The 2025 Masters of Print Exhibition once again visits Wales. It is at Bedwellty House, Tredegar, NP22 3XN from 2nd August to 30th August.
The opening ceremony will be at 2pm on 2nd August.
Edinburgh International Print Salon Still Open for Entries
Click the image for more information…
Story of an Image
“Trees of many shapes” – by Ian Ledgard GMPSA/B
Award – Salon Gold – CMYK Circuit – Mono Section – Montenegro – October 2024. Camera Data: Panasonic DMC-G80, 1/100 sec, F13, ISO200
The Story
With my working life having been spent in Forestry Management it is no surprise that many of my images are of trees. This one was taken in late February 2024 whilst walking around the National Botanic Garden of Wales. On the skyline I spotted this group of trees and pressed the shutter.
I always shoot in RAW and the colour image was unremarkable so I turned to Nik Silver Efx Pro 3 seeking for a mono version. After trying various pre-set options I opted for this which after a little tweaking shows a grainy sky reminding me of early days with black and white film.
The image has gained a number of acceptances in International Exhibitions and I was delighted to be awarded a Salon Gold.
Ian Ledgard, GMPSA/b
PSA News
Here is the list of people whom have had continued successes from December 2024 to the end of March 2025.
- Ian Ledgard – Gold Medal / Merit awards x2 / Ribbon x1 & HM’s x 3
- Kev Robertson – Gold Medal x2 / Ribbon x 1 / Certificate x 1 & HM’s x 5
- Mike Bray – 1 Jury choice & 1 HM
- Rhodri Phillips – Jury choice x 1 / 1 Ribbon x1 / Certificate of Merit x1
- Paul James – Gold Medal x2 / HM’s x 6 also 2 star application approved in Photo journalism and also a Galaxy 4 level achieved in Open Colour division
- Gary Shinner – Jury choice x1 / Salon Diploma x1 & 1 HM
Congratulations to all members listed above, who reported back to me with their recent awards, medals and other successes in the PSA affiliated salons. If there are any other members of the PSA have some successes – then please e-mail me directly – gary_shinnerlrps@sky.com (Note the underscore)
Anyone out there wants to find out any more about the PSA, please again contact me, I’ll do my best to help you. However you can go to their website here.
Good luck to everyone with their photographic journeys
Gary Shinner MPSA2 BPSA – CMD for Wales
2025 Midland Salon Open for Entries
The online entry system is now open for the 65th Midland Print & Projected Image Salon.
You can enter here and the the rules can be seen here. The closing date is 23rd June 2025.
It is organised by the Midland Counties Photographic Federation with FIAP, GPU & PAGB patronage and has over 200 awards.
There are 6 sections: open monochrome prints, open colour prints, open colour projected images, open monochrome projected images, nature projected images and scapes projected images.
Low entry fees – only pay for sections you enter. A4 64 page colour catalogue to all entrants.
PSA – The Story of an Image
“And They’re Off!!” – PSA Gold – Rhodri Phillips EPSA – Triumph Circuit – 2024-1397.
I had set myself a goal way back in BC (Before Covid) and that was to get my QPSA. Thanks to the support of Gary and Mike I managed it…. but was bitten by the bug. This meant that I went on, through 4 and 5 Stars to PPSA and finally my EPSA.
Having reached these milestones, and the AFIAP along the way, I fell into a bit of a lull, not entering any Competitions and in truth not taking many photographs at all. However earlier this summer I caught the bug again and started to get out and about again. In August I even started entering Salons and Circuits again, using mostly new images, I had no great hopes but thought that maybe I would eventually enter the rarified atmosphere of the Galaxies!!
One of the competitions I entered was the Triumph Circuit, PSA 2024-1397, finding myself short of recent images for the Journalism section I decided to look back at images I had never used. One such was, “And they’re Off” which was one of a series I took at the Richard Burton 10K event in 2023. I had been taking images at this even regularly and had managed to get many acceptances with some.
The winning image was taken on my Nikon Z6-2 with my Z27-70 Nikkor lens. I shot at 1/1000, f16 with a high ISO, as it was a dull day. This was then processed in LR and resized in PS.
I was looking to capture that first second as the gun went off and they were all setting their watches! I was also trying to capture the two previous race winners, Dewi and Olivia as they set off to defend their titles.
I was pleasantly surprised and very happy for the image to gain a PSA gold, on its first outing! As a side note in that particular Circuit, it gained a PSA Gold in one salon and was not even accepted in another!
Rhodri
PSA News from Gary Shinner
Here is the list of people whom have had continued successes from September to the end of November.
- Paul James 1 Gold Medal / 1 Ribbon / 2 Jury choice awards & 6 HM’s
- Angela Bonner 1 Silver Medal
- Kev Robertson I gold Medal
- Ian Ledgard 1 Gold Medal / 1 Silver Medal / 1 Diploma / 2 Ribbons and 2 HM’s
- Mike Bray 1 HM
- David Edwards – Has gained his MPSA
- Rhodri Phillips Has gained his EPSA certificate and pin in November.
Congratulations to all members listed above, who reported back to me with their recent awards, medals and other successes in the PSA affiliated salons. If there are any other members of the PSA have some successes – then please e-mail me directly – gary_shinnerlrps@sky.com (Note the underscore)
Anyone out there wants to find out any more about the PSA, please again contact me, I’ll do my best to help you. However you can go to their website: https://psa-photo.org/
Good luck to everyone with their photographic journeys.
Gary Shinner MPSA2 BPSA
CMD for Wales
PSA News from Gary Shinner
“A Sporting Win” (by Kev Robertson PPSA EFIAP BPE1 APWF)
I bought my first camera which was second hand in 1995 and it was it was a Minolta digital and then I started taking the usual holiday snaps, and for the next few years that was all I used the camera for.
WPF Success at PAGB APM
Four WPF Photographers were successful at the recent PAGM Awards for Photographic Merit.
Congratulations go to Dave Brassey and Annette O’Connell, both of Gwent CC, who have attained the distinction of CPAGB (Credit award of the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain) and also to Peter Wyles and Lin Wyles, both of Monmouth PC who achieved thei DPAGB (Distinction award of the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain).
Below are Dave & Annette pictured with President of the PAGB, Daphne Hanson DPAGB HonPAGB.
In the photo below, Lin is to the right of Daphne Hanson and Peter is above Daphne’s head.
PSA News from Gary Shinner
Here is some information of Welsh photographers gaining notable successes in the last few months. The list is in no particular order.
Sian Davies EPSA – Achieved EPSA (E = Excellences) and two awards.
Susan Rees – Achieved her first Star in Colour Division.
Mike Bray EPSA – Achieved 1 award
Tony Grubb QPSA – Achieved a Gold Medal & 1 Award.
Paul James EPSA – Achieved 2 Gold Medals and 7 awards.
Ian Ledgard GMPSA/B – Achieved a Gold medal, a Silver medal, 2 bronze Medals and 7 awards.
Andy Polakowski – Achieved 2 Gold Medals, a silver medal and 3 awards.
Kev Robertson PPSA – Achieved 6 gold medals
Gary Shinner MPSA2 BPSA – Achieved Galaxy colour 8 level, 1 Gold & 1 Silver Medal.
Congratulations to all members listed above, who reported back to me with their recent awards, medals and other successes in the PSA affiliated salons. If there are any other members of the PSA have some successes – then please e-mail me directly – gary_shinnerlrps@sky.com (Note the underscore)
Anyone out there wants to find out any more about the PSA, please again contact me, I’ll do my best to help you. However you can go to their website: https://psa-photo.org/
Good luck to everyone with their photographic journey’s
Gary Shinner MPSA2 BPSA (CMD for Wales)