Page 8 - Cape-Camera-Jan-Feb-2022

January/February 2022 Cape Camera

Zoom versus physical meetings – it is all about emotion and feeling” he offered valuable advice
to clubs that have Abstract as a competition theme.
Some Western Cape clubs have embraced the relaxation of It is very important to specify in the rules of the competition
most of the Covid measures and are meeting in person again. what will be acceptable, or not, when judging genres like Ab-
Others, however, prefer to stay on Zoom or are exploring the stract, Martin said. The guidelines for the judges and entrants
option of having hybrid meetings (Zoom combined with physi- must be very clear. For example:
cal meetings). Interestingly, the smaller clubs are meeting phys- • May you present images with elements that have not been
ically, while the larger clubs, who often have members from created in a camera?
other provinces and countries tend to continue with Zoom. • May you include recognisable elements?
Other factors that influence the decisions of larger clubs are • Will Abstract Impressionism (think Monet, Renoir) and Ab-
that they are in the city and members are not too comfortable stract Expressionism (think Rothko) be allowed?
driving to meetings at night, especially if they are elderly. These • Will art genres like surrealism and cubism be acceptable?
clubs also organize regular outings for members, where they What about partial abstracts?
can enjoy socializing. He also strongly recommends that a club asks an artist as well as
At the first meeting of the Western Cape Photographic Forum photographer to judge art genres like Abstract. And, how about
(WCPF) virtual or physical meetings was a recurring theme in including a Creative Section in all club competitions, as Martin
the feedback provided by clubs. suggests.
Meet or Zoom? There are again 27 aspirant judges who registered for the sec-
• CTPS (following a member survey): Zoom & regular out- ond leg of the accreditation programme – the same number
ings. (Please read the latest update on this issue on Page 2 as last year. Apart from the monthly sessions, where experts in
'News from Council') their fields guide the participants about how to adjudicate im-
• Creative Camera: First live meeting in February. ages in the genre, there will be some sessions this year where
• Durbanville: Live meetings. the candidates will be evaluated – and those who are successful
• Fish Hoek: Zoom & having outings. will receive accreditation as judges.
• Helderberg: Some groups meet - others do Zoom. Have Martin Osner was an obvious choice as an expert in art photog-
started outings raphy, including Abstract, as his online Landscape, Art Photog-
• Hermanus: Plan live meetings and outings. Exhibition raphy and Fine Art Photography courses attract photographers
planned to celebrate 25th Anniversary this year. from across the world. A new course is starting at the end of
• Swartland: Live meetings and some virtual. Planning work- the month and another in May. He is also a successful photo-
shops and outings. graphic art gallery owner, where work produced by himself and
• Tafelberg: Zoom. Planning workshops and exhibition at his daughter Samantha is sold with art produced by other top
Paarl Art School. photographers.
• Tygerberg: Zoom (there venue is not available). Regular
outings.
• Witzenberg: Started live meetings. Outings planned. Level.Up Exhibition

If you are looking for inspiration for your next photographic
Honours Awards & Impala Trophy project then visit this photographic art exhibition at the PJ Ol-
ivier Art School in Stellenbosch, where the work of 14 Western
Three Western Cape members were awarded DPSSA Honours, Cape club members are being exhibited until 4 March.
which means that they each got 125 acceptances with a mini- It is a culmination of two years’ inspiration and perseverance to
mum of 42 images. They are Elizma Fourie of Hermanus (Open) take their photography to the next level – hence Level.Up. The
and Tygerberg members David Barnes (Open) and Clifford Wy- idea originated from the Artsy Fartsy group that Lynne Kruger-
eth (Mono). Haye ran from home for some four years. Photographers keen
Further good news about salon acceptances is that the Western to explore creative photography, which was not popular in
Cape started 2022 with two members in the Top 20 of the Impa- mainstream camera clubs at the time, met regularly to share
la Trophy PDI Log – Phil Sturgess of Hermanus (No. 17) and Kim ideas and their work.
Stevens of CTPS (No. 20) – plus two more in the Top 30, namely In November of that year, Lynne, who was chairperson of Tyger-
Christo Giliomee of Paarl (No. 25) and Dante Parisi of Fish Hoek berg Photographic Society, decided to place it on a more formal
(No. 28). There are currently 14 Western Cape members among footing within the club structure and to continue meeting on
the Top 100 and a total of 88 members (including eight from zoom. She invited Stephen Burgstahler, who headed the club’s
schools) among the more than 600 South African photogra- Education portfolio, to assist her to develop a formal framework
phers with salon acceptances. covering 12-months and to help the participants to achieve
their goals.
Abstract tips for clubs from JAP The interest expressed at the Western Cape Photographic Fo-
rum encouraged them to cast the net much wider than just Ty-
Trudi du Toit reports that the 2022 JAP (Judging Accreditation gerberg and members from clubs across the Peninsula joined.
Programme) started with a very enjoyable session on Abstract Level.Up started with about 40 people, many from towns and
Photography by Martin Osner. Apart from making the aspirant dorpies as far afield as George, Knysna and Sedgefield. At the
judges sit upright by declaring “there are no rules in judging art end of last year 26 completed their portfolios.

7 Cape Town Photographic Society