A series of e-books showing the recent succesful AWPF panels can now be seen here.
The same panels and those from previous years can also be seen in traditional gallery format here.
Congratulations once more to all the succesful applicants.
Bridgend Beats the Best
Huge congratulations to Bridgend Bridgend & District CC who won the recent Cwm Rhondda Battle (organised by Rhondda CC) with a total of 76 points. It is great to see a WPF Club finishing ahead of clubs like Smethwick, Bristol, Catchlight, Carluke, Edinburgh and the like.
Joint second were Dublin and Smethwick with 75. Joint fouth on 74 were another WPF Club, Gwynfa along with Bristol and Johannesburg. The final scores can be seen here and for anyone who missed the battle, it can be viewed on Youtube.
The judge was Margaret Salisbury FRPS, MFIAP, FIPF, FSITTP, FSINWP, AWPF, APAGB.
The clubs involved were: Sheffield PS, Camera Club Johannesburg South Africa, Baglan Bay, Dublin CC, Western Valley CC, Hay On Wye CC, Bridgend CC, Visions PS. Aberdeen, Bromsgrove PS, Edinburgh PS, Catchlight (Belfast), Smethwick PS, Exmouth PG, Hermanus PS South Africa, Rhondda CC, Dumfries CC, Tenby CC, Gwynfa CC, Afan Nedd, Bristol CC, Aberdare CC and Carluke CC.
My Journey to AWPF
My Journey to a Successful AWPF Panel – Jan Wilson-Chalon AWPF.
In the first of a series of articles, our AWPF coordinator Paul James asks photographers who were successful in achieving the AWPF distintion to tell us about their journey towards creating their successful panel.
First up is Jan Wilson-Chalon AWPF who successfully submtted the two panels you can see below for consideration on the 2024 Assessment Day.
You can read about her journey here.
If you’re interested in pursuing an AWPF distinction, you can find more information here.
Welsh Photographic Federation Associate Assessment Day
The 2024 AWPF Assessment took place on 3rd November at the Talbot Green Community Centre, and it was heartening to see so many attendees from across the country supporting this significant event in Welsh photography. I extend my sincere thanks to everyone who came to witness the assessment process and to those who contributed to its success.
I am pleased to report that this year’s AWPF assessment had a total of 18 candidates: 16 submitted printed panels and 2 submitted digital panels. It was inspiring to see the quality of work presented, with 11 out of 16 print submissions meeting the rigorous standards required for the award, resulting in a 69% success rate in the print category. While the digital submissions were not successful this year, the overall success rate for the assessment was 61%.
Congratulations to the following candidates who achieved the AWPF distinction for 2024:
| Candidate | Club | Theme |
| Elisa Best | Monmouth | Big Cats of South Africa |
| Allan Pick | Afan Nedd | American Classics |
| John Nash | Cleethorpes |
Lincolnshire Insects |
| Liz Clayton | Morriston | Dead Structured |
| Pat Frewin | Colchester | Moments in Time |
| Ken Jacob | Abergavenny | Bisking – Street Musicians |
| Jan Wilson-Chalon (1) | Mold | Backlighting of Wildlife |
| Roger Harrison | Barry | Churches & Cathedrals of England & Wales |
| Steve Greening | Maesycwmmer | Nature |
| Jan Wilson-Chalon (2) | Mold | Birds of Prey |
| Melvyn Frewin | Colchester | Intimate Landscapes |
Assessors
The day was led by a panel of experienced assessors who brought their expertise, fairness, and insightful feedback to each candidate. We are grateful to:
- Leigh Woolford, AWPF DPAGB EFIAP BPE4 HonFWPF (Chairman)
- Jenny Hibbert, MPAGB AWPF EFIAP/G BPE3
- Gary Shinner, LRPS EFIAP/s MPSA2 AWPF BPSA GAPU A.APS CMD for PSA in Wales
- Peter Brisley, DPAGB EFIAP BPE2
- Sue O’Connell, DPAGB EFIAP/d3 ABPE MPSA ABPE
Each assessor took the time to provide thoughtful critiques, ensuring candidates understood the high standards of the AWPF distinction and offering guidance for continued growth.
Acknowledgements
This event’s success relied on the dedication of numerous volunteers who generously contributed their time and effort. Special thanks go to:
- WPF President Ron Lines for opening and closing the proceedings.
- Cliff Emery for providing display stands.
- Dave Condon and Dave Lewis for transporting equipment.
- Dave Condon, Del Jones, and Guy Butler-Madden for setting up and organizing the prints for display.
- Cliff Emery and Peter Young for managing the laptop and projector.
- Martin Smith, who provided refreshments throughout the day, and to Mrs. Smith for the wonderful cakes enjoyed by assessors and helpers.
- Guy Butler-Madden for serving as the official photographer for the event.
Mentorship and Support
This year, the high quality and the success rate is a testament not only to the hard work of the candidates but also to the invaluable mentorship they received. I would like to extend my gratitude to mentors Peter Young, Dave Condon, Julie Morgan, Suzanne Slee, and Les Loosemore, whose guidance played a crucial role in the success of many candidates. Their encouragement and constructive advice reflect the supportive spirit of the WPF community.
To those candidates who did not achieve the distinction this year, we commend you on your efforts and urge you to continue pursuing your photographic journey. The assessors provided valuable feedback, and we hope it will serve as inspiration for future submissions.
In closing, the 2024 AWPF Assessment Day was a resounding success, showcasing the talent, dedication, and collaborative spirit that define the Welsh Photographic Federation. Thank you to everyone involved in making this event a memorable one. Your contributions help uphold the high standards of the AWPF distinction and inspire the wider photographic community.
Paul James, AWPF
Arena Seminar 2025
The 2025 Arena Seminar will be held in Bournemouth in March.
The event has been running for over 25 years and has a reputation of obtaining unique speakers that clubs and societies are not always able to get or afford. Click here for more details.
Jenny Hibbert Steps Down
Dear Member,
It is with huge regret that Jenny has decided to step down from her role as President of the WPF and from the WPF Executive Committee. Jenny has some personal health issues and feels if she is to manage and recover from these, she needs to relinquish her WPF responsibilities to ensure she can concentrate on getting well.
The Executive Committee fully appreciate Jenny’s decision and very sadly accept her resignation. Jenny has given many years to the WPF in her various roles on the Executive Committee and in particular the last couple of years when as Past President, Jenny stepped into the breach when Sue had to step down from the Presidents role and then agreed to complete another year whilst our Vice President Ron Lines found his feet. The Executive Committee can’t thank Jenny enough and are hugely appreciative of her time and commitment to the WPF. She leaves a huge void in the team and will be greatly missed.
Ron Lines as Vice President will take up the reigns as President until the point of the AGM and David Del Jones has agreed to fully support Ron as Interim Vice President subject to his nomination at the AGM in March.
On behalf of the WPF Executive, and the Membership, we would like to congratulate and sincerely thank Jenny for her many years of service and commitment to the WPF and convey our very best wishes for a quick and speedy recovery.
Very best wishes Jenny from all your Friends across the WPF.
A Convention Thank You!
A thank you to all who supported the WPF weekend at the Heronston in Bridgend.
Riccardo Beghini with superb atmospheric prints from the heritage coast and surrounding areas (the feel of a photo).
Nick Upton with an encyclopaedic knowledge of Wildlife re-introductions (who could forget the Cranes’s parents?)
Paul Sanders the boy who failed at everything including photography yet became photo editor of The Times before leaving the rat-race to become his own man.
Simon Brinkworth who socked it to us with the history of medical imaging and NHS organisation then went on to hold us riveted with medical prints. (everybody checked their moles?)
Thanks to Jenny Hibbert WPF President for the formal opening and welcome to the event and to Ron Lines Vice President of the WPF for the formal closing address. Jenny also expressed our appreciation of the work of Nick and Ron that of Simon. Leigh Woolford of Gwynfa and Julie Morgan of Abergavenny thanked Riccardo and Paul respectively.
The range and excellence of the presentations has been captured through phrases like “you could hear a pin drop” and “and merited a standing ovation”.
Thanks to the working team of Ed Cloutman (projection and computing), Les Loosemore (equipment and especially for use of his illuminated stands that do so much to show prints to the best advantage), Gareth Martin (event publicity and advertising), Dave Condon (ticketing, badging and finance), Pat Hollis (raffle organisation and ticketing), Martin Smith (also raffle and event photos). Dave Lewis (coordination).
Many thanks to all executive members who so generously donated raffle prizes (you know who you are). Similarly, thanks to all who entered a print for the WPF Convention Trophy – the winner of the shield was Pat Hollis with “End of Summer”; selection was by Paul Sanders.
My thanks also to Trevor Waller and Jeff Howe of Cardiff together with Huw Edwards of Aberdare for providing consultancy on convention issues. As ever, Fotospeed and PhotoProlab (Cardiff) supported with discounts on their products and services. Fotospeed (Tim Jones) together with Les Loosemore held an “after-hours” print surgery. The Heronston also kindly provided two spa vouchers for our raffle.
Last but most important our thanks to you who make it all worthwhile and possible through your attendance and appreciation of the event, of the speakers and the work behind the scenes.
We hope to see you again next year at the 53rd WPF weekend event!
Congratulations to Pat Hollis
At last weekend’s WPF Convention, the winner of the delegates Print Trophy was Pat Hollis of Barry CC.
Thanks all the delegates who entered their prints which were judged by Paul Sanders. Pat & Paul are pictured below.
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).
Masters of Print Exhibition Opens
The 7th PAGB Masters of Print Exhibition is now open at Bedwellty House and Park. It is the first time the exhibition has visited Wales.
Address: Morgan Street, Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent, NP22 3XN.
Closing date: 17th September.
Opening Hours: Bedwellty House is open daily from 9.30am – 4.30pm.
The Orchid House Tea Room is open daily from 10.30am – 4.00pm.
Parking: Please note that only disabled parking is available on-site. Public, free parking can be located on Morgan Street, before the main gates of Bedwellty House and Park, and on Stable Lane. More information here.
We urge you to pay a visit and enjoy the very best of British Club Photography. You can also enjoy the Cafe & Gardens of this beautiful venue.
