Photography News | Issue 64 | photographynews.co.uk
Readers’ profiles 54
By image eight I knew I had a very good chance of passing, and by image nine I knew for sure
losing confidence in an image that yesterday you loved but today you hate, and going back and forth – finding some miniscule reason to do yet another reprint and then going back to the first one anyway. Once the entry was in, I could stop thinking about it and just hope for the best. “As a second-timer you get a discount on your entry fee – which I booked without checking the location of the adjudication. I was a bit taken back when I discovered it was 160 miles away in Pontefract, Yorkshire, and prints had to be handed in no later than 9.30am. “I went up a day early and did a dummy run that night to the location, which was Pontefract Town Hall, with parking a bit of a walk away. It was dark, rush hour, and seemed a nightmare journey. “In the morning I over-compensated and got up stupid early, and off I went. In daylight and with no traffic it turned out to be an absolute breeze of a journey, so I arrived way too early! It was fascinating, though, sitting in the town square, spotting dozens of other entrants beginning to walk up the hill to the town hall with their tell-tale black photographic folders. “The staff waiting for us at the town hall were very organised and were super- kind and friendly, knowing many of us had travelled some way and were perhaps a little apprehensive. “The showing, title reading, judging and smooth transition of everyone’s prints back to their cases was really quite remarkable. The hosting by Rod Wheelan was great, treating us all with respect whilst managing
to make us laugh out loud, mostly at ourselves for going to all this trouble in the first place! “The atmosphere, therefore, once we had all settled into our chairs was relaxed, jovial and friendly. All the images are anonymous to the judges and are staggered with the other entries – this meant waiting for maybe 30 or 40 images to be scored before the first one of mine came out. “I got a good start with 25 for my first image (20 being a pass) and so began the long day of watching another 30 or 40 images being judged, comparing them to my own, guessing what I may get for the next one, and then suddenly another of mine would pop up. It always seemed that the length of time from my image coming up, the title being read and hearing the score was much, much longer than everyone else’s. But then holding your breath seems to slow time down. By image eight I knew I had a very good chance of passing, and by image nine I knew for sure. “Luckily, both myself and the lady I sat next to both passed. In fact, we had identical scores and were able to pat each other on the back. “There was another lady I spoke to before judging, who had brought along her own and two other club members’ entries who could not attend on the day but would be waiting for her to call. The worst case scenario happened in that she and one other passed and the other failed. A tricky phone call, I imagine. “We had to wait till the very end for badges, photos and so forth. The return of
our images was necessarily a bit of an admin procedure, but a very helpful lady allowed me to get mine first so I could begin the four- hour journey home. “I don’t have any thoughts just yet on taking the next step to the DPAGB, but I may try putting a panel together for an RPS distinction. “I would definitely encourage anyone thinking about entering to attend an advisory workshop and take heed of the friendly advice, and check the location of the adjudication. Trust your first instinct and definitely attend on the day if at all possible to receive your round of applause and your little blue badge.” Above Connie Fitzgerald agonised over her picture selection, but the effort paid off with her second and successful attempt at the CPAGB distinction
Calling photographers everywhere
PN' s Hall of Fame feature is to recoginise and celebrate achievement – and to tell the world all about it. So if you’ve recently gained a photographic distinction (RPS, PAGB, FIAP etc); won a major imaging competition; overcome adversity to achieve something photographically brilliant; or had your first (or 50th!) solo exhibition, we’d love to hear from you. Please send brief details (100 words and a couple of supporting low res JPEGs) of your achievement in the first instance to willcheung@bright-publishing.com, with Hall of Fame in the subject box.
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