Disappointment at PAGB
21st January 2010
Last year I decided it was time to prove to myself that I could gain the 'Masters' merit award from the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain. This allows me to put MPAGB after my name and is acknowledgement that my photography skills can be compared with some of the best photographers in Great Britain.
When I applied for an adjudication I decided to submit in the digital form, but unfortunately PAGB were only just getting round to running digital adjudications. This seems a little behind the times to me, but I was asked to postpone my adjudication for 12 months to allow the digital adjudications process to be tested at the 'Credit' and 'Distinction' levels.
Late last year, 2009, I received a note to say that 'Digital Masters' would be run for the first time in November 2010, and that I should book early as they expected places to be booked up quite quickly. I think my application was sent the very next day ;-)
I've just received another letter from PAGB informing me that the Digital Masters adjudication in November is now cancelled, and would you believe it due to a lack of applications. Only one other application was received for the digital format. I've been offered a place on either the slide or print adjudication or to have my submission fee refunded.
I can't believe that there are no other 'Masters' level applicants out there who are working in digital. Apparently there are enough who will submit in slides. I don't know how this can be, the last time I saw a film camera was years ago.
So, I'm totally undecided at this point, whether to risk having my digital images converted to slides and possibly losing quality or to just walk away from PAGB altogether until the numbers (digital photographers) come through from the lower ranks. I have some thinking to do.
The fact that I've had my submission turned down twice without getting the opportunity to show my images is so frustrating.
Rant over!!
When I applied for an adjudication I decided to submit in the digital form, but unfortunately PAGB were only just getting round to running digital adjudications. This seems a little behind the times to me, but I was asked to postpone my adjudication for 12 months to allow the digital adjudications process to be tested at the 'Credit' and 'Distinction' levels.
Late last year, 2009, I received a note to say that 'Digital Masters' would be run for the first time in November 2010, and that I should book early as they expected places to be booked up quite quickly. I think my application was sent the very next day ;-)
I've just received another letter from PAGB informing me that the Digital Masters adjudication in November is now cancelled, and would you believe it due to a lack of applications. Only one other application was received for the digital format. I've been offered a place on either the slide or print adjudication or to have my submission fee refunded.
I can't believe that there are no other 'Masters' level applicants out there who are working in digital. Apparently there are enough who will submit in slides. I don't know how this can be, the last time I saw a film camera was years ago.
So, I'm totally undecided at this point, whether to risk having my digital images converted to slides and possibly losing quality or to just walk away from PAGB altogether until the numbers (digital photographers) come through from the lower ranks. I have some thinking to do.
The fact that I've had my submission turned down twice without getting the opportunity to show my images is so frustrating.
Rant over!!