New Licentiate 

Sherburn photographer awarded Licentiate qualification from the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP).

A lifelong passion in photography has been rewarded and recognised with the award of a Licentiate qualification to Mike Galley of Sherburn In Elmet, Leeds, by the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP), the leading professional qualifying organisation in the UK.

A serious illness brought Mike's professional career as a lithographic printer to an abrupt end in 2006. He had been working as a freelance photographer on a part time basis up to this point.

During his recovery Mike was able to continue to train and update his skills with some of the leading photographers in Yorkshire, together with mentoring from Fellows of the BIPP who encouraged him to follow his new career of social photography.

Mike's qualifying panel of images was praised by the panel of assessors and Mike is now intending to enter some of his images in the forthcoming Annual Print Competition of the Yorkshire Region of the BIPP which meets every month at The Owl Hotel Hambleton, where Mike is a regular attendee.

Mike intends to continue working as a full time professional wedding and portrait photographer undertaking commissions throughout the Yorkshire region. Mike also holds a pilots license and is looking into combining his photography skills with flying as a way to expand his business in the future.  

George Dawber's Warning was Timely

When student from Hull School of Art and Design, Nathan Pidd captured the Fashion and Overall Commercial Trophy's in last year's print competition, judge George Dawber warned, "Watch out, there's students about"

His warning proved to be prophetic because this year another student, J Collingridge this time from Dewsbury snatched the Architecture and Overall commercial Trophy's with his B&W prints, which greatly impressed the judges, David MacDonald from Ware, and Mike Roper from Thurso, Scotland.

Although the number of entries was 100 less than last year the standard was high and the adjudication constructive and informative.

Noting the social entries Mike expressed difficulty in understanding the need to differentiate between contemporary and traditional. In the Press and PR he looked for the picture to tell the story in that image, but noted several were not as sharp as they should be, some being over enlarged.

David drew attention to the need to be aware of the quality and direction of light, several portraits being under lit in the eyes. His main criticism of the wedding category was the stiffness of the subject, calling for much more direction to introduce flow in the figures, he reinforced his observations with demonstrations.

Now, the committee have retired to agonise over why numbers are down, how to encourage entries next year, and importantly, recover the several trophies which successful members have failed to return so that the new winners can enjoy their moment of glory.

Following For New Page 

At the AGM  the annual report was presented by Stuart Clark who reviewed the year's activities of very well attended meetings with a variety of subjects, positioning the Region among the top of the league table. Chris Hall reported the finances to be in a healthy state with a larger surplus than 2009 due to the income from whole day seminars while endorsing the Chairman's aim of ensuring value of membership.
Richard Walker recalled that until Regionalisation in 1972 when the office of Centre President changed to Chairman, there had only been two Presidents, Ethel Eaden in 1928 and Mary Scrimshaw in 1956. Stuart Clark was the last to wear the President's chain in 1971.
The first woman to wear the Chairman's chain was Helen Bray in 199 and now 39 years after formation of the Region, Jacqueline Lygo based in Goole is only the second woman to hold the office of Regional Chairman.
Richard Walker will continue as immediate past chairman, and Jackie has appointed Philip Bramhill vice chairman  and deputy. Stuart Clark and Chris Hall and Steve Howdle were re-elected and the only nominee was Tony May who as an advertising and commercial practitioner will support the interests of that sector.
 
Business over, it fell to the new chairman to introduce the speaker Charlie Wightman, a pre press manager with the Regent Greeting cards company whose presentation was Colour Management. With a minimum of graphs and illustrations he talked through the many influences which can effect the final out come after the RAW capture. Once set up,  the computer is the least of our worries, printers, inks, substance, ambient conditions, all having a bearing on the final outcome.
A healthy exchange of experiences were expressed by members, some already conversant with the disciplines, needs and problems described by the speaker who believed that always there is one item of benefit from such presentations. We are sure much more was derived from this quite extended evening. 

Sponsorship Direct

Our web site is greatly admired and seen in high circles as one of the Institutes best. The Region owes a debt of gratitude to Phosys, who not only host the site but originated the design and management. We hope the site provides useful information and interestand will always welcome your input, to be enjoyed by the generous sponsorship of Phosy. 

Congratulations!

To Mike Galley of Sherburn in Elmet near Leeds who has gained his Licentiateship distinction in Social photography, which the chairman of the panel considered  "Very professional."

Member Listing Replaces BIPP Register

One of the valued benefits of membership was the regular issue of the BIPP Register, listing all members in both the UK and overseas, a ready source of information when seeking information, lay off an assignment, or simply chat with a like minded member. Communication and marketing has gone through dramatic changes and to keep pace, while containing costs,

The BIPP Register will be no more.

Your own website is probably your greatest selling tool, reflected in the total fall out of photographers adverts in newspapers and most magazines. Yellow Pages, while keeping going, is reported to be feeling the draught of recent curbs on spending.

Now, as a means of assisting communication for members within the Region, our webmaster Nathan Pidd has developed pages for membership listing, refined to broad areas foreasier location of someone you met at the last meeting and can't think how to get in touch. It just might.... be extended when listing is completed!

The list is gradually growing and if you would like to be included email the details to Nathan on nsp-photography@hotmail.co.uk  

Traditional Techniques and Teachings Still Valid

Against a background of lowered and simplified standards there is still place for proven techniques and skills. The pendulum swings, things change, everything turns full circle. Well worn cliches which when applied to present day photography beg the question, when style or fashion changes, especially in the social scene and who will be prepared?

Those entering the craft in recent years have been denied the opportunity of learning and practising traditional skills, some of which are outmoded, if only by today's lifestyles and expectations.  If however current styles turn full circle some may be found to be wanting.

Mindful of this, our presenter at this months meeting was Jon Gray, FBIPP who attracted over 25% of the Region's membership, with some unable to attend. He enthralled his audience with reminiscences of assignments while showing superb examples of controlled lighting of location, and people demonstrated with minimal lighting,  kindly supported by Terry Craw's range of Bowen lighting.

For the less experienced this was an invaluable exposition of techniques, and gentle reminder for others, drawn from Jon's experience of a life time in high fashionand advertising.

There were few questions, but the most frequently asked after the meeting closed was,

"Can we have him back for a full day"? Watch this space! 

‘Ello, ‘Ello ,‘Ello

Controversy rages regarding interference by the law when lawfully taking photographs in public places. If you have experienced a confrontation we would like to have your story.

Uzair Kharawala 

The first meeting of the year attracted almost twenty percent of the Region's membership, hanging on every word of Uzair Kharawala in his presentation on generating new business  and developing the contacts.

In years gone by it used to be the almost proud boast of photographers, and therefore not business men. The writer was reminded of this when the speakers first statement was " It doesn't matter how good your photography is, you can no longer rely on that to succeed."

For the longer established much of what has gone before was reviewed and redeveloped applying techniques and technology of today, avaluable tutorial for those new to the industry.

The thrust of the evening was that once a contact has been made, it must be extended and developed to the limit and not left to the chance of the client coming back again. A software package on offer is a valuable aid to this, not only monitoring but prompting the photographer.

A demonstration of minimal lightweight lighting was swiftly demonstrated together with the information on the exposure combination of flashand available light.

There was much to be valued in the presentation which will have empathy with the meeting with Anna Farmery's presentation in July. 

Taking Photographs in Public Places

We have been contacted by the Sunday Telegraph, who would like to run an article on taking photographs in public places.

They are keen for professional photographers to support and put their names to the following letter and we need your help! By midday tomorrow (Tuesday), they would like 365 professional photographers to add their names to the letter - one for each day of the year.

If you're willing to take part, please email alex.singleton@telegraph.co.uk, with the subject line ‘photography letter', giving your name (and any qualification letters) and your website (optional - they may link to it in the online version of the letter) and your phone number (only used to verify identity if needed).

You may remember that the BIPP was invited to a meeting at the House of Commons a few months ago to discuss this issue and the paper would like to highlight the issues once again. Chris Harper will sign it on behalf of the BIPP, along with the editor of Amateur Photographer and photographer Ben Pipe, but more signatures will add further weight to the content.

THE LETTER:
"As professional and amateur photographers, we are deeply concerned about the treatment of those taking pictures in public places. Photographers using equipment larger than a compact camera are frequently stopped and searched under anti-terrorist legislation, which they find humiliating.

"We do not believe it likely that real terrorists would bother to set up a tripod or use a heavy SLR camera, as perfectly satisfactory pictures for their purposes could be taken on a discrete camera phone. If our photography has an effect on law and order, it is beneficial, as wrongdoers are unlikely to commit crimes in close proximity to someone visibly holding a camera.

"Meanwhile, some in the police, especially PCSOs, believe it is illegal to take any pictures of a police officer. This is because of ambiguous legislation, introduced earlier this year, which made it an imprisonable offence to collect "information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism". Given the existence of Google street view, we do not believe the legislation should be used against ordinary photographers.

"In March, at a meeting with representatives of the Royal Photographic Society, the British Institute of Professional Photography and Amateur Photographer, the Home Office agreed to issue guidelines to police forces spelling out that the law must not be misused against those engaged in legitimate photographic activity. This does not appear to have had the desired effect.

"Rather than treat photographers as terrorists, the Government should amend the Anti-Terrorism Act to prevent its misuse and explain to forces that a hostile attitude towards photographers is unwelcome."

Keeping tabs on the chattering classes

Apart from the value of posting up to date information, interest and enjoyment is to read of the success, achievements, and dare we say it, misfortunes of other members.

If you are in the news, have a story to tell or perhaps a comment on the site, drop an email to stuartclarkphotos@talktalk.net

....and if you wish to strike up a correspondence we will welcome that  too!

END