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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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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.

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Pembrey & Burry Port Open Day

On Saturday 7 Sept, Pembrey & Burry Port Photographic Society will be holding an open day when you are invited to come along and see what we as a club have to offer.

There will be a small exhibition of prints and a projection of images from 2023/24. Tea and coffee will also be available together with the opportunity to meet and speak to some of the members.

It will be held at our regular meeting venue in Hermon Chapel, Pembrey between 10am and 4pm.

Everyone welcome.

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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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Malcolm Downes Exhibition

Malcolm Downes of Barry Camera Club is holding his first ever Exhibition at the Art Central Gallery in Barry. It opens Saturday 17th August and runs until 14th September.

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WPF Conference – Book Now

WPF Conference – Saturday 31st August and Sunday 1st September, 2024, Heronston Hotel, Bridgend. CF35 5AW.

The Convention Brochure can be seen here.

Reserve tickets by emailing convention@thewpf.co.uk and pay by bank transfer to our account:

Name  of Account  Welsh Photographic Federation
Bank Name  HSBC
Sort Code  401323
Account Number  12320800

Other forms of payment available if needed.

Please put your name or initials in the comment box together with ticket type (in BOLD below):

* Weekend  (both Saturday & Sunday) WEND (£35)
* Day ticket  (Saturday) SATD (£20)
* Day Ticket (Sunday) SUND (£20)
* Session Ticket (Saturday Morning) SATM (£15)
* Session Ticket (Saturday Afternoon) SATA (£15)
* Session Ticket (Sunday Morning) SUNM (£15)
* Session Ticket (Sunday Afternoon) SUNA (£15)

On the day / at the door purchase of tickets by cash only. Tickets will be issued on arrival at the Conference.

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Vince Penticost AWPF FWPF

We are very sad to report the passing of Vince Penticost who passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of July 10th. He will be sadly missed.

Vince was a well-respected club member who was well known across the camera clubs of South Wales as a presenter and judge.

He served as chairman of Western Valley Camera Club for a total of 23 years (1997-99, 2002-2007, 2009-2021 and 2024).

He also served on the WPF Committee and was President between 2015 and 2017 and as Past President until 2019.

He was particularly known for his sense of fun and good humour. The author of this post particularly remembers him coming to Gwynfa to judge a ‘match-a-slide’ competition dressed in his full referee kit, complete with yellow and red cards.

We’ll let you have the funeral arrangements when we know them.

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