The Liskeard and District Camera Club - Articles

THE PAGB AWARDS - My Story - by Janet Downes

Back in March last year I put in my application for assessment for the Credit Award of the PAGB; heard in May I had a place for the North Wales venue in November, then thought "It's ages away, plenty of time to get ten prints together". Now I was actually there - the six judges were getting seated, doors closing and already I was thinking "How did I ever think my pictures were up to this standard - what possessed me!". Before the start of the proceedings images from the previous day's Distinction entries were on display -wonderful pictures but not good for self confidence. Then, immediately before judging proper started, several successful Credit standard images from previous adjudications were shown to the judges so they could "get their eye in" so to speak. Again not good for my confidence - I was so glad we were sitting at the back and the lights were off.

Nerves kicked in, slight tremble in the fingers holding the pen to write my scores - then the first image of the day goes up, a vibrant picture taken in a fairground, good score; second image and so on then suddenly there is my first picture of the old baths at Bath taken with my "point and shoot" camera of all things - what had I been thinking of! - but then after what seemed an age but in reality was a few seconds my score of 20 was announced - relief. So continued the morning as the entrants' first images were marked then all the second images were marked and so on. By the coffee break half of the images had been marked and I was on course to pass but I tried not to be too hopeful because I had doubts about my last two pictures meeting the standard. I was proved right as both scored below 20 (18 and 17) but not low enough to matter as my score was still over the magic 200 points to pass. I had done it! I had presented my work for judgement by six judges of international standing and they had deemed that I had achieved the standard - a great feeling. Later that day we were presented with our badges - Blue for Credit level - and I do admit that when I was called out - "From the Western Counties Federation, Liskeard Camera Club, Janet Downes" I felt some pride to hear the Club's name and be representing it. Make no mistake, however much you may try to minimise the importance of what you are doing, when there and being judged it is serious and you do want to do well and it is nerve wracking.

There are three PAGB Awards - the first being Credit level which is described as good (ie above average) club level photography - your images are likely to do well in Club competitions and represent your club in inter-club competitions. The next Award is Distinction level then Masters (dream on). You have the choice of entering ten prints or ten projected images for Credit level - it was interesting that far more people entered prints. Each image is marked individually - they are not presented as a panel. Each image can score a maximum of 30. You must score 200 in total to pass so each image must average 20 points. Few prints scored 25 or more. The rare images that scored 28 and I think there were only two or three out of 510 prints earned a well deserved round of applause. You can post your entry instead of attending but I am so glad I went if only to see other peoples' work and chat to other entrants. The whole atmosphere both at the venue and in the hotel was supportive and inspiring.

I would encourage other club members to have a go. It will improve your photography and provide a focus. Choosing ten pictures may sound easy but they must be as technically good as you can make them -sharp, well composed - an image that shows you have put something of yourself into the making. More information about the Awards are on both the WCPF and PAGB websites.

Janet Downes CPAGB (!)