Photography News issue 17

Competitions

The first time Long-time photography expert Peter Phillips is one of four founding members of the new Avon Valley Society. Entries have opened for its first salon and we caught up with Peter, also the salon chairman, to find out how it’s progressing INTERVIEW

Interview by Megan Croft

ABOVE ‘Volcano’ triptych by Andy Beel FRPS of the Avon Valley Photographic Society. BELOW Image taken from Beel’s ‘Dust’ triptych.

What is it about the Avon Valley Salon that makes it worth entering? It’s different; photographers can enter their usual single image work and be creative with a storytelling triptych panel, perhaps including an already accepted photograph as one of the three images and so increasing the number of their acceptances. The entry fee (minimum £10) is also great value and our hope for acceptance levels is attractive, at 30%. The automated entry process is user-friendly too. There aremanynewsalons croppingupand the more established ones are counting increasing entry numbers. Do you think competitive club photography will continue to grow? I believe typical competitive club photography is in a rut and its contribution to furthering the art of photography is limited. Its ability to influence personal growth and development of individual photographers is, in many cases, constrained by a tendency for members to adopt a club style rather than develop an individual style. Salons, especially with their local detachment and international viewpoint, have much to offer in terms of developing individual styles and to support excellence in, and higher standards for, photography in general.

Entries for Avon Valley’s first salon opened in December. How’s it been going so far? Very well. Each salon committee member brings their own specific, unique skills and experience, such as IT, marketing, finance and planning, and we started ten months ahead of time to have the best chance of obtaining the essential patronages and recognitions. Salon-standard photographers aim for recognition and awards from three international organisations: La Federation Internationale de l’Art Photographique (FIAP); the Photographic Society of America (PSA); and The Royal Photographic Society (RPS). Images accepted in salons count towards increasing levels of recognition by FIAP and PSA. Though this is the first Avon Valley Salon we were pleased to be awarded FIAP, PSA and RPS patronage and recognition. We wanted to support our ambitions of creating a photographic society that is different, and will make a difference, from the usual photography society or club that exists. The aims of the society are to provide members with an active involvement in their own progress, through development plans and networked mentoring. Why did you decide to set up a photography salon in the first place?

The aims of the society are to providemembers with an active involvement in their ownprogress throughdevelopment plans andmentoring

Photography News | Issue 17