Important Polite Notice!

I understand that some folk are disappointed to find that some items of news or information that they are expecting to see posted here are not to be found. I must make it clear that whilst I don't mind doing this basic site, I'm not a roving reporter as well and rely on others to send me anything important and/or interesting that needs to be circulated to member clubs. So, in brief, as I usually upload stuff on receipt, if it's not here, I haven't received it! Ruth

Competition software:

Now, I've got to hold my hands up here, I don't know which clubs use what software for their digital competitions but I've been approached to put a link on our site that will take you to a company that has developed competition software. Normally we wouldn't entertain commercial advertising but this might be of interest to some clubs if they don't already use it. I don't know this outfit and have no connection with it, but am putting it up purely for information. If it's rubbish, let me know and I'll remove it.

www. filmfreeprojection.co.uk

JUBILEE TROPHY COMPETITION

The results of the competition can be accessed via the link below

http://www.ashfordps.org.uk/jubilee.htm

More copyright reading:

John Bowsher has submitted the link below which takes you to a comment on the subject in DPreview.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1003/10031003ukgovstatement.asp

Here's a message from Alan Crotty about problems with ImageComp Pro:

I have been talking with Roy Moore about a problem with Image Comp Pro that I know a lot of clubs use for their digi comps. The problem is in fact with Windows, there's a surprise!

The problem is that images appear enlarged and cut off.

Roy has found a cure for the problem, the link is below:

http://www.lealea.net/blog/comments/web-dev-problem-win-ie-on-widescreen/

Also some clubs using Vista or Windows 7 are getting a white line on the bottom and left  side of the projected photo, the issue here is with an option called Windows border padding. This can be fixed as follows

Start - Control Panel - Personalize  - Color & Appearance (sic) - set border padding to Zero.

Hope this may be helpful to some.

Alan Crotty

Definitions of Categories

The committee thought it would be helpful to have various definitions available on the site and they will be published as they become available to me. Initially, John Bowsher has supplied to me the PAGB nature definition, as others become available they will be posted here and later on the downloads page. Also below is the correspondence between the KCPA and Kent Police about photographer's rights.

Download the PAGB nature definition

Download the PSA and FIAP definitions

Download the Royal Photographic Society definition

From Faversham Camera Club:

Faversham CC have a screen superfluous to requirements, it's an 8'x6' projector screen with concertina type stand in a fairly large carrying case. They will hire it out to KCPA affiliated clubs at something like £10 per night if anyone is interested. For more information, ring Bob Connelly on 01795 531242.

Tif format and PDI Competitions

There is much  discussion at the moment on whether TIF format or JPG format digital images should be preferred for PDI (projected Digital Image) Competitions. It is well known that there is no perceivable
difference between images projected from TIF files or from JPG level 12 images, but the discussion still rages.

There is, though, a very important technical disadvantage to the use of TIF: images including layers and/or alpha channels (saved selections) are not displayed correctly with some projection software and there is no easy way that an entrant to a competition can know in advance whether an entry will cause trouble since it will display properly on a computer monitor. Actions R Us have spent much time and trouble recently modifying their resizing actions to eliminate projection problems with TIF images, but, sadly, not everyone uses their actions!

Mark Buckley-Sharp of the Chilterns Association, and formerly a member of the PAGB Technical Standards Committee, attended the recent PDI competition at Warwick and sent John Bowsher the following note which
is being reproduced with his permission.

“The PAGB Inter-Club Championship was held last Saturday, using PDI for the first time. The logistical organisation of assembling the work went without a hitch. But, in discussion with the technical team, it was clear that this was only because of an enormous level of rehearsal and after correcting a very high proportion of the submitted image files.

As a result of their experience, it is considered highly likely that PAGB will change its requirements from tif to jpg precisely for the reasons we are so familiar with ie, it is not possible to save with added layers or added selections. It is probably too late to change for the upcoming InterFederation Projected Exhibition in October, but we will wait to see what happens after that.

Already, the RPS Projected Exhibition requires jpg, leaving their Distinctions on tif. Perhaps the tide has turned decisively against tif.

Regards

Mark”

From Dr. John Bowsher

PAGB Awards for Photographic Merit

Various updates from Leo Rich via John Bowsher

From PAGB notes of December, 2009:

As you are aware this was the first Adjudication where Projected Digital Image entries were allowed in the Credit and Distinction categories. Another first was that, at the Distinction level in this discipline, not one of the Entrants was successful. This was not the case at Credit level. No doubt there will be many discussions about “why” this should be so especially as the PAGB Awards team made sure that the projection was as good as it could be using our own kit and a very experienced team. We are sure this debate will run and run!

Looking ahead:- April 2010 East Anglian Federation – Harlow 24th/25th

Already with a full house the planning is on schedule for the Entrants Information Packs to be released early in the New Year.

November 2010 Lancashire & Cheshire Photographic Union 27th/28th

After the initial surge entries are coming in at their normal rate. Saturday (Distinction Day) is just over one third full and Sunday (Credit & Masters) is over half full. Please note that, in view of my comments above about PDI in Distinctions, the Awards Committee is reviewing whether we can introduce Master PDI at this event. We only have one Entrant so far in this category who is aware of the situation. Leo

Subject: PAGB Awards - New Year update

April 2010 Adjudication EAF {Uploaded 4.1.10}

I am on target to despatch all the Entry packs by the end of next week.   This usually triggers some unforeseen disaster to make sure I do not meet this deadline so please keep your fingers crossed.
November 2010 Adjudication L&CPU
As previously mentioned we will be running Slide sections without the usual minima requirements and I can confirm we have applications at each level.
Distinction Day (Saturday)    Applications are running at  55% full with enough to run both Print and PDI.   So there is room for around 18-20 more applications
Credit & Masters Day (Sunday)  This is filling rapidly and we are up to 77% applications , which means we have room for 15 more Credit (or approx half that number of Master applications).   Credit Prints and PDI have enough to run.   We, ideally, need two more Master Print applications to make this section viable.

Master PDI Section.   Whether this section will run will be discussed by the Committee at the February Executive meeting, following the feedback from the first Credit & Distinction PDI adjudication in November.   It is extremely doubtful that it will be included in this Adjudication as we only have one definite application. Leo

Small January addendum from Leo:
Following my note with the issue of the April Entrants List, and following a flurry of activity (makes a change from Snow)  I can now confirm the Credit/Masters day for the above Adjudication is now full. As usual I will be starting a short waiting list. There are still around a dozen spaces available for Saturday - Distinction level day.

February update:
Just a quick note to let you know that the above Adjudication is now fully subscribed and I already have a couple of entries which are being held over. I will not be opening the books for the April 2011 event yet as moves are afoot to try and avoid any applicant having to wait too long. News of this will probably reach you via PAGB enews as I am going to be away for a while.   As in previous years I have made arrangements
for any applications received in the interim to be dated so that we maintain our "first come, first served" procedure.

Photographers Rights/copyright stuff

Your webmanager is trying in vain to keep abreast of events in this field but has come to the conclusion that if anyone is interested in what is happening - and it is important to all of us, a visit to the following websites should keep you up to date

Photographers Rights

Copyright matters

Photography in Public Places

The following article is reproduced with kind permission of the Royal Photographic Society in whose Journal it was recently published. You might find it useful to keep in your camera bag.

The National Policing Improvement Agency issued new guidelines in November relating to the implementation of stop and search under the Terrorism Act 2000.

After reported difficulties and misunderstandings relating to the implementation of the Terrorism Act 2000, the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) issued advice relating to the implementation of stop and search under the Act at the end of November, stating that: "The Terrorism Act 2000 does not prohibit people from taking photographs or digital images in an area where an authority under section 44 is in place (power to stop and search people and vehicles under section 44 of the Terrorism Act). These powers are exceptional, and should only be used in specific circumstances." 

Further, the advice reminds police that the 2000 act is meant for use only in cases where the officer seriously suspects the individuals of gathering information for terrorist activities, saying, "If an officer suspects that photographs are being taken as part of hostile terrorist reconnaissance, then a search under Section 43 of the Terrorism Act or an arrest should be considered." 

It reminds officers that the act does not prohibit people from taking photos in public places unless they are suspected of terrorist activities. Even if a police officer suspects an individual of taking photos to inform and aid terrorist plots, the police officer does not have any power to delete images or destroy film. 

Power does remain for officers to restrict photography locally, to protect children, for example, but these decisions are made by local police forces. This was reiterated in July by Lord Bassam, who stated that: "Police officers have the discretion to ask people not to take photographs for public safety or security reasons. However, the taking of photographs in a public place is not subject to any rules or statute."

Despite the law, many professional and non-professional photographers have reported intervention and obstruction by the police in public places. Earlier this year, RPS Director General Stuart Blake contacted the Home Office to clarify the legality of photography in public. The reply, dated 6 June, stated, "There is no legal restriction on photography in public places", and that, "It is for the Chief Constable to ensure that officers and Police Community Support Officers are acting appropriately with regards to photography." 

Useful Abbreviations

The following list gives the meanings of the abbreviations you may find elsewhere on these pages.