SACC Qualifying Round of IPF Photographer of the Year now Open!

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Canon_WEB_logoWe’re pleased to announce that the SACC regional qualifying round of the IPF Photographer of the Year 2015/2016in association with Canon Ireland is now open for entries. Please note that this is the competition formerly known as the IPF Print & Projected Image Competition.

To read more about this competition, the themes for this year, cost of entry etc please read this article.

To enter, you must be a member of an SACC affiliated club.

The competition takes place on Sunday November 22nd at the Horse & Jockey Hotel in Tipperary.

Closing date for entries is Friday November 20th.

Please note this year:

  • You must use the new colour coded labels on the back of your prints – please print them in colour and attach securely to the back of your prints
  • You must upload a digital copy of all prints at time of entry
  • Make sure you enter the correct level as defined in the rules

Rules

The updated rules for the 2015/2016 are available to view on IPF website.

Labels

Labels can be downloaded from the IPF website. Prints without these labels will not be accepted. Please print the labels in colour and attach securely to your prints.

To Enter

Entry must be completed online via the online entry system. If you experience any issues with the entry system, please contact the IPF webmaster via their contact page. Please, first check that your system meets the requirements for using this software.

Judges

We are delighted to welcome the following judges for this years event:

  • Carl Cutland FIPF AFIAP, Portlaoise Camera Club
  • Judy Boyle FIPF FRPS EFIAP, Drogheda Photographic Club
  • Tony Mc Donnell AIPF EFIAP/p, Dundalk Photographic Society

Schedule (note that times are approximate)

9.00am-10.00am Handover of print entries.
Prints for Photographer of the Year must have been pre-registered via online system.
Prints that have not been pre-registered will not be accepted.
10.45am Judging starts at 10.45am and will continue in the sequence outlined below. There will be a lunch break at approximately 1pm.Colour Prints (open & themed)

Monochrome prints (open & themed)

Projected Images (open & themed)

Awards ceremony (likely 4.30pm onwards)

Images that do not qualify for national finals can be collected AFTER awards ceremony.
Qualifying prints will be retained and forwarded to IPF for National Finals.

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SACC Creative Photography Competition 2015 – Report

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The SACC Creative Photography Competition 2015 was held in the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow, on Saturday October 31st 2015 and was hosted by Carlow Photographic Society.  Entries were up 10% on last year and, despite competing with a televised major international sports event, attendance was also up considerably on last year. Since it was revived in 2014 the competition has continued to attract an increasing number of entries as interest in this photography genre finds increasing favour with new participants. We were delighted to see photographers from all around the country taking part as this event is a national competition and is open to members from all IPF affiliated clubs. Additionally the top scoring 35% count as Irish qualifiers for those going for AFIAP distinctions. (See Related Links below for AFIAP qualifiers)

Congratulations to all those who won awards. (See Gallery below) in particular to Michael O’Sullivan from Cork Camera Group who took home the top prize of best image with ‘Death of Giselle’. We were treated to a diverse and really creative set of images on Saturday, both in the print and the projected sections of the competition. Individual scores will be emailed by the end of the week.  (See Related Links below for Overall Results)

Our thanks to all involved in making this competition a success:

  • The SACC Committee.
  • Carlow Photographic Society (in particular Nuala Grogan, Chairperson, and Gilbert Smith for taking photographs during the event. )
  • Our judges, Ray Spence and Bríd Coakley who provided excellent commentary & feedback throughout the judging.
  • All who entered and all who attended.

At 11:00am on Saturday, prior to the competition, Carlow Photographic Society played host to a lecture by Ray Spence. The title was “A Personal Focus” during which Ray presented and discussed the photographic art he has created over the past thirty years. This included an extremely interesting and diverse range of work including some stunning creative images which he did in the years prior to the advent of digital imaging and post-processing. There was a large attendance for Ray’s lecture and he presented it again in Wexford on Sunday and in Cork on Monday evening.

Gallery:

 

Related Links:

List of AFIAP qualifiers – pdf

Results

Change of Venue for Ray Spence’s talk in Cork

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Due to unforeseen circumstances, the venue for Ray Spence’s talk in Cork on Tuesday November 3rd has moved to the Whitechurch Suite at the Imperial Hotel in Cork City. Start time remains 7.30pm and we aim to start promptly.

Ray’s talks in Carlow and Wexford over the last few days were inspiring to say the least and we know that Cork are in for a treat again tonight.  The talk is being hosted by Cork Camera Group and is open to other clubs also. Entry fee is €5.

 

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SACC Creative Photography Competition 2015 – Schedule

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Thank you for your entries. The competition is now closed for entry with judging taking place on Saturday 31st October at the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow.

As part of the day, we are delighted to host a lecture by one of our judges, Ray Spence at 11am. Full details and schedule below. There is a €5 entry fee to the talk as a cover charge. Full details of this not to be missed talk are available over here.

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SACC Creative Photography Competition 2015 – Now Open

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creative 2015The SACC Committee is delighted to announce that the 2015 SACC Creative Photography Competition will be held on Saturday 31st October at the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow.

The competition is open to members of all clubs affiliated to the IPF.

For those collecting Irish qualifiers for AFIAP applications, the top 35% of images in this competition qualify from this year onwards.

The rules of the competition, which was formally known as the SACC Creative Digital Competition, have been revised and updated and the competition will open for online entries at the start of October. Please refer to Rules for full details. The competition will be judged by Ray Spence FRPS and Brid Coakley AIPF ARPS.

There are two sections; prints and projected images, each catering for intermediate and advanced photographers. Entry fee is €8 for one section and €12 for two.  The definition to work to is:

“Creative Photography means different things to different people. To some, it means manipulation of images using image editing software and to others, it means breaking the rules/conventions using creative techniques in-camera such as slow shutter speeds, panning, creative compositions etc. Photographic content should predominate. For the purposes of this competition, anything goes.

The inclusion of stock images/clip art is not permitted. For example, if you wish to add a sunflower to your image, then you need to photograph a sunflower!”

To Enter: Enter Competition Here

System requirements are listed here.

Should you experience any issues, please don’t hesitate to contact us via our ‘contact page‘.

Closing Date: Midnight, October 28th.

Celtic Challenge 2015 – Results and Thank You

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Our regular site visitors will be aware that the 2015 Celtic Challenge was held in Kilkenny on the weekend of Sept 18th – 20th. The Celtic Challenge, when held in Ireland in recent years, has been hosted by SACC, in conjunction with the IPF (Irish Photographic Federation).

On Friday the visiting federation representatives, members of the SACC committee and Kilkenny Photographic Society (KPS) visited Hook Head peninsula in Co Wexford in the morning. The highlight of the visit was a tour of Hook Head lighthouse which is one of the oldest operational lighthouses in the world, dating back some 800 years. Many on the tour availed of the photographic opportunities afforded by the visit. Following lunch there was a visit to Woodstock estate near Inistioge village where many took further advantage of the great photo opportunities in this historic estate. On returning to Kilkenny, the visitors and their local hosts enjoyed a social evening in Bollards traditional Irish pub in Kilkenny.

On Saturday morning the visitors were taken to see and tour some of Kilkenny’s historical sites, including, Kilkenny Castle, Rothe House, St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower and the Black Abbey. The competition and judging took place on Saturday afternoon and there was a large attendance.  This year’s judge was Peter McCloskey FRPS APAGB who was very thorough in his analysis and gave feedback and commented on all the images submitted. The results were announced by IPF President Michael O’Sullivan during a celebratory dinner that evening in the Pembroke Hotel. Congratulations go to Scotland on again winning this year’s Celtic Challenge competition, successfully defending their title. Congratulations also to the winners of the three individual awards, all of whom were from Ireland:

  • Judy Boyle won the best monochrome print title,
  • Gabriel O’Shaughnessy receiving best colour print and
  • Chris Ducker claiming best projected image.

You can find the full results and some of the winning images over on the IPF website:

Thanks and appreciation must go to the SACC Committee for organising a super event. The organising committee members were Niamh Whitty from the Cork Camera Group,  Richie Dwyer (SACC chairman), David Barrie, Liam Cahill,  Ned Mahon, and Eamon Wall from Kilkenny Photographic Society. A special word of thanks goes to Andy Magan, Kilkenny Photographic Society, for his great work in helping to make the weekend the success that it was. Also thanks to John Cuddihy who acted os our liaison with the IPF prior to and during the competition.

All who attended the competition during the weekend were complementary and positive in their comments and considered the event to be a resounding success.

Our thanks also goes to the following, in no particular order!  :

  • Peter McCloskey for judging and providing insightful comments on all the images during the judging.
  • The representatives who travelled from the competing federations.
  • SACC committee members who organised and ran the event.
  • The IPF for assistance and sponsoring content for our ‘goodie bags’ for the visitors.
  • Members of the Kilkenny Photographic Society for their assistance with the Hook Head trip and throughout the weekend.
  • Alan Doheny from Proof Brand and Design Agency for the gorgeous logo he produced for this year’s Kilkenny based event – check it out above!
  • The management and staff of the Pembroke Hotel, Kilkenny, who provided top class facilities and served up a great meal for the celebratory dinner on Saturday evening
  • Thanks also to everyone who attended from near and far, including members from other IPF affiliated camera clubs, including Blarney, Waterford, Carrick-on-Suir, Mallow and Dublin.

If we’ve forgotten anyone, please accept our apologies and drop us a note to let us know; we’ll be happy to update this article!

Take a look at the successful Irish individual images and the Irish Panels on the IPF website.

Below is our gallery of images from the weekend, including the presentation of trophies at the awards dinner.

Ray Spence Lecture Tour

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Siren 1 A3We are delighted to announce that Ray Spence FRPS will be conducting a lecture tour in the SACC region this autumn.  There will be a €5 cover charge for each talk.

Rough details below with further details, times and venues to follow.

  • Saturday, October 31st in Carlow (morning)
  • Monday, November 2nd in Wexford (evening)
  • Tuesday, November 3rd in Cork (evening)

Ray is a fine art photographer, author and lecturer.
He is the co author of five books on photographic technique and has exhibited extensively at many venues including The Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry,
La Manege in St Petersburgh, The Royal Albert Hall in London and the Royal Photographic Society in Bath.

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He has lectured for many academic and private institutions including Warwickshire College and Birmingham City University.
His work spans all photographic genre from digital to wet plate collodion.
In 2013 he was awarded the honour of the Fenton Medal from the Royal Photographic Society.

www.rayspence.co.uk

Celtic Challenge 2015

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Celtic_Challenge_Kilkenny_2015_Logo

We are delighted to announce that the SACC, in conjunction with the IPF (Irish Photographic Federation), will be hosting the Celtic Challenge competition this year.  The Celtic Challenge is an annual international photographic competition between federations from celtic nations.  The competition travels between countries and Ireland through the SACC finds itself once again in a position to host it this year.

IPF Logos 14 small facebook profileThe competition itself will be held in the Pembroke Hotel in Kilkenny City on Saturday, September 19th 2015 and we have organising a full weekend of activities as we look forward to welcoming visitors to beautiful Kilkenny and surrounding area. Take a look at this gallery from when we hosted the competition in 2013 in Cork!

The full schedule is outlined below, followed by the booking form. We’d be delighted to see you for any or all of the weekend, so book your spot now! Viewing the judging of the competition itself is free of charge! The competition features ten colour prints, ten monochrome prints and ten projected images from each federation. The federation receiving the highest overall score is announced as the winner!

Any questions or queries, please send them to us via the contact page on our website and we’d be delighted to respond!

  • Friday, September 18th
    Last Light at Hook HeadJoin us for a visit to the Hook Head peninsula in Co Wexford which is approx 75 mins drive from Kilkenny. There one can visit one of the oldest operational lighthouses in the world, dating back some 800 years. The area is also home to the historic Dunbrody and Tintern abbeys. The day will also include a stop for lunch and a visit to the pretty village of Inistiogue in Co Kilkenny and to the Woodstock Estate and Gardens.  Cost is €30. For those wishing to avail of the guided tour, please note this costs €6 extra – payable directly to the Visitor Centre at Hook Head.
  • Saturday, September 19th
    Tintern Abbey (1 of 1)A morning tour of Kilkenny city’s highlights including Kilkenny Castle, St Canice’s Cathedral and Rothe House and Gardens. Cost is €15.
    On Saturday afternoon we will have the judging of the images while on Saturday evening we will have a dinner in the Pembroke Hotel. Viewing of judging is free of charge. Dinner costs €30.
  • Sunday, September 20th
    Free time for those who wish to explore Kilkenny further. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for suggestions!

Bookings close on Friday September 4th 2015!

SACC Interclub Competition 2015 – Report

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There was a great attendance at last weekend’s SACC interclub competition in Kilkenny with 12 clubs taking part and around 150 attendees for the judges’ comments in the afternoon. Thanks to our judges for the day; Ciara Drennan AIPF from Portlaoise Camera Club, Paul Stanley FIAP EFIAP EsFIAP from Dublin Camera Club and Gabriel O’Shaughnessy FIAP MFIAP FRPS EFIAP/b from Dundalk Photographic Society. They did an excellent job and their helpful comments on the various panels were very well received.

Thanks to Kilkenny Photographic Society for hosting the event and the many club members who helped make the day run so smoothly. A big thank you is also due to Niamh Whitty and Jason Town from Cork Camera Group for their expert assistance on the day.

Loreto Secondary School in Kilkenny proved to be an excellent venue for the competition and thanks goes to staff at the school for accommodating every request made of them.

Several of our existing trophies had reached capacity and were retired at this event and several new trophies were donated. We’ll write a full post later in the year regarding all of these. Suffice to say, thank you to all trophy donators, old and new.

Congratulations go to Cork Camera Group who completed the triple by winning the competition for the third year in a row.  Wexford Camera Club took second place overall and Blarney Photography, a club that’s only a few years old, were delighted to be announced as third overall.  Blarney also took second place in Monochrome print with Wexford taking third in Monochrome print and second in Colour print. Mallow Camera Club claimed third spot in Colour print and joint second in Projected section. This was shared with Carlow Photographic Society – in their very first SACC Competition!   Congratulations to all clubs and special thanks to the team in each club involved in the selection of club panels who help make this such a great competition.

The individual award winners are as follows – and again, our congratulations!

Best overall & best monochrome print: Barry Walsh with “Empire” from Wexford Camera Club
Best colour print: Vladimir Morozov with “Poppy” from Wexford Camera Club
Best projected image: Roger Jones with “Up and Over” from Carlow Photographic Society

All winning panels & images are shown below – click to enlarge.  These, along with presentation & other images from the day are now available over in SACC Interclub 2015 Gallery here on our website. For even more images from the day, take a look at some of the preparations over on our Facebook page (and be sure to ‘like’ the page while you are there!).

For full results, please go to our results page.

Thank you for your participation and we look forward to an even bigger event next year!

SACC Interclub 2015 – Schedule

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overall trophyWe look forward to another exciting competition this coming Sunday as we wait to see the panels competing for the title of SACC Interclub Champions 2015.  The competition will be held at Loreto Secondary School, Granges Road, Kilkenny.

Can Cork Camera Group retain the title and make is three in a row?  Will long-standing title holders Mallow Camera Club reclaim the title once again?  Do the host club Kilkenny Photographic Society have the winning panels this year having being so close in previous years?  Will the trophy be moving to the South East with Wexford Camera Club & Waterford Camera Club in the mix? Or will it be one of the newer clubs?!

The trophy pictured on the right was donated by Enniscorthy Camera Club and is the trophy that the overall winning club receives. We have several new trophies this year as some of the older trophies had filled up, and we’ll be introducing these on the day too.

There are also trophies and certificates on offer at club level for each section and also gold medals for best image in each section individually!

Please note that there is a general meeting of the SACC scheduled for 10.15am. Please attend and welcome the new committee in their introductions, hear the plans for the coming year and get involved with your suggestions.

For some helpful advise on preparing panels, please read this article!

We extend our thanks to the members of Kilkenny Photographic Society who are helping to host the event and to Limerick & District Photographic Society for the use of their panel boards.

The judges are listed below. Please note that no competing club or member is permitted to approach any judge with regard to any scores or decisions in relation to the competition.

  •  Ciara Drennan AIPF, Portlaoise Camera Club
  •  Paul Stanley FIPF EFIAP EsFIAP, Dublin Camera Club
  •  Gabriel O’Shaughnessy FIPF MFIAP FRPS EFIAP/b, Dundalk Photographic Society

Finally, we’d like to take this opportunity to wish all clubs the very best of luck.

The schedule for the day is outlined below and while we will do our best to ensure we follow it as closely as possible, please bear in mind that some parts of the day are always unscripted!  Please note that prints may not be removed from panel boards until the conclusion of the competition.  Each club will receive a printed copy of its scores at the end of competition – please be sure to pick up the copy for your club.

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