Paul Robinson               President.                                                                                
JP Weibel                      Vice President
Paul Lucas                     Secretary
Rob Sloane                    Treasurer
Gary Smith                     Training
Ron Cork                        Web
Tony Harding                  Library
 Alfred Zommers             Honours                                                                               
Margaret Zommers         Committee

Thanks to Margaret Zommers for all her work over the past few years as APJA Secretary and also Tania Chalmers for her work as Treasurer.

The AGM was followed by a presentation by Ian Bock OAM on his career in photography and his take on the evolution of club judging.

Level 4  (Associate) training.
This was held at St.Peter’s on Sunday 18^th Aug.  Fifteen members from VAPS clubs attended, (Essendon, Melbourne, Williamstown, Knox, Camberwell, Ivanhoe, Casey, Pt Cook, Caulfield).

Topics covered were: Evaluating/Judging Monochrome (Paul Robinson) Evaluating/Judging Abstract (Emma Gillette), Evaluating/ Judging Nature and Wildlife (Kim Wormald), Evaluating/ judging Digital Images (Ron Cork), Evaluating /Judging the Inner Cosmos of Images (Paul Robinson), and Evaluating / Judging Audio Visuals (Sue Rocco).

Thanks to Gary for securing the presenters and putting this day together,  Paul for catering, etc as well as presenting, and Alfred for taking care of the enrolements.

Thanks to the VAPS contribution we pretty well broke even on the day finance wise.

We had hoped to run a Level 5 this year but we have some difficulty in facilitating this at this stage and have tentatively postponed it to be first up around March 2020.

All going well we will have another General meeting this year.

This is scheduled for Sunday 24^th November at St.Peter’s, we will send out more details a little closer to the time. Hopefully we will have a presenter, and there will be time for you to meet up with other judges over afternoon tea. Please try to come along and make this event worth while. It is these events that your fees cover.

Keep in mind Level 5 (Fellow) early 2020 that will include topics such as Judging/evaluating photo essays- series, understanding Art Elements, understanding Concept Design, and knowledge of aesthetics.

 

What: Exploratory meeting about photographic judging on a national basis. 

Where: Victoria Room 1 Mercure Ballarat Hotel & Convention Centre, 613 Main Rd, Golden Point

When: Friday 13 Sept between 2:30pm to 4:00pm

Who: The meeting is open to any APS and APJA members who have an interest in the judging fraternity in Australia but is especially aimed at members who are managing State conducted judging programs; their input towards discussing the issues would be appreciated.  Any prior communication to me about this meeting would be helpful. 
 

Aims: It is designed as an initial exploration of three key points about how to meet growing needs for:
 

1. Training judges nationally
2. Availability of trained judges for National and International Salons held in Australia
3. How to manage the long-term needs of photography judging in Australia
 

Time permitting two further topics to consider are:

The APS and convention organisers are thanked for the opportunity to hold this meeting in response to big picture issues facing photography judging in Australia.

A whole range of activates are in place for this years APSCON, will you be there?
 
Print 2Metal are giving away 5, 20x30inch metal prints, full registrants to APSCON can submit one correctly sized image for selection in this amazing print offer.
A few images received to date, where are all the photographers? You also get a free display stand worth $40, so where are all the entries?

Please send your image to pwk@optusnet.com.au, direct, by WeTransfer or Dropbox by 1^st August.
 
Photoshoot with the live Raptors at the Raptors Centre with Jay Collier from the Canon Collective, not to be missed opportunity to get up close with these magnificent birds, only a couple of seats left, strictly 15 maximum.
 
Thursday Night live photoshoot with the Knights of Kryal Castle, Valiant the fighting horse and maybe a wench or two, lots of fun bring your CAMERA, then we move into the Abbey for dinner and entertainment by the Kryal Castle actors, be prepared for a lively evening.!
Bus from Mercure and return is included, camera gear can be taken into the Abbey, please don’t leave anything on the bus.
 
Thursday, Punks in the Alley photoshoot in Ballarat CBD, great laneway photo shoot with costumed punks, capture the action and colour of this great alleyway in central Ballarat.
 
Another Thursday photo opportunity with a Bride and Groom in a picturesque setting at Kirk’s Reservoir, presented by Ballarat Camera House, quality time to capture those great moments await you.
 
Friday the actions takes off early with a Sunrise photoshoot out at Lake Burrumbeet with local photographer Andrew Thomas, places still available.
 
A special road trip up to Ararat and the infamous JWard Goal and following the included lunch the bus heads off to nearby Aradale Historic Lunatic Asylum, relive the past as you walk the many corridors, pathways and confined areas of this abandoned place, listen to the stories of despair and laughter that the 1000 odd inmates of Arndale endured for many years. Photo opportunities abound. ( Don’t get left behind locked doors )
 
See the full registration details on the APS website for all activities on the Thursday and Friday before the APSCON conference gets underway in the Eureka Ballroom of the Mercure Hotel Ballarat.
 
Top presenters to enlighten with their special presentations, some group presentations, general business and overall a great opportunity to relax and reacquaint with APS members in the lovely surrounds of the Mercure Hotel.
 
Free bus to Ballarat runs from Mercure and return each day, a great opportunity to explore Ballarat and take in the Biennale exhibitions, a free ticket to the Liu Bolin exhibition in the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery is included with each full registration, check out the Biennale, it also has so much to offer, don’t let this visit to Ballarat go past all of the great photographic opportunities open to you.
 
APSCON 2019 has so much to offer, too good to miss, check out the APS website for the full programme.

Danielle LeGassick: editor@vaps.org.au