Uncategorized Archives - Athy Photographic Society

James Mahon EFIAP

On June 8th our club member James Mahon was awarded an EFIAP Distinction. The event was held at the Dublin Camera club and also featured an exhibition of images by the 27 Irish recipients of FIAP awards. James started competing in international competitions, known as salons in August 2016. Since then he has been awarded a PPSA Distinction by the Photographic Society of America and an AFIAP and EFIAP Distinction by To apply for EFIAP you must be the holder of the AFIAP Distinction by the Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique (FIAP)
In order to receive the EFIAP James had to achieve the following requirements
a) At least 250 Acceptances for Exhibition with a total of at least 50 different photographs.
b) This success must have come from at least 30 different salons with FIAP Patronage, and those salons must be spread over at least 20 different countries.
c) At least 12 of your 50 photographs must each have gained at least ONE acceptance as a PRINT as well as any PDI
e) To have at least two different photographs that have each received at least one award. These awards must have been gained in different salons from different countries.
He was also required to submit a CD Portfolio of 5 digital image files to FIAP. These photographs had each received at least 3 acceptances from FIAP Patronised Salons and included at least two that have received awards

James Mahon with IPF President Domnic Reddin

2019 Wildlife Panel Competition

On May 15th. the Members of the Athy Photography Society

held their Annual Wildlife Competition in the Community Family Resource Centre Woodstock St, Athy. It was very well attended and many of the members participated hoping to achieve the title of the APS Wildlife Photographer for 2019 and taking home the Paddy Joe Ryan Perpetual Wildlife Trophy. Each participant submitted a panel of 6 wildlife photographs. The Competition was judged by a long standing member of the South Kildare Camera Club (SKCC), Kieran Commins, renowned for his landscapes wildlife photography from many parts of the globe. Competing against incredible stiff competition and for the 2nd Year running it was Con Doyle won the title and the Paddy Joe Ryan Perpetual Wildlife Trophy. Well deserved as Con presented a panel of 6 magnificent Photographs.

Con receiving his trophy from our sponsor Paddy Joe Ryan

The competition judge Kieran Commins, our Chairman Peadar Doogue, winner Con Doyle and sponsor Paddy Joe Ryan

Kieran Commins providing feedback to the participants and audience

Club WhatsApp Group

In the early of 2018 the club created a WhatsApp group for members. It has proved to be a very effective tool in terms of communication in the club. The group is Administred by Alan Salter. Alan can be contacted via email (allysalt “AT” hotmail.com). All members are requested to register for this group as going forward it will be used as the primary communication platform within the club.

Club Meeting Report – Feb 6th. 2019

We were privileged to have a display and presentation from our colleague Naoise Kelly. Naoise produced some wonderful Landscape and Seascape images. He went into great depth regarding the process of capturing these masterpieces. There was great discussion and questions / answers among members.

We also had the first of our popular “Show and Tell” sessions for the year. Four members exhibited there work and it was really enjoyed the members who found it both very beneficial and highly entertaining.

Presentation to Happy Days

At our club meeting of February 6th on behalf of the Members of the Athy Photography Society (APS) Peadar Doogue Chairman, presented €500 to Siofra Merrin (Manager) and John Delaney Chairman of the Board of Management of HAPPY DAYS Community Childcare School, Woodstock St Athy. The €500 was a small contribution from the sales of the APS 2019 Calendar (Images of Athy)

The Chairman thanked Business People who sponsored pages in the Calendar, also thanked all who sold and all who purchased their Calendar.

Monitor Calibration

The club have purchased a Monitor Calibration Unit and it is available free of charge to members. It is suitable for use with both Laptops and Desktops. It runs on both Windows and Mac. It is relatively easy to use and makes a considerable difference when trying to match output from Computer screens and printers.

It has been decided to locate the unit a JM Computers in Stanhope Street, Athy. It can be collected from there by prior appointment or the calibration can be carried in the shop. It is hoped that all members will avail of this useful utility.

2019 Committee Members

The following are the Officers of the club for 2019

Chairman Peadar Doogue

Vice Chairman Paddy Joe Ryan

Secretary Willie Quinlan

Treasurer Pat Fleming

PRO Peadar Doogue

Committee Chris Bradshaw

Paddy Joe takes top spot

Long standing member Paddy Joe Ryan has been recently crowned Athy Photographic Society Photographer of the Year for 2018. He proved to be a hugely popular winner with a great panel of 6 wildlife images. The competition was held on November 21^st. at the Athy Family Resource Centre.

The format of the Photographer of the Year has changed and now it is decided on a panel of 6 images from each photographer. We have considerably reduced the amount of competitions in the club since last year. We have concentrated on helping and mentoring each other rather than competing against each other. The change has proved to be a wonderful success as could be witnessed on the night with members helping each other and giving advice on the presentation of the panels.

12 members participated and we extend hearty congratulations to each and every one. It was amazing to see all the fantastic photos displaying the various photography skills of our members. We are very grateful to Mr. Noel Buckley of South Kildare Camera Club who judged the event. Noel said he was very impressed with the very standard of photography and he found it very difficult to arrive at a final result. The members are very much appreciative of the time and effort Noel invested in the night and found his in depth and knowledgeable analysis to be very helpful.

The night ended with Paddy Joe being declared the winner and Chris Bradshaw in his first year as a member and the first occasion displaying images was awarded the Intermediate title.

Midland Photography Group Competition

Sunday November 11th marked the fourth edition of the Midland Photography Group Competition. The venue as in previous years was the Tullamore Court Hotel. Athy Photographic Society has a great record in this event, winning the first two editions in 2015 and 2016. In 2017 we finished down the field but this year we bounced right back. We finished in second place only narrowly beaten by Carlow Camera Club. Members were delighted with the performance which is a great reward the work and effort put in over the last year.

The competition consisted of 7 clubs from Carlow, Kildare, Laois and Offaly. Each club must submit 2 printed panels ; 8 Black and White images and 8 Colour images. Any one individual can only supply a maximum of two images. Each image is judged in terms of technical excellence, composition and visual impact. This year’s judges were Bill Power and John Finn, both international accredited judges from Cork. They invested a huge amount of time in effort in analysing the images and then providing very insightful comments to the large attendance.

Prizes are awarded to the best overall club, best overall image and also to the best black and white image and the best colour image from each panel. The prizes in Athy went to James Mahon in Black and White and Con Doyle in Colour.

Chairman Peadar Doogue receives award on behalf of the Club for second place.

Con Doyle, Best Colour Image in the Athy Panel

James Mahon, Best Black and White Image in the Athy Panel

2019 Calendar

We launched our 2019 Calendar on the opening night of our annual exhibition. As in previous years we have selected images from the local Athy area. We are delighted that this year’s edition features the work of thirteen of our members. Calendars are priced at €5 each and available from local shops or from club members. We are hugely indebted to our sponsors who make the production of this calendar possible. This year’s sponsors are

Shaws Department Store

Francis B, Taaffe & Co Solicitors

Liffey Mills

O’Brien’s Bar & Grocery

Moore’s Life Pharmacy

Clancy’s

Connaughton Auctioneers

JM Computer Services

Quinn’s Tyre Service and Animal Feed

People First Credit Union

Paddy Dunne’s Bar, Lounge and Off Licence

Pascal Greaney Butchers