The Tree, Llyn Padarn 11/01/2022 09:45 – Tony Grubb CPAGB BPE2* AFIAP PPSA GPU CR1*
I have been a photographer (sort of) since the late 1960s but they were really only happy snaps taken with a point and shoot. I got my first Proper camera in the late 1970s, a Zenit something and because it was manual I actually started to learn something. I bought my first Canon in the early 1980s and have never used another make since. My first Canon was an AE1 and my last film camera was an A1, in my honest opinion, the best amateur film camera ever made (still got a couple).
See the rest of Tony’s story and the image itself by clicking the ‘continue reading’ link below…
I didn’t get my first digital camera until 2007 when I bought a Canon 5D MK 1. When I bought it, I had no idea what a cropped or full frame sensor was and bought it because it seemed to be close to what an A1 was (clueless). The A1 was my favourite camera at the time but it was a film camera and digital seemed to be the thing, so I went digital.
I had upgraded to the 5DMK2 before I finally began to understand all this digital stuff and began to learn a bit more. Then Canon released the 5DSR 50 MP, I’ll have one of those thanks. A very good camera in a studio but not when trying to photograph bikes flying past at silly speeds: it’s only five frames a second too many shots missed. So, time for a professional sports camera. For a Canon owner there is only one choice the EOS 1DX so I bought a second hand 1DX mk1 at about 20fps it was fast enough.
Then Canon released the R5 So I Finally went mirrorless and I don’t need to keep upgrading to another new camera now the R5 will do what the both the DSR and 1dx will do. I finally have camera that I’m not always thinking I wish it would do this or that. I am pleased with the R5.
It was early January when I decided to pay another visit to Llyn Padarn and probably the most photographed tree in North Wales. I had missed the dawn and it was a bit cloudy anyway. After setting up and taking a few shots I realized that the sky was a bit blown out so I put a 0.6 grad on (it could have been a 0.9, can’t remember) but when I got home and looked at the images I realized that the sky was bit too dark. So, I turned it mono, one of my better decisions.
It is a marmite shot it has been rejected more than it has been accepted. It has had a couple of HC/HM’s and 3 proper Medals a PSA bronze in PSA annual print salon (USA); a salon Gold in Ireland (Digitalna Foto Arhiva circuit 24 in the travel Section); and My BEST so far, a PSA Gold in the Deep Focus print salon in India.
The First salon I entered was Bebington BPE in 2016 I entered seven images and three were disqualified and the rest were slaughtered. It was 6 months before I got an acceptance in a BPE. It was 2022 before I got my BPE1*. I then got my QPSA in March 2019 and my AFIAP in 2021. My PPSA in awaiting approval and I’m hoping to get my EFIAP next year.
This is just for those just starting: don’t expect every image to get accepted. Judges are like chalk and cheese one will like an image another will hate it. Photography is very subjective, especially in salons. I have one image that got an Honourable Mention in its second yet salon never had another acceptance.
I’m a plodder I just plod along at my own pace and eventually I will get there. I am a better photographer than some but compared to others I am utterly rubbish.
Saying all this, I took the plunge and entered prints into PSA run competitions, and last year, had a good year, with this photo. So, I was allowed to enter the photo into the PSA run ‘Print of the Year’ competition. To my utter shock, delight and amazement, I just been informed that my print ‘The Tree’ has been awarded the ‘Best in Show’ monochrome winner for print of the year! I’m still processing my success.
Tony Grubb CPAGB BPE2* AFIAP PPSA GPU CR1*
For more help and information about entering PSA salons, contact Gary Shinner by emailing gary_shinnerlrps@sky.com
