RPS Distinctions Advisory Day, 12th June 2016

It seems such a long time since I've been able to post anything to this blog, and that's because the last couple of months have been stupidly busy.  There was a family holiday in France (and, no, rather stupidly we didn't buy any Euros before the referendum, but thanks for asking anyway).  In addition I've also moved offices at work and transplanted my younger daughter from one flat into another in Southampton.  Then there was the reunion of four old and creaky University friends who repeated a walk along the Rochdale Canal which they'd first attempted (when slightly less creaky) in December 1979.  Look out for this nostalgic, and not altogether sensible, venture in future blog posts...

The busy period began with an RPS Distinctions Advisory Day in the middle of June, which is the subject of this post.  Organising and running Advisory Days is one of the most pleasurable aspects of being a Regional Organiser for the RPS, but this one seemed jinxed from the outset.  Of the three advisers, one pulled out at the last minute and the other two - who had never met before - were both Foxton "virgins".  I needn't have worried, though, as Cathy Roberts FRPS and Peter McCloskey FRPS slotted together perfectly, and nobody would have known that this was the first time they'd worked together.

I'm always hugely grateful to the people who give up their weekends to come and help on these occasions, and the four below - Mark, Allan, Terry and Mike (behind) - did a superb job of handling the prints on the day.

Roll on the next one, which will probably be in spring 2017.

RPS Nature Advisory Day

At the beginning of April the RPS East Anglia Region held a specialist Nature Distinctions Advisory Day in Foxton.  Normally these days are dominated by those seeking the LRPS distinction, but this was very different.  As well as concentrating exclusively on ARPS and FRPS distinctions (i.e. those which require category specialisation), we were able to demonstrate and discuss aspects of the distinctions process which particularly affect natural history photographers.  Although experimental, the day was a real success and I can foresee us running similar events in the future.

The day was run by David Osborn FRPS, the chair of the RPS Natural History Distinctions Panel.

David was joined by Roger Hance FRPS, his deputy on the Nature Panel and an old friend of the Region.

The third advisor was Kevin Elsby FRPS, who recently joined the Nature Panel.

Fourth - but by no means least - was Dawn Osborn FRPS, who is only prevented from serving on the Nature Panel because her brother happens to be its chair!

On this occasion, Ann Miles FRPS was reduced to sitting behind the projector and taking notes on the proceedings.  This is because yours truly managed to lose the "shackles of office" - albeit temporarily - and reverted to his favourite role of being a print handler.

These days would not be complete without the stalwarts who turn up time after time to roll their sleeves up and help behind the scenes.  Pictured here are Mike Frost, Mike Harris and Miles Whitworth respectively.

Roll on the next RPS Advisory Day on June 12th...

RPS Distinctions Advisory Day

Yesterday saw the first of this year's RPS Distinctions Advisory Days in Foxton, with Richard Walton, Roger Force and Will Cheung presiding.  An excellent day it was too, with some absolutely cracking panels on show.  We are lucky in East Anglia to have a dedicated set of advisors who work so well together and are happy to come back regularly.  Mind you, we also have some very talented photographers in this Region, which might have something to do with it.

The advisors very much liked the Creative panel from Barry Badcock, one of Cambridge CC's members, but couldn't quite agree on the best layout for the pictures.  Even Ann Miles got in on the action...

We have an LRPS Print Assessment in September and another Advisory Day in November, so plenty more good work from the Region to look forward to later in the year.