Undeb Ffotograffig Cymru
Congratulations on running Wigan 10 so close. It’s great to see a WPF club up there with the top clubs. It won’t be long before a Welsh club is the top of the tree.
Your club has again done us proud and on behalf of myself and the WPF. Many many thanks and I look forward to you and your members reaching the pinnacle of the best of British photography.
Once congratulations on your achievements.
Vince Penticost AWPF,
President of the WPF.
Alan Shepherd of Gwynfa Camera Club not only had 5 out of 9 prints accepted in the 2015 Cotswold Salon, he also had a highly commended and a Silver Medal for ‘Steelworks Reflection. Well done Alan.
The PAGB National PDI Championships at Warwick very nearly saw a first win for a Welsh club with the Inn Focus Group finishing the final round tied on 243 points with Wigan 10, three points ahead of the third placed club, Dumfries.
For a short while we thought they had won but the otherwise flawless team behind the scenes projected one incorrect image from Wigan 10 in the final round. The re-projection of the correct image got one more point than the one it replaced. This saw them move from 242 to 243. All above board or course but tantalising nonetheless.
Locked together the two teams headed in to a nail-biting tie break of five new photographs from five different photographers. The tension built – both clubs scored 13 (from 15) with their first image, then 12 each, then 12 each once more. It was the fourth image that saw Wigan sneak ahead 13 to 12. Ten each in the next round sealed the Wigan 10 win by a single point. Well done to them.
When presenting the Silver medal to Ian Munro of Inn Focus, Roy Thomas, former President of the WPF and now President of the PAGB, expressed his pride at their achievement. They also received quite an ovation for coming so close. Indeed it is probably fair to say that, in the great British underdog tradition, everyone other than Wigan 10 was rooting for Inn Focus. However, the team from up t’North proved to be a tough nut to crack yet again. They are multiple winners of this trophy which makes the Inn Focus effort all the more worthy.
The other WPF club, Gwynfa, had a midfield day but thoroughly enjoyed seeing they fellow WPF friends do so well and the Welsh contingent created quite an atmosphere.
Here are the full results and the awards.
Here are the full results for the FIAP Biennial held in Smethwick.
Whilst Wales only managed 13th place congratulations go to both Dave Edwards with his Adelie Penguins  & Alan Jenkinson with his Early Tarn, both of whom were awarded FIAP Honourable Mentions for their prints.
We’ve heard that the Inn Focus Group won the Ace of Prints competition from Tenby (second) and Bridgend (third).
Final Round      Round One
Congratulations to Inn Focus once again. As they were automatically invited back due to their performance last year the WPF will be represented by three clubs (Inn Focus, Bridgend and Tenby) at this year’s National Print Championships to be held at Chatfield Theatre, 164 Whitby Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 6EA ON 25TH October 2015.
Ian Ledgard of Towy Valley CC has just gained his Four Crowns award, UPI-Cr4 from UPI.
United Photographers International sponsor many international salons along with PSA and FIAP.
Further details on the UPI can be found at www.upiphoto.eu
Pixels 2014 took place at Talbot Green Community Centre on Saturday 8th November 2014 and Swansea Camera Club (71 points) were clear winners ahead of Gwent Photographic Society and Neath Photographic Society (both on 67 points).
The Swansea photos were: Fighting Fire by Steven Jones (15 points), Waiting NYC by Jason Chapman (20 points), The Driver by John Pile (17 points) and Dead Peace Lily by Dennis Russ (19 points).
Judge Tony Potter from Cumbria selected Waiting NYC by Jason Chapman of Swansea as Best Monochrome Photograph and Bleak Grazers by Alan Jenkinson of Bridgend & District as Best Colour Photograph.
Click here to see the final Pixels 2014 score sheet.
A slideshow of all the photographs entered can be seen here.
Some other photographs of the event and the presentation photos are here.
We have received some feedback from Ed Cloutman, the Judges & Presenters Officer of the WPF.
You can read it here.
We’ve received this very sad news regarding Arthur Brownscombe from David Norton at Rhondda Camera Club. Arthur was a forward thinking, fascinating and well respected member of both Rhondda and Gwynfa and will be missed by members of both clubs and by everyone else who knew him.
Sad news to report I’m afraid, one of our older members passed away last Wednesday. Arthur Brownescombe, aged 87, had been a member of RCC for a number of years. I visited Arthur regularly as he had no immediate relatives nearby and had been totally housebound for several years. Arthur was a
larger than life character who led a full life and would regale me with many a colourful story about his time in the furniture business & chemical companies. Arthur’s memory was fantastic and relived intricate details about how much things cost, when and where it was in fine detail. He was very talented and loved making intricate dolls’ houses and furniture to scale. His recent hobby which kept him occupied was scale models of steam engines (his Dad drove many famous locomotives in Britain).
In the summer Mark and I took Arthur for a day out to St. Fagans as I managed to coax him to venture out (see below), having not been out for many years. He enjoyed it so much we promised to take him out again, unfortunately time beat us…
Arthur’s photography was in my genre – whacky! He would put multiple images together and make collages, ahead of his time!
I’ll update you as to when the funeral is (to be confirmed, possibly week Friday at Pencoed Crematorium).
David Norton (Rhondda CC)
Update on the funeral arrangements for Arthur Brownescombe. The procession will leave Arthur’s house (111 Bute Street, Treherbert) at 12.15 pm on Friday, 24th October. Service at Llwydcoed Crematorium, Aberdare, at 12.45 pm. Donations to Salvation Army preferred please c/o Sue, Arthur’s step-daughter. Sue has asked if people would give advance notice of attendance at the wake which will be held at a pub close to the Crematorium, in order for her to gauge the amount of buffet provided (as you are probably aware Arthur had very few relatives so your presence would be welcomed).
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If you could let me know by return email please (by the 19th Oct latest), so I can pass approx. numbers onto Sue. davidnorton1953@gmail.com
It is with great sadness that I add this item to the website. As a fellow Gwynfa member I knew Arthur well and had many interesting conversations with him. He was a fascinating character and a terrific photographer. We’ll never forget the presentation he gave to Gwynfa Camera Club. (Leigh W).
Sad news from Richard Flannigan at Whiteheads CC.
It is with deep regret that our President Ken Staines passed away Sunday night. He has been a member since 1958. His funeral is at Toveys, 9 Cardiff Road, Newport at 1:00pm. Wednesday 22nd October. Gwent Crematorium, Cwmbran at 2:00pm then wake at Cefn Mabley Arms.