Page 10 - Cape-Camera-September-2023

Cape Camera September 2023

Left: Obie Oberholzer signing
his books during a presentation
he gave in Cape Town, hosted
by CTPS.

Right: Friso Woudstra of Klein-
mond will talk about AVs at the
Calitzdorp congress.

Cape Photographers’ Congress 2024 Calitzdorp
Join us in the port capital: 28 April —1May

Cape Photographers is a regional association compris- Koot Marais is a wildlife guru who has often lectured at
ing the three old Cape areas that now form the PSSA JAP meetings — but as a member of the Honours Com-
regions Western Cape, Garden Route and Eastern Cape. mittee, he is an expert on many photographic genres.
The object of the association is to promote photography Friso Woudstra, an award-winning AV-maker from the
in the regions, but it is known for organising truly enjoy- Western Cape, will share some of the secrets for making
able and memorable congresses. winning documentary AVs.
The success recipe of the Cape Photographers’ congress- Maryna Cotton and Sarel van Staden are professional
es can be summarised as finding a relatively small town photographers who have joined forces under the Photo-
with a big hall, enough affordable accommodation and wise studio. They have various commercial clients.
good food prepared by the tannies or the local restau- The Cape Photographers’ congresses are more relaxed
rants. The main ingredients are, however, excellent and than the PSSA congresses (no banquet, for example!)
desirable photo opportunities and speakers that will in- and are also more affordable. If you book before 31
spire people to travel long distances to attend. January 2024, the Early Bird fee for a Loyal* Cape Pho-
Next year veteran organiser Paul Rixom and his team tographer or PSSA member will be R2 500 for four full
will introduce delegates to everything on offer in Cal- days of lectures, teas, lunches and suppers. The fee for
itzdorp, known for its port wines, ostriches, and scenic non-members is R2 750. Read more here.
landscapes. With surrounding passes quaintly named * Loyal Cape Photographers would have attended at
Bobbejaanskloof Pass and Seweweekspoort there are least three of their congresses.
obviously many photo opportunities.
The speakers in the preliminary programme are draw- Print circuit to be judged at the congress
cards, par excellence. A unique feature of the Calitzdorp Congress is that
Obie Oberholzer will present two lectures (Going Dutch a print circuit salon will be linked to the congress —
and Painting with Light) and it is safe to say these will and be judged live by judges from the three regions. A
NOT be boring. Obie always surprises. print entered in any category will therefore have three
Willem Oets is another photographer and documen- chances to be accepted, or win an award, in either the
tary film maker from whom one can always expect the Western Cape, Eastern Cape or Garden Route leg of
unexpected (and entertainment!). Apart from a lecture, the circuit ... or all three!
he will also present a workshop.

Members’ questions at Congress (continued)

indicating a relationship with PSSA. Members who can A: It has not become easier to achieve Honours — on
no longer afford the membership fee, are encouraged average about a third of the approximately 100 panels
to approach PSSA to come to an agreement. Most pro- submitted for each judging round succeed. This has re-
fessional associations (e.g. chartered accountants, insur- mained fairly constant for many years. Different types
ance, etc.) require you to remain a member if you want of Honours have been added, like DPSSA etc. for salon
to continue using the title bestowed on members. acceptances, but that gives everybody something to
The large numbers of Honours now being award- work towards. Other people’s Honours do not reduce
ed seem to dilute the prestige of the honours as the prestige of your own, but offers different avenues for
there are so many available. people to achieve it.

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