunately David Cameron was not able to bepresent to give the award.

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External Events June/July

Saturday June 7th/Sunday June 8th Steam Rally at Burford http://burfordcollectorsclub.co.uk/

Saturday June 7th/Sunday June 8th Shakespeare County Raceway Public Track weekend (2104California look drag day and UK outlaws)http://www.shakespearecountyraceway.com/eventdetails.asp?event=102

Saturday June14th/Sunday June 15th Summer Wolf Run ­ Leicestershire LE17 6DHhttp://www.thewolfrun.com/events/

Saturday June 20th/Sunday June 21st21st Annual Nostalgia Nationals at Shakespeare Countyhttp://www.shakespearecountyraceway.com/eventdetails.asp?event=97

Saturday June 20th Wartime in the Vale at Badseyhttp://www.ashdowncamp.webs.com/events.htm

Saturday June 28th Brindleyplace Dragonboat Festival ­ Birminghamhttp://www.brindleyplace.com/2014/03/dragonboat­festival­2014/

Saturday June 28th/Sunday June 29th Bloxham Steam Fair http://banburyrally.com/

Saturday June 28th/Sunday June 29th Severn Valley Railway ­ Step Back to the 1940’shttp://www.svr.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?a=597

Saturday June 28th/Sunday June 29th Prescott Hill Speed Climb ­ Bugatti’shttp://www.bugatti.co.uk/events/june2011.aspx

Sunday June 29th Ladies Day at Polo Club Southam

JULY

Saturday July 5th/Sunday July 6th Severn Valley Railway ­ Step back to the 1940’s

Saturday July 5th/Sunday July 6th Steam Rally at Evesham Bell Tower ­ Evesham Recreation Ground

Saturday July 5th/Sunday July 6th Miniature Steam Gathering at Tewkesburyhttp://www.msrvs.co.uk/steam­rally.html

Saturday July 5th/Sunday July 6th Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb ­ Reg Phillips Trophy Meeting onSaturday. Vintage and Post vintage on Sundayhttp://www.shelsley­walsh.co.uk/events/content.asp?ms=21&ei=223

Saturday July 12th Thrill on the Hill ­ Morgan Cars ­ at Shelsley Walsh Hill Climbhttp://shelsley­walsh.co.uk/events/content.asp?ms=21&ei=236

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Sunday July 13th Fine and Country Polo at Southam

Sunday July 13th Toddingtons GWR 7th Bus Rallyhttp://www.gwsr.com/planning­your­visit/2014­events­calendar/bus­rally.aspx

Saturday July 19th/Sunday July 20th Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb ­ Classic Nostalgia Weekend

Friday 25th/Saturday 26th/Sunday 27thJuly Heritage Diesel Weekend GWSR Toddingtonhttp://www.gwsr.com/planning­your­visit/2014­events­calendar/heritage­diesel­weekend.aspx

Sunday July 27th Classic Vehicle Day at Kidderminster of pre­war and Highley of Ford atthe visitor centre of Severn Valley Railwayhttp://www.svr.co.uk/SpecialEvents­View.aspx?id=52

For an unknown reason some of the above links do not work in this pdf file. If you copy the link into yourbrowser they do work. Sorry about that.

Leicester and Leicester Photographic Society Open Exhibition Open Colour Print winner by MalcolmRanieri