PAGB 'D' - 21 April 2018

This time last year, buoyed up by some success in the KCPA Exhibition (1 Gold, 1 Ribbon, 2 Merits and 4 other acceptances), and also various BPEs, I made a rash decision to apply for my PAGB ‘D’ Distinction in the Awards of Photographic Merit.  These awards are only open to members of clubs affiliated to the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB) through their Federations and are at 3 levels;

Credit (CPAGB) = Good Club Photography Standard

Distinction (DPAGB) = Open Exhibition Photography Standard

Master (MPAGB) = Highest Standard of UK Amateur Photography

To achieve the ‘D’ you have to submit 15 images which, in the opinion of the adjudicators, are likely to be accepted into open exhibitions.  This is the difficult bit as open exhibition standards vary greatly with some accepting as low as 18% and others 40% (these are generally considered to be just cash cows) and also the calibre of the adjudicators.  BPEs (British Photographic Exhibitions) are generally considered to be of a higher standard than those run under the FIAP (Federation Internationale de L’Art Photographique) which occur throughout the world (including UK).

Incidentally the ‘C’ = Good Club Photography which I achieved in May 2016 is just as difficult to predict as club standards vary so much and are particularly higher in the North/Midlands.

Anyway I made an initial selection of images based on their BPE acceptance ratios (I didn’t at that stage do FIAPs) and attended a couple of advisory days taking onboard the feedback which included reprocessing some images and scrapping others completely.

With an adjudication date of April 2018 the plan was to run through my chosen images with fellow club member and Kent’s leading judge, Richard Walton, prior to making my final decision  – sadly that was not to be as he became terminally ill - and I ended up making some wild decisions early March at the deadline to upload my entry.

The event was held in Chorley Lancashire and we drove up on Saturday night so we could deliver the prints by the required 9am on Sunday.

A brief explanation of the adjudication process.

Each entrants No.1 image will be put up under the daylight lamp in turn, then all the No.2s and so on and the adjudicators, who are seated approx 1m away, have literally seconds to appraise and vote.  They can ask to look closer at any print if they wish (to check sharpness etc)

6 adjudicators each with a 2,3,4 or 5 vote

-      4 means YES in the adjudicators opinion the image is of the standard.

-      2 means NO it’s below standard in their opinion (not necessarily meaning its a bad image)

-      3 is a NEAR MISS

and

-      5 means they think it is of the next standard up (in this case Master)

So you have 15 images which ideally will score each 24 (6 adjudicators all scoring a 4) giving a total of 360 out of a possible 450.  However given the adjudicators are not robots and have their own differing opinions, likes and dislikes, the “pass mark” is set at 300 which in reality means an average of 20 per image.  Whilst it would be nice to think all my images would be of the standard, I’ll be quite happy if I can get the 20 average.

Today there are 31 print applicants and perceived wisdom says put your strongest images in last and this is what I’ve done.  As with the C (the first level qualification), in my mind the whole experience can be summed up in one word – brutal.

Pink Hellebore - accepted into the KCPA exhibition last year but never been tried in any other exhibition as digitally it doesn’t look as good (too bright).  I’d been warned that although it was a good image there would be a lot of flowers (another reason for putting it in first).

I was delighted to get 22.

Look at Him - this has had moderate success in exhibitions but a bit of a Marmite picture with the strong blues. 

Wow, it got 23.

Avalon - just starting on the exhibition circuit and doing OK but I’d been advised it was not easy to instantly see what it was.  

Happy with 20.

I’m flying now, 5 up after only 3 images – can it last?

Carnevale - an old one which hasn’t done as well as I’d have liked but one of Ian’s favourites so I was swayed.  

Sadly the judges weren’t swayed – 17 and back to just 2 up

I’ve been to watch several adjudications in the last couple of years and generally landscapes have scored surprisingly low and so far today that has also been the case so I’m especially nervous as my next image is put up.

Lavender Field - again quite new to exhibition but it has been accepted in about 2/3rds of them and received a couple of awards.   

Thrilled with a 20.

So far today the scores overall seem rather low, with only a couple of 23s and these have been mostly nature shots

Next up is Restoration Project - which has been quite successful image but another Marmite one – 

Scores just 17 so now I’m 1 down.

Sadhu - in my humble opinion one of my better images and having reprocessed as suggested, I‘m feeling quite confident.  

Unfortunately it doesn’t go down at all well and scores an awful 15.  Maybe he still looks too orange – he was orange!!

The recent scores have been shocking all round, perhaps the adjudicators are feeling a bit jaded – luckily a half  hour break is called.

I spend the time chewing my fingers and mentally running through my remaining images trying to second guess what they’ll score and it’s not a good feeling.  I’m now 6 below the average and I really don’t see how I can come back from this.  Even Ian who is Mr Positive is beginning to have his doubts.

It was explained to us at the beginning that there is a “review process” for applicants who fall just a few points short of the required 300 pass so that’s probably the best I can hope for at this stage.

Back in the hall.

Red Eyed Tree Frogs - to be honest this is one of my make weights, I knew from previous experience that nature can score well so although it hasn’t done wonders in exhibitions I thought it was worth a punt.

So glad I put it in – 24 yippee I’m back to only 2 down

Johnny W - being a lifelong horsey person this is my all time favourite image!

Luckily the judges like it too and it scores 23 – I’m back in the pluses.

On the Look Out - a textured version was used in a club competition but it's otherwise untested.

Scores 22

Now overall I’m 3 Up (on the 20 average)

The Card School - very successful in both the KCPA and BPEs but to be honest I’ve struggled with the reprocessing and I’m not feeling confident.  

Scores 18

Family Outing - a newish image from Kenya this and mixed success in the few exhibitions I've entered it into.

Again not to the judges liking – another 18

Holy Man Pashupatinath Temple - this has also been well received in salons but given the score for the last sadhu and other general Indian images I’m dreading this.

Phew!! a little glimmer of hope with a 20

1 down with two images to go

Caged - another very successful image but one that I am aware now looks hideously overprocessed so I know it’s not going to score well.  

I’m right, only 17

Defeated - now 4 down and only 1 image left – I think during the whole morning there has been 1 x 27, a couple of 26s and 25s and a handful of 24s so I don’t have a hope in hell of getting the 24 which I need.  Definitely going to be in the “review” pile.

Up goes my final image

Tibetan Village Tailor - although not an award winner it does have a 92% acceptance rate over 13 exhibitions, best highest acceptance rate which is why its my final image.

I can hardly bear to listen as the score is read out – 24 – Ian and I both stifle squeals – I’ve done it, I’m there - 300 on the nose.

The lady sitting next to me, who was there with her husband for going his M (he got it – marvellous nature photography), had actually written down all the scores for all 31 applicants so I have a few accurate stats

Just 5 of us achieved the required 300+ total, the highest of which got 319 (remember 360 out of 450 is supposedly “of the standard”).

The lowest total score was 231 and there are 8 or so people whose images will probably be reviewed to see if they can squeeze a few more points.  In actual fact all 8 are passed so 13 successful out of 31.

Talking to members of the PAGB team later, many images with good content were let down by bad processing and poor print quality, hence the low scores – something which isn’t necessarily obvious to us looking at the projected audience copies but very evident to the adjudicators sitting a metre away.  A couple of entrants had either not sought advice or had received bad advice as their all images were clearly well below standard.

Well that’s the end of my PAGB Distinction Journey, I’m content with a 'D' and having watched the marvellous Ms go through, I know my limits.  Heartfelt thanks to Ian for all his support and encouragement and of course impeccable mount cutting and to my late mentor and friend Richard Walton FRPS who believed in me - JFDI
 😀