Category: PSA

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The Story of ‘Electric City’ by Paul James

We’ve received this from Paul James, via Gary Shinner,  the new PSA Country Membership Director for Wales. If you are interested in anything pertaining to the PSA, please feel free to contact Gary.

‘Electric City’ by Paul James AWPF, CPAGB, EPSA, BPE 1, L.APS/G

Every year, the Photographic Society of America (PSA) run a number of competitions for its members.  One of these is the Annual Landscape Competition.

I have entered the Portrait competition a number of times and done quite well up against stiff competition but this was the first time that I had entered the Landscape Competition.

I was pleased to learn that my image “Electric City” had been voted the winner in the popular vote category and would be featured in the June 2024 PSA Journal.  This award is given to the image that had most votes from PSA members.

I was particularly pleased that this image had done so well as I’ve worked out that it cost me a fortune to take. The image is of the Dubai skyline at night with the Burj Khalifa in the background. I had planned my trip to Dubai on a stop over on the way to Australia in 2023.  I’d seen images from this place before and a little research told me that the image would need to be taken from the roof terrace at The Shangri-La hotel in Dubai’s business district.  My wife Jackie and I were staying in Dubai for 10 days and in order to get the image I booked us in to the Shangri-La for 3 nights.  The view from the roof terrace didn’t disappoint and I managed to get plenty of images from there at different times of the day and at different angles.  This one that did so well at the PSA landscape competition has just enough colour left in the sky to compliment the vibrant orange, yellow and red lights from the cityscape.

I think that the slow shutter speed has managed to bring even more ‘life’ to the image which along with the colours, complements the feel of a bustling and vibrant city that is the match of any in the world for us cityscape photographers.

As an aside, the same image won various international salon awards as well as the Bridgend Camera Club Landscape DPI competition in 2024 which was judged by none other than Ian Ledgard the outgoing PSA Director for Wales.

So it was one of the most expensive images that I have taken but as it turns out, well worth the cost. It was taken on a Canon 5DS R. Settings: f7.1,  8s, ISO 100, focal length 16mm).

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Huge Thanks to Ian Ledgard

Massive thanks to Ian Ledgard EFIAP/P GMPSA/B GPU-Cr5 AWPF BPE1, for his service as CMD for the last 7 going on 8 years. [CMD = Photographic Society of America – Country Membership Director for Wales].

Ian has been a shining light, and a constant beacon on the International circuit, for many years now, and continues to strive and produce new photos and progress up the ladder as probably one of the most decorated Photographer in Wales. I have always found Ian to be very helpful, supportive, understanding and encouraging to my own photographic journey.

Even though Ian steps aside from his role as CMD, he is still there to be utilised as a source of inspiration and knowledge to us all.

I know he will only be too willing to offer me, as his successor any guidance that I require, but I’m sure he will be happy to help us all.

So lets give Ian BIG congratulations on a job well done and we all wish him continued photographic successes.

Gary Shinner
LRPS EFIAP/s MPSA2 AWPF BPSA GAPU A.APS
PSA Country Membership Director for Wales

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50th Smethwick Golden Jubilee International NOW OPEN

Closing date: 4th November 2024.

3 Print Sections: Open Colour, Open Monochrome & Nature. (Prints can be forwarded to Southampton International).
3 Projected Image Sections: Open Colour, Open Monochrome & Nature.

Over 200 Medals and Ribbons to be won with a 68-page A4 Colour Catalogue to each entrant. Patronage: PSA 2024-1416, FIAP 2024-537, GPU l240102, PAGB 2025-009

On-line entry system here. Rules here.
Low entry fees (only pay for each section entered).

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PSA News

In Wales there are just 16 individual members of which 12 are members of WPF clubs.  These members have entered many International Exhibitions and as a result gained  honours recognition offered by the PSA ROPA ( Recognition of Photographic Achievement) scheme which offers various levels each more challenging.

These members have gained many of these honours:-
8 at the first level of QPSA
10 at PPSA
5 at EPSA
2 at MPSA
1 at MPSA2
1 at GMPSA
1 at GMPSA/B
All the above predominantly for DPI’s.
1 at BPSA  which is an award for a panel of either prints or DPI.
That is a great achievement.

New Year is the time for making new resolutions so why not set yourselves the target of seeking PSA recognition.Some of you are seeking FIAP awards and many of the exhibitions entered will also have PSA recognition.

If you need help or guidance then I will be most happy to assist.

Ian Ledgard (PSA Membership Director, Wales).

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Bristol Salon – Entries Deadline Approaches

The 2024 Bristol Salon of Photography closing date for entries is 28 January 2024.

There are approximately 300 Medals and Ribbons to be awarded plus FIAP Blue Badge for Best Entrant. They also continue to support print workers with 3 Print and 3 Projected Image Sections: (Open Colour, Open Monochrome, Nature) and low entry fees and discounts for club/group entries.Email Salon Chairman at chairman@bristolsalon.co.uk for details

On-line entry system: www.bristolsalon.co.uk

More details: chairman@bristolsalon.co.uk

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PSA News from Ian Ledgard

Two Welsh PSA members have enjoyed great success in the Essence Circuit in India, a 5 judging circuit.

WPF member David Edwards gained 17 acceptances including a PSA Gold medal and three merit awards

Sharon Prenton-Jones from North Wales gained 21 acceptances with 3 PSA Gold medals anone Gold and three Silver Salon medals.

Both help to keep the profile of Welsh photography alive and kicking – congratulations to both photographers.

Ian Ledgard
PSA Membership Director Wales

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PSA News

PSA members in Wales have been quietly working away towards gaining PSA awards by entering PSA recognised Exhibitions.  This involves a pathway of star, galaxy and diamond acceptances. Thus far in 2023 the following members have achieved these awards listed below:-

Mike Bray  4 stars in Mono
David Edwards Galaxy 4 in Nature
Paul James  5 stars in Mono and Galaxies 2 and 3 in colour
Ian Ledgard  Galaxy 9 in Mono and Galaxy 7 in Photo Travel
Hazel Price  2 stars in colour
Kevin Robertson  First star in Photojournalism.

Well done everybody and keep working towards your next targets.

If WPF members are interested in pursuing PSA recognition then I will be happy to explain the system. For those who have FIAP acceptances these will qualify for PSA as long as that exhibition also had PSA recognition.

Ian Ledgard, GMPSA/b

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PSA News

Welsh photographers have achieved good results in the New Year Circuit in Serbia. PSA Member Neville Thomas had 16 acceptances and won a Bronze Medal and an HM. Ian Ledgard had 7 acceptances and was also awarded an HM.

Three other Welsh based photographers also had successes and might perhaps consider seeking PSA recognition of their achievements John Bell and Matthew Jones both collected 16 acceptances and Anthony Baggett 8. How about it folks?

Ian Ledgard
PSA Membersip Director, Wales

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PSA Success for Mike Bray

Many congratulations to Mike Bray of Port Talbot CC a new PSA member who had a very successful report from the Taj Mahal Circuit in India, where he collected 26 acceptances along the a Gold, silver and Bronze medals. A great result which I hope might encourage others to submit their work into PSA recognised salons.

Ian Ledgard, GMPSA, PSA Membership Director Wales & PSA Liasion Officer Wales

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