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Tony Leadbitter

We have received this sad news from the Vale.

It is with great sadness that I must inform you of the death yesterday of our most senior member, Tony Leadbitter. Tony has been a keen and active supporter of the club for longer than I have recollection. His devotion to photography has been clear for all to see. He gave great encouragement to all members no matter what their ability and areas of interest. I was one of many who benefited from that when I first joined. His devotion endured despite failing faculties in recent years.

Mike Baker has asked me to pass on these words:- “In the thirty odd years that I have lived in the area, Tony has been a constant photographic friend through much of that time and I am grateful for his introduction to the group of like minded individuals in the Vale Photographic Club, through which I have made many new friends.

He also worked as photographer for the Gem during his retirement, happy to use his skills for the good of the community.

Tony shared our passion for photography as long as was humanly possible as members will be well aware. In his time, he was also a judge and I remember his comments on my early work within the Club giving pointers for improving my work which I appreciated and valued as a bit of a camera ‘Rookie’ at the time.

He will be missed by all who knew him. Tony, R.I.P. ”

Gerald Harbour (Chairman, The Vale Photographic Club).

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His funeral will be held at Bridgend Crematorium on Friday Dec 4th at 1.45pm. Friends are invited to attend.

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Abertawe defend 2015 Ken Adams Memorial Trophy

Gower PS had its largest attendance in many years when it hosted the 29th Ken Adams Memorial Trophy on 4 November. Congratulations go to Abertawe who successfully retained the Trophy with 212 points, closely followed by Gower on 207 and Morriston on 202.

Many thanks to Ian Ledgard for judging so well and to everyone else from the three clubs who helped make it such a memorable evening.

The photo shows Ian Ledgard (on the left of photo) presenting the trophy to Mike Evans (Abertawe).

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AWPF Results, 8th November 2015

We in the WPF thought that 2014 had been a good year for our Distinction day, but it was surpassed by this year’s tremendous turnout and fabulous result.

Some excellent work was presented at Talbot Green Community Centre, which resulted in a higher pass rate than previous years. There were 24 entries, 22 in prints and 2 in PDIs. 19 AWPF awards were made all of these were print panels, resulting in a 79% success rate. Many congratulations to the successful candidates, who were:

  • John Bell – Mold CC – Capture The Moment, Oulton Park
  • Philip Chadwick – Llandudno PS – 36 Hours In Madurai India
  • Matthew Jones – Ebbw Vale CC – Creative Portraits
  • Susan Clark – Conway CC – Along and Around Route 66
  • Moira Evans – Swansea CC – Dragonflies & Damselflies
  • Gary Shinner – Trostre CC – The Science Park (Valencia)
  • Jennifer Ellis – Swansea CC – Portraits of Children
  • Derek Terry – Western Valley CC – A Day In The Life Of A Farrier
  • Adrian Lant – Gwynfa CC – Motor Sport Action
  • Angela Deroy-Jones – Gwent PS – Cathedral Interiors
  • Linda Bell – Mold CC – Floral Mosaic
  • David Bathard – Frome Selwood PS – Everyday People of Northern India
  • John Clark – Conway CC – Finding Clues To A Lifestyle
  • Johnnie Rogers – Gwent PS – Dyffryn House And Gardens
  • Terry Mills – Deudraeth CC – My Generation
  • Gareth Jenkins – Dwyfor – Welsh International Rugby
  • John Goff – Ar Agor PC – Sections of Abstract Buildings
  • Lynne Morris – Wigan 10 PA – Creative Visual Interpretation of Popular Music
  • Bill Grey – Morriston CC – Photographing Things of Little Consequence

Those who did not make it on this occasion missed by a very narrow margin and were strongly urged to try again next year.

Several successful candidates commented that the help and advice that they had received at the AWPF Workshop had made all the difference and recommended that anyone considering submitting a panel should attend a workshop first.

I should like to thank everyone who helped to make the day such a success, in particular, Vince Penticost & Eric Williams (Presentation) Guy Butler-Madden & Cliff Emery (Display), Mike Lewis (Catering), Ed Cloutman (Projection)and, of course, our judges, Nick Jenkins (Chairman), Margaret Collis, Jenny Hibbert, David Lingham and Brian Coleman.

I would add that the critique that was given by Nick as the Chairman representing the judges was very constructive, and a great help to anyone who was thinking of applying in the future.

Information on future WPF events relating to distinctions will be released in the New Year.

Many congratulations to all participants.

John Cooke ARPS AWPF DPAGB EFIAP/b (Distinctions Secretary).

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Inn Focus Win 2015 GB Trophy for Prints

Only two clubs represented the WPF in the inaugural GB Trophy for Prints held in Pontefract. They were Swansea and the Inn Focus Group.

It was a decent day for Swansea who finished in the midfield in both the Open and Nature sections of the competition. However, the Inn Focus Group managed to carry off the Open trophy with a convincing win by seven points from Chorley PS with Arden third a further three points back. Also, Ian Munro won the award for Best Colour Print – Humour for ‘The Irony of Ironing‘.

Some 52 Clubs entered the Open Competition and 30 entered the Nature Competition.

Well done to them!

Full results here:  Nature    Open

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Pixels 2015 Results – Llandudno pip Mold

Pixels 2015 took place at Talbot Green Community Centre on Saturday 7th November 2015 and was a tense and exciting affair. It was also a particularly good day for the North Wales Photographic Association (Cymdeithas Ffotograffig Gogledd Cymru) with two of the three trophies heading north.

Llandudno Photographic Society (75 points) were very narrow winners ahead of Mold Camera Club (also with 75 points). As per the rules of the competition the result was decided on countback. So Llandudno, with a score of 20 for one of their photographs, pipped Mold who had 19 as their highest scoring image.

The Llandudno photos were: Cobbled Street by Alan Williams (19), Chai Lady by Philip Chadwick (19), The Pensive Laundrymaid by Robert Jones (17) and Ethereal by Sharon Prenton-Jones (20). Click on the links to see the photographs.

Third place went to Carmarthen Photographic Society (74 points) who were also top placed WPF club. Well done to them. A further eight clubs finished on 73 points (Gwynfa, Port Talbot, Bridgend, Tenby, Western Valley, Rhondda, Gwent and Ebbw Vale).

The judge was Colin Harrison FRPS FIPF FBPE MFIAP MPAGB EFIAP/p EPSA from Cheltenham who gave an excellent critique of all the entries. He was concise, humerous and informative. The high standard of photography meant that his marks were generous with 8 scores of 20 and 25 of 19.

Colin also selected Pretty Maids All in a Row by Amanda Sims of Deudraeth Camera Club as Best Monochrome Photograph and Mysterious Encounter by Gwynfryn Jones of Gwynfa as Best Colour Photograph.

Gwynfa Camera Club would like to thank everyone who attended the competition and all the clubs who entered. They would especially like to thank Mold Camera Club for for making the long journey south to attend on the day. They so narrowly missed walking away with the trophy.

Click here to see the final Pixels 2015 score sheet.

Gwynfa wishes to thank the organising team and everyone who helped out on the day especially, Leigh Woolford, Rob Beynon, Lynda Beynon, Steve Littlewood, Heidi Stewart, Meg Davies, Meryl Natt, Ian Natt and Christine Langford for her help in publicising the even to the NWPA clubs. Huge thanks also to judge Colin Harrison, caterers ‘Lunchbox’, and all those who donated raffle prizes including Fotospeed, Permajet and Crystal Vision Locks and Trophies (who donated a lovely tankard and provided the beautiful new Pixels Trophies.

A slideshow of all the photographs entered can be seen below.

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A slideshow of other photos from the day can be seen below.

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Les Loosemore calls it a day

After many years of judging, Les Loosemore has decided to reduce his heavy schedule and give up judging for the WPF. He will be greatly missed by the many clubs he has attended over the years and we wish him all the best in his retirement. Les will continue presenting so please keep an eye on the List of Presenters for any new topics. Many thanks from all the WPF Exec for your years of service Les.

Please note: Les has confirmed that he will fulfil all outstanding Judging commitments.

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Trevor Aldrich

It is with great sadness that we have to report that Trevor Aldrich, a member of Gwynfa Camera Club, passed away as few days ago.

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Gwynfa Grab 2015 Bridgend 12-Way

This from Gareth Martin…

October 5th saw the second Bridgend 12 Way print battle sponsored by Fotospeed. The judge was Tony Byram ARPS, AWPF, DPAGB, EFIAP from Bristol,.

What a great night excellent turnout from all clubs and congratulations to Gwynfa for winning. It was very close right to the end.  They now join Ebbw Vale as winners of this Trophy.

The Bottom three clubs drop out every year and three new clubs take their place next year. There is a long waiting list to get into the battle but if your club is interested then drop me a line Gareth Martin cortez34@virginmedia.com

You can read a report and view the Gwynfa winning images plus the individual winners of two boxes of Fotospeed paper each on this link. 

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Harold John (Harry) Vagg

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Harry Vagg this week.

Harry was a well-known photographer in South Wales and an Ex-general Secretary of Western Valley Camera Club.

His funeral will take place on Thursday, 29 October 2015, with a service in St Paul’s Church, Newbridge, at 01:15 pm, followed by cremation at Gwent Crematorium, Croesyceiliog at 02:30pm.

Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, may be given to The Salvation Army and St David’s Foundation at the service.

Funeral Directors: Ellis Williams Funeral Directors, High Street, Newbridge, NP11 4FX.  Tel: 01495 243623

Jan Williams (WVCC Gen Sec/WPF Gen Sec)

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Jenny & Leigh go on the list

The WPF Executive would like to congratulate Leigh Woolford and Jenny Hibbert who have now been officially accepted as PAGB judges. This means the WPF now have seven accredited PAGB judges. Leigh and Jenny will join the other five judges in the next PAGB Handbook.

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