Copy
VAPS Newsbrief
View this email in your browser
Victorian Association of Photographic Societies Inc.
April 2021. Vol. 48, No 3.


Web: www.vaps.org.au
Email: editor@vaps.org.au

Subscribe here: http://vaps.org.au/index.php/news

Unsubscribe: See the link at the end of the email.
NEWSBRIEF 
Contents

Contents
Message from the President
Message from the Newsbrief Editor
VAPS Half Year Meeting
VAPS Information
VAPS Convention
Judging Information
Advertising
APJA
From Clubs/Societies and Others
Exhibitions and What’s On
Competitions
APS Information

President Message
Greetings to all clubs and Societies
 
These last few months has seen a significant easing of Covid restrictions in Victoria, which has made it easier for clubs and societies to plan and organize and invite members to spend some time together socializing and photographing at various locations within the state. It’s something very positive in what has proved to be a most difficult 12 months.

Zoom meetings have been the lifeline of all the clubs and although it’s not the same as meeting in person, it’s helped all of us stay in touch and receive information and enjoy many presentations by experienced and professional photographers.

Although Covid is well under control, the VAPS committee thought it very prudent to not hold a convention this year in 2021. Even though the inoculation program is now under way with older citizens getting it first, the fact remains that limits on food handling, social distancing, size of audience numbers and overall reluctance on many members to attend due to age and health in these challenging times are factors we took into serious consideration.

It is our sincerest hope that we can return to almost normal circumstances in 2022 and then resume our convention program.

The committee has still been working hard behind the scenes to work out a virtual one-day program that every member of every club and society can sign into and enjoy. A full day of presentations has been planned with wonderful speakers of professional standard. Information will be available very soon.

VAPS has also organized the digital interclub exhibition and digital version of the catalogue for 2021.

Insurance matters, a Covid safe plan, the Victorian Judges directory and zoom practices guidelines have also been discussed, and attended to. So, the committee still works hard on behalf of all clubs and societies, to make sure that this photographic organization runs smoothly.

I personally want to thank everyone on the committee for their dedication and support of each other, especially in these quite trying times we have faced and still need to face.

May you all take up the invitation to join us on June 6th for an entire virtual day of our 2021 convention.
 
Warm regards to all
Ian Rolfe
President VAPS
 
 
Don't forget that you can zoom in to read the detail on any image in the Newsbrief.
Message from the Newsbrief Editor
Hi all,


Have a Happy Easter and hope you have opportunity to get out and about.


Happy Photographing

 
Regards

 
Danielle Le Gassick
(Pakenham Camera Club)
 
VAPS Half Year Meeting
The VAPS Half-Year Meeting has been run online via Zoom and was attended by 37 delegates
 
A presentation followed from
 
Karen Allsop - “Photo Art that Changes Lives”

This was a most informative and inspiring presentation.


Interclub
Interclub Results will be published on the website on the 6th June.

 
VAPS Information
Awards 
 
Just a reminder the cut off date for Meritorious and SSVAP applications has been extended until 19th April.

Applications forms are to be done on line.  Clubs need to login then go to the clubs menu then awards information.

The awards forms are under the heading: Online Application Forms.


Regards
Margaret Zommers
VAPS Convention
VAPS Online Convention 
 
The VAPS convention planned for Wangaratta has had to be cancelled due to COVID 19 indoor venue restrictions. An online presentation by 4 highly regarded presenters over a whole day is being organised.

The convention will be held on the 6th June online via Zoom.

Free to members of VAPS affiliated clubs.

For further details https://www.vaps.org.au/convention-home.html

For 2022, the convention will be held at Wangaratta providing Covid 19 restrictions on indoor venues are lifted by then.

 

 Judging Information
Over the last 12 months many clubs have had to change their club meetings to online via Zoom or other software.

Now that we are getting close to getting vaccinated and hopefully returning to a life with less risk of catching the COVID 19 virus many clubs have started to organise face to face meetings instead of online.

Hybrid meetings are another option being looked at or implemented by some clubs whereby a Zoom access option is also provided to the face-to-face meeting.
 
For clubs who are starting some form of face to face meetings everyone should ask themselves whether the risk is less, than what it was in the middle of last year or even just 3 months ago, and whether they are willing to accept that risk.
 
Things for clubs and judges to consider:
Is adequate social distancing possible?
Do the club rooms have plenty of space and plenty of ventilation (open windows)?

For handling prints clubs and judges should make themselves aware of the article written by a microbiologist in the March copy of Newsbrief.

Also another aspect is the hall or meeting place may first require a COVID Safety plan – a template is available at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/covidsafe-plan

Alfred
 

Judges Honorarium

 
Judges - Travel Expenses/Honorarium
It is expected that Victorian Judges and Presenters will be compensated for expenses when visiting clubs. Judges and presenters give their time and energies for free, some very generously, many times each month. The least we can do is to ensure that they are not out of pocket.

Remote judging honorarium
Although judges are not out of pocket for undertaking remote judging they often undertake a considerable amount of work over and above that when attending a club. Judges either prepare detailed audio recordings or written notes to allow the club to adequately present the judging comments. Therefore an amount of $50 would not be unreasonable. The judge should discuss this with the club prior to accepting the work.  

More details at

https://www.vaps.org.au/index.php/judging-honorarium

 
Judging Club Competitions/image evaluations
 
To all Club Committees.

Please pass the following information on to any committee members involved in the selection of judges for your club competitions/image evaluations as well as other members who are judges and may be interested in becoming judges.
 
Victorian Judges pages on the website have lots of information, not only for Judges but also club committees and anyone interested in being a judge. https://www.vaps.org.au/index.php/camera-clubs/victorian-judges-new
 
  • Victorian Judges – An introductory page about judging.
  • Becoming a Judge – Criteria to be added to the judges directory.
  • Victorian Judges Application – Application form for anyone interested in being a judge.
  • Guidelines for Hosting Judges – Guidelines on what Clubs should consider when hosting a judge.
  • Stewards and Judges Manual – Detailed manual for club competition stewards and Judges.
  • Judging Honorarium – Outline of compensation for expenses incurred by the judge as well as honorarium for the extra work involved in preparing image critiques when unable to attend in person.
  • Judges Directory – Currently only able to be viewed by club committees after login but may be accessible by judges and other members in the near future.
  • Club Panel Judges – List of clubs that offer a panel of judges.
 
Regards,
Alfred
 
Advertising
APJA - Judges Association
Level 2 training covering topics like “The Difficulty with Definitions”, “Public Speaking Part 2”, “Ethical, Legal and Copyright Issues”, “What Judges Look For”, “Judging Open Competitions”, “Cold Judging”, “Camera Formats” and Practical Judging, has just been completed online using Zoom. Completed over 3 Friday nights with a class list of 26.

Thank you to all those that attended. Many thanks to APJA members who helped facilitate this training, in particular. VAPS clubs represented were Maroondah Photographic Society, Casey, Stawell, Southern Suburbs, Williamstown, Eastern Suburbs Photographic Society, Horsham, Yarra Ranges Photographic Society, Bacchus Marsh & Macedon Ranges, Point Cook Camera Club, Warrnambool, Knox Photographic Society, Colac, Maroondah Photographic Society, Nepean Camera Club, Camberwell, Warrnambool, and Stawell.
 
Other planned courses in 2021.
Image Eval workshop     16th and 23rd               April.  Fri nights online (To be confirmed)
Level 4                             6th, 13th and 20th       August.  Fri nights online.
Level 6                             5th,12th and 19th        November. Friday nights online.
 
Depending on presenter availability we are hoping to cover all or some of the following topics in the Level 4 training.
 
Judging Abstract Images
Judging Audio Visuals
Judging Monochrome
Judging Architectural
Judging creative images
Mobile phone photography
Underwater photography
Aerial Photography
Judging Wildlife & Nature
Pet photography
Judging a series/photo essay
Judging Macro and Close-up
Practical session
 
We would like to encourage clubs to set up judging panels comprising of 2-4 persons, usually three. If possible, with a member that has had a bit of judging experience plus a couple of novice judges that have maybe attended a couple of the APJA training events. A panel makes it far less daunting for a beginner judge and will really help them to boost their confidence. It is also a really good team exercise, great learning experience and actually good fun.
 
Next APJA Committee meeting; Sunday 2nd May.
APJA AGM.  Sunday. 11th July. (Most likely online).
 
Like to join the APJA
Membership of APJA.  $40. July 1st to June 30th.
Contact:   Secretary Paul Lucas.      apjasecretary@gmail.com
Paul can answer any questions, and send you an application form.
 
Like to join the APJA
Membership of APJA. $40. July to June
Contact:   Secretary Paul Lucas      apjasecretary@gmail.com
Paul can answer any questions and send you an application form.
 
APJA President: Paul Robinson.
Vice President and Training: Gary Smith.
Secretary: Paul Lucas.
Treasurer and Marketing: Rob Sloane.
Honours: Sam Mariani
Committee: JP Weibel
Committee: Alfred Zommers.
Committee: Tony Harding
 
 
Best wishes to all, have a safe and happy Easter.
 
Rob
 
APJA
 
On-Line; Friday April 16 and Friday April 23  2021 7.30pm via Zoom
The Image Evaluation course that was scheduled for early in the year will be conducted as an on-line Zoom webinar.

This course will run over 2x 2 hour sessions:
First session, Friday April 16 at 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. This will cover the basic theory of image evaluation with an introduction to:
 
• Image scoring
• Artistic Aesthetics
• Technical awareness
• Critiquing skills
 
Second session, Friday April 23 at 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
This session will discuss your image evaluation analysis set in the previous session and reinforce the skill learnt from that session. To participate in this session, you must have completed the first session.

This is a course intended for those photographers wanting to learn image evaluation skills and is a good lead in for those wishing to advance their judging skills further by studying the Level 1 Judges course.
 
Cost: Free for APJA members
$20 for non members.

Payment & Contact
Payment must be made via bank transfer prior to 10th April.
BSB: 063050
ACCOUNT No:10098192
Account Name: Australian Photographic Judges Association

Once payment is made, register with Gary Smith via email : wordpicts@gmail.com, along with your payment acknowledgement.

Part A April 16, 7.30pm and Part B, April 23 7.30pm.
Considered being a Judge?

Clubs are asked to encourage members to consider being a photography judge. There are many benefits of being a judge. These include:
 
  • Exposure to a wide array of photographic work which contributes to one’s self development in photographic artistry
  • Greater confidence and experience in communication of the principles of photography
  • Receiving structured training in photographic judging including aesthetics, technical competency, photography and the law and many other aspects of photography
  • Helping others develop their skills and capabilities in the art of photography
  • Opportunities to participate in interclub and other photographic judging arenas
 
There are currently only 34 metropolitan members on the Victorian judges list and 18 in the country. We currently have 70 clubs and if every club has 10 competitions a year we would need all 52 judges to judge about 14 competitions a year.

That is too much of a load for any judge.  Many are only prepared to about 10 per year which means that we have a large shortage of judges.

VAPS therefore welcomes suggestions on how to approach the current and impending shortage of judges as increasingly judges will retire given the demographics.

We ask that your club contacts Tony Harding, Secretary VAPS (secretary@vaps.org.au) with any suggestions or ideas you may have in regard to increasing the number of active photography judges in Victorian clubs.

We also ask that club secretaries pass this information on to club committee and all members.
 
Alfred Zommers  Tony Harding

 
From Clubs/Societies and Others
Melbourne Camera Club
Exhibitions and What's On
Focal Point Darkroom & Gallery is Geelong’s centre for photography and we would like to welcome groups from visiting camera clubs.
 
We have a new and exciting exhibition in our expansive gallery every month. Our reference library consists of almost 700 books on photography, and we have the largest and best-equipped public-access darkroom in Australia.
 
We are currently installing a small studio, which will be suitable for portraiture and product photography. The studio will be fully equipped and, best of all, will be available for hire from professionals and amateurs alike.
 
Groups are most welcome and we can tailor your visit to suit the needs of your members. We can include a workshop on darkroom techniques or film photography in general, or simply a demonstration of producing prints in the darkroom. If your members have no interest in the darkroom I’m sure you will enjoy the exhibitions in the gallery and we will put on morning or afternoon tea.
 
We can also host club exhibitions, events and meetings.
 
There are often other great photography exhibitions in Geelong, and the region is teaming with great photographic locations, so why not make a day or a weekend of coming to Geelong and include Focal Point Darkroom & Gallery in your itinerary.
 
Give us a call or send an email for more information on how we can welcome your group.
 
Cheers,
Watto.
 
Craig Watson
Focal Point Darkroom & Gallery
46 Douro St
North Geelong, Vic. 3215
Ph: 03 4222 8359 or 0427 537 443

Dear Danielle 

Environmental Impact Photo Day

25th September 2021

 

This will be a day where you can indulge your imaginative self and show us what the words Environmental Impact mean to you whether you will be walking city streets or wandering bush trails. Images can only be captured on the day and meta data must be included when the images are uploaded for judgement.

 

Imagine.......Club members and individuals from all around Australia will be doing the same thing as you on Sept 25 2021 BUT in different places. What an amazing opportunity to connect through photography.

 

 

 

An introduction Zoom Session will be held on the previous night (24 Sept) with a special speaker.  Additionally there will be a Zoom awards event, date to be advised, after the images have been accessed which will include overall feedback on the images from photographic experts.

What will this cost the club? Just $20 per club or $5 if you are participating as an individual.‍

 

 

 

 

Kind regards,
 
Stella Fava | Secretary
Australian Photographic Society

Competitions

   MEDIA  RELEASE        MEDIA RELEASE

NOW OPEN
January 2021


The MCPP team is pleased to announce some exciting new developments in the future of the Prize, conducted annually by the Australian Photographic Society since 2019.

29
Entries Open 10AM AEDT
 

 

Competition portal opening for entries

 


The 2021 MCPP exhibition will be shown for seven weeks through July and August. This compares with just three weeks long exhibitions in previous years, providing exhibitors and their printed works with a considerably longer public exposure period.

As previously announced, the MCPP is moving to the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre. That means the annual MCPP winners will go into a regional gallery collection, providing the winning artists with a great deal of prestige.

Further information including full Terms & Conditions is available at MCPP - 2021 (a-p-s.org.au). The competition portal is at  APS Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize (myphotoclub.com.au).

The MCPP team is pleased to announce that the competition portal opens for entries at 10 AM (AEST) on 29 January 2021. The competition portal will remain open for entries until 11 PM AEST on 23 April. We look forward to receiving many great entries – both single images and series of up to four images as one work for judging by the accomplished team of adjudicators - Jacqui Dean, Judith Nangala Crispin and Julie Williams.


The MCPP is a very special photographic Prize, providing the opportunity for Conceptual photographers to be recognised as the best in Australia – and to win significant prize money.

 

Further enquiries:

Brian Rope
Management Team, MCPP
Australian Photographic Society

www.a-p-s.org.au/

+61 (0) 429 681 178

winfocus@ozemail.com.au

 

 

Roger Skinner

Management Team, MCPP
Australian Photographic Society

www.a-p-s.org.au/

+61 (0) 407 002 777

rojpix@ipstarmail.com.au

 

 

 

Elissa Emerson

Director
Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre

 +61 (0) 488 901 459

elissa.emerson@muswellbrook.nsw.gov.au

 

 

Kind regards,
 
Stella Fava | Secretary
Australian Photographic Society
PO BOX 79, ERMINGTON NSW 1700
T. 02 9890 9795  E. secretary@a-p-s.org.au
www.a-p-s.org.au

facebooktwitter

 Copyright © Australian Photographic Society, All rights reserved.
PO BOX 79, ERMINGTON NSW 1700
www.a-p-s.org.au

APS-LOGO-email-footer.png

APS Information
APS


VAPS, Organisational member of Australian Photographic Society
a-p-s.org.au
Any members of an accredited Camera Club or Society interested in evaluating images or judging are invited to apply to join the Australian Photographic Judges Association.
You do not need to be an active judge to be a member.
The prime objective of the Association is to help develop the evaluation and judging skills of members.
Further information contact:
Rob Sloane: msec@optusnet.com.au   or 
Paul Robinson:  pr.artpics@gmail.com
RECEIVE YOUR FREE EMAIL COPY OF NEWSBRIEF DIRECT
 
SUBSCRIBE AT
http://vaps.org.au/index.php/news

or go to the VAPS Website at

www.vaps.org.au
 
Open the News tab and select Newsbrief newsletters.
There you can subscribe for a free email copy of Newsbrief.
Keep up with all of the announcements and news from the clubs.
Hard copy of Newsbrief are not available in 2021
VAPS Committee Listing and Support
President 
Ian Rolfe

president@vaps.org.au 

Vice President/Chair Judging
Sub-Committee/Interclub Director/Webmaster 

Alfred Zommers


Vice President
Boris Struk

Secretary/Webmaster 
Tony Harding

secretary@vaps.org.au 

Treasurer/Webmaster
Joseph Maher
treasurer@vaps.org.au 

Badges & Awards 
Margaret 
Zommers
Newsbrief Editor 
Danielle LeGassick
editor@vaps.org.au

History & Archives 
Alan Wilson

Committee Member 

Lisa Law










 

Victorian Association
of Photographic Societies Inc.

General Enquiries:
PO Box 2172, Caulfield Junction Victoria 3161
www.vaps.org.au
Tony Harding: secretary@vaps.org.au
VAPS Objectives
  • To advance the art of photography.
  • To further the interests of affiliated bodies.
  • To draw up regulations governing exhibitions and inter-club competitions.
  • To arrange the exchange of guest lecturers and demonstrations on any subject relating to photography.
  • To arrange the exchange of prints between clubs.
  • To arrange periodical conventions for members of affiliated bodies and guests.
  • To arrange the publication of an official journal or news sheet .
     
A Brief History:
Camera clubs have existed in Melbourne since the 1890’s and an umbrella organisation called the Victorian Photographic Affiliation was formed in 1908. This guided amateur photography in Victoria for forty years. The Victorian Association of Photographic Societies was formed on 27 September 1952 and comprised of 12 clubs. This has grown to more than 70 clubs in Jan 2020. VAPS is a non-profit association that is entirely self-funded. The Association is run by an elected Committee of Management which is responsible for the operations of the Association, and for ensuring the Association fulfils the objectives.
Legal
Victorian Association of Photographic Societies welcomes contributions from interested parties, however, Victorian Association of Photographic Societies accepts no responsibility for the content of these contributions and the views contained therein are not necessarily those of Victorian Association of Photographic Societies. While every care is taken with solicited and unsolicited materials supplied, Victorian Association of Photographic Societies does not accept any liability for loss or damage however caused. Victorian Association of Photographic Societies takes no responsibility for the claims made by advertisers or transactions by. Does not endorse the products sold on the website/Newsbrief or enter into any of the exchanges. Nor is the Victorian Association of Photographic Societies responsible for any exchanging of information or monetary amounts. All transactions are solely the responsibility of the advertiser and purchaser.
 
Copyright
Material on the Victorian Association of Photographic Societies site or the Newsbrief may not be reproduced or published elsewhere without the written consent of the publisher, Victorian Association of Photographic Societies. All rights reserved. 
Advertising in Newsbrief
Would you like to contribute to Newsbrief? If you do, then it would be helpful if you use the following.
  • Reformatting of text will occur (fonts and size) to suit the email format. (Paragraph 14, Heading 16-18, San serif fonts)
  • Images can be submitted as jpegs or png up to 300 ppi.
Images will be reduced in size as appropriate for email. Text submissions preferred in Microsoft Word format. Images are preferred as JPEG.
PDF files can be accommodated for text only.
Costs: Ads of any size.
Commercial $100 per issue
Commercial (Member discount) $50 per issue
Affiliated Clubs and their members, free.

Contact the editor if you have questions.

 
Danielle LeGassick
editor@vaps.org.au
Next Issue - May 2021
Newsbrief publication deadline 26 April. 
Newsbrief Editor:
Danielle LeGassick:
editor@vaps.org.au
Copyright © 2021 Victorian Association of Photographic Societies, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You
canupdate your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp