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The fifth edition of the Australian Photographic Society’s Photobook Competition received a record breaking 37 entries from 13 camera clubs. Congratulations to the six winners across the Storytelling and Portfolio categories - Lou Gilbert, Helen McFadden, Brian Rope, Lesley Bretherton, Paul Balfe and Anne Pappalardo - who share prizes of $500 cash from the APS Print Group and $1400 in photo book vouchers from Momento Pro. The competition attracted 18 entries in the Storytelling category, and 19 in the Portfolio category, from 20 female entrants and 11 males entrants, from camera clubs across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT. They presented a diversity of photographic genres and subjects including landscape, portrait, travel, nature, architectural, street and fine art nude photography. Most entries were hardcover books in landscape format with printed covers, featuring lay-flat paper or binding. |
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Yvonne Hill, outgoing Competition Coordinator turns the pages of one of the competition entries for the digital judging by Momento Pro’s Libby Jeffrey (on the laptop screen) |
Major thanks go to outgoing competition coordinator Yvonne Hill, and incoming coordinator Anne Pappalardo, who this year introduced the Storytelling and Portfolio categories, negotiated more prizes of greater value, and adapted the judging process to meet COVID requirements. Judging took place on 22 August at the Art at Heart studio in Bellbowrie. Sue Gordon (President of the Photographic Society of Queensland) and Warren Vievers (accredited judge for the Photographic Society of Queensland) reviewed the books physically, while Libby Jeffery (co-founder at Momento Pro) Zoomed in from NSW. To allow Libby to judge remotely, the coordinators presented each book to multiple video cameras, describing their physical characteristics, reading out essential text, and flicking through every page. |
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Judge Warren Vievers |
After five hours of review, the judges’ scores were analysed and the six winners were confirmed. The judges awarded the following books for their excellence and fitness for purpose in photography, sequencing of images, design, layout and typography. The Storytelling category winners also showed an originality in concept and design, and an engaging visual narrative. The judges’ rationale for selecting each book is outlined below. With five years of coordinating the competition under her belt, Yvonne Hill confirmed that, "the standard of winning entries continues to improve year after year and 2020’s entries were no exception.” Libby Jeffery stated that, “all the winning books showed an appreciation for white space, symmetry and consistent alignment, and many of the books made good use of text and extra graphics to enhance the story behind the photos. We hope the process of reviewing, editing and sequencing photos into a book layout helped the entrants develop new skills, and inspired them to work on more creative photo series or projects in the future.” |
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PORTFOLIO WINNERS |
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Hokkaido Winter 2020 |
Hokkaido Winter 2020 by Lesley Bretherton of Melbourne Camera Club Prizes: $150 cash and $350 Momento Pro voucher Watch a video of the book https://youtu.be/NI877C5YLdE This book was the unanimous winner, due to its immaculate landscape photographs that were poetically paired with a haiku. The font style and colour blend beautifully with the tone of the photography, while the placement of a Location Index at the back of the book is in keeping with the book’s minimalist nature. Hokkaido Winter 2020 is a visual meditation. |
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Brian Rope with ‘Liked’ |
Liked by Brian Rope of Canberra Photographic Society and Canberra PhotoConnect Prizes: $75 cash and $250 Momento Pro voucher Watch a video of the book https://youtu.be/cnU2bqeRyQ4 Liked presented an engaging series of abstract black and white images and it made us laugh. The image selection was unique and contemporary, as only photos that received a ‘Like’ from a photography peer were chosen. Including the social post text and comments, in the Facebook font, also added to the context and humour. It’s a great creative collaboration. |
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Anne Pappalardo with “Amsterdam Rush Hour” |
Amsterdam Rush Hour by Anne Pappalardo of Queensland Camera Group Prizes: $25 cash, $100 Momento Pro voucher Watch a video of the book https://youtu.be/nvr2hQ64kIs Amsterdam Rush Hour is a well-edited and beautifully sequenced series of photographs of the city’s bike riders. The technically excellent images have been strategically paired and placed on the pages to play on and enhance the concept of motion, and the choice of a matte white stock and black end pages was a perfect match for the monotone imagery. |
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STORYTELLING WINNERS |
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Lou Gilbert with “I”m not here any more” |
I’m not me any more by Lou Gilbert of Brisbane Camera Group Prize: $150 cash and $350 Momento Pro voucher Watch a video of the book https://youtu.be/94hC7VvXSNE Despite its intimate size, this book packs a powerful emotional punch. The portraits of an elderly woman woven in with her comments on moving into a nursing home, are confronting. The grey cover, the addition of deliberately blurred images, and their random placement on the page, all tragically reflect the status of her Alzheimer's affected mind |
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Helen McFadden with “If I had my life over I’d pick more daisies” |
If I Had My Life Over I'd Pick More Daisies by Helen McFadden of Canberra Photo Connect Prize: $75 cash and $250 Momento Pro voucher Watch a video of the book https://youtu.be/z4K0xCqoxkc Helen has brought together all her creative skills in this beautifully edited and formatted photo book. In addition to the excellent photography and fine art photo editing, she enhanced the photographs with botanical illustrations, painting and poetry, making full use of the book format to create her memoir in flowers from 30 years in floral art. |
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Paul Balfe with “The Music of The Spheres” |
The Music of the Spheres by Paul Balfe of Redlands Camera Club Prize: $25 cash and $100 Momento Pro voucher Watch a video of the book https://youtu.be/22wtzVT9TSo Not only are the photographs of moving light sources skilful and fascinating, but the text, font and layout of the book are perfectly aligned with its purpose. The design is clean and consistent, the use of headings and captions makes it feel like a scientific document, while the organic motif used throughout the pages, reflects the concept of movement too. |
Learn more about the APS Photobook competition here [https://www.momentopro.com.au/partners/APSbookcomp ] and keep your eye on the APS eNews [https://www.a-p-s.org.au/index.php/downloads/e-news/e-news-2020] or Momento Pro newsletters [https://www.momentopro.com.au] for the announcement of a webinar on How To Create An Award-winning Photo Book Design, to be hosted in early 2021.
Should you wish to host a photo book competition at your local camera club, and receive a $150 Momento Pro voucher prize email marketing@momentopro.com.au and if you’re not already a member of the Momento Pro Club Program, sign up here [https://www.momentopro.com.au/service/clubs] to receive 30% off your first order then $10 off all future orders.
APP M.Photog
2019 AIPP QLD Professional Photographer of the Year
2019 AIPP QLD Professional Travel Photographer of the Year
2017 AIPP Australian Professional Illustrative Photographer of the Year
2017 AIPP QLD Professional Illustrative Photographer of the Year
2015 AIPP QLD Professional Illustrative Photographer of the Year
2013 AIPP QLD Emerging Photographer of the Year
Compelling Storytelling Images
Brisbane theatre and performance photographer Kris Anderson has a knack for creating rich storytelling images. A longtime performer and musician, Kris primarily photographs actor headshots, theatre advertising, and production images for theatre companies.
A Master of Photography with the AIPP, Kris’ illustrative work is instantly recognisable, tapping into dark, emotive themes of everyday life that resonate with everyone. He frequently explores narratives concerned with modern life, mental health, and the impact of technology on people and relationships. His illustrative compositions have earned Gold awards at state, national and international levels, and in 2017 he was recognised as the AIPP Australian Illustrative Photographer of the Year.
"As photographers we aspire to communicate our ideas clearly to a viewer, to draw them in and reward exploration. In this session Kris will discuss techniques you can use to visualise and plan your storytelling images, and some tools for evaluating your work in progress to ensure you capture and keep a viewer. To help illustrate these concepts, we'll deep dive into some of Kris' illustrative work, sharing some of his successes and failures along the path to effective communication".
Lisa Langell is a full-time, award-winning photographer whose work has appeared in numerous prestigious publications including the cover of Outdoor Photographer magazine, plus numerous images in Arizona Highways, Ranger Rick, art galleries and more. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the North American Nature Photography Association. She is also a proud ambassador for Tamron, FotoPro, and H&Y filters.
Whether it was working as a master floral designer, a licensed psychologist, university faculty, an international consultant in K-12 education, the Chief Business Development Officer of an education technology company, a researcher, a writer, or an artist - she enjoyed meeting each challenge.
Still, her strongest calling was photography-ever since childhood-when bird watching ignited her lifelong love of nature and the camera. In 2010, she turned her passion for photography into a business-and in 2015 she successfully transitioned to photography full-time and left the corporate and consulting world behind.
The journey with photography has definitely been Lisa’s favourite – she loves combining her diverse background and skills into her photographic art and instruction. Bringing joy to others brings joy to her! She thrives on creating innovative learning experiences and pushing photographic boundaries. She equally enjoys enriching, stimulating and expanding fellow photographers’ minds emotionally, creatively and intellectually.
EFIAP MAPS
Heather Prince is a passionate amateur photographer from Geelong and is proud to be President of Geelong Camera Club.
Photography has played a big part in Heather's life since receiving her first camera at 8 years old. Since then she has constantly had a camera nearby and, with the advent of digital photography and Photoshop, photography has become an all-consuming addiction.
Heather has explored most genres of photography in her journey but has a special interest in Still Life photography and Altered Reality image making. Her motto is borrowed from Dianne Arbus: “I never have taken a picture I’ve intended. They’re always better or worse.” According to Heather it is the learning journey that she enjoys most.
"Still Life is a paradox that has been practised in visual representation from the beginning of human existence when men painted objects on cave walls. The great painters of the Renaissance took Still Life to the pinnacle of rich and romantic painting and were followed by artists of every movement up to the present day. I want to look at Still Life from the viewpoint of a photographer. How does one reconcile ‘Still’ with ‘Life’? What does Still Life offer the photographer and the viewer? I will share some of my Still Life photographs from the last 10 years and talk about why I enjoy this genre of photography".
G. M. Photog. MNZIPP HonFAIPP HonFNZIPP FAIPP
Peter Eastway is a contemporary Australian photographer who is known internationally for his landscape and travel work. A practising professional photographer, he shoots editorially and works selectively in advertising and portra
iture, two diverse ends of the professional sphere.
Peter has been involved in photographic magazine publishing for over 30 years, establishing his own title, Australia's Better Photography Magazine, in 1995. It is now one of Australia’s leading photography magazines.
Peter’s work has been published and exhibited internationally. He was the author of the Lonely Planet’s Guide to Landscape Photography. His photography has recently featured on the cover of the Lonely Planet’s guide to Australia, in articles in the Qantas in flight magazine, and in an Apple television commercial.
He has worked with Phase One cameras, researching and promoting its high-end medium format cameras and Capture One raw processing software. And he featured in the television series Tales By Light as seen on the National Geographic Channel, produced in partnership with Canon Australia.
Peter Eastway is an AIPP Grand Master of Photography, a Fellow and an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography, and a Fellow and Honorary Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography. Peter’s early landscapes were primarily black and white, carefully printed and toned, but with the advent of digital photography, he is taking a leading role internationally, creating a New Tradition of high quality landscape imagery. Peter speaks nationally and internationally on topics including landscape photography, Photoshop techniques, publishing and the business of professional photography.
www.facebook.com/Yusufhashim.Photosafaris
Gentleman of Leisure, Gypsetter, Photographer, Unemployed, Unemployable, and Loving it!
In a previous life, Yusuf Hashim worked for Shell, and was based in London, Rotterdam, and Jakarta. Upon returning to Malaysia in 1990, he was appointed Managing Director for Shell Chemicals in Malaysia, and then Retail Marketing Director for Shell Oil in Malaysia.
In 1999, at age 53, and at the peak of his 30 years career at Shell, Yusuf listened to his heart, and quit Shell, to become an unpaid photographer, and a spare driver for WorldExplorer.net, specialists in arranging worldwide trans-continental, motorcycle and 4x4 off-road expeditions.
It wasn’t a rash or impulsive decision. His parental obligations were done. The Financials were good. He had a Bucket List. He wanted to spend his children’s inheritance. He wanted to travel and shoot pictures. He wanted to write. He wanted to live life. And he wanted to do it before, in his own words, life leaves him.
Apart from sharing some of the two million photos he shot during his extraordinary trans-continental driving expeditions and the sailing and trekking photography workshops he has conducted in Antarctica, the Arctic, and in between, Yusuf will also share the thinking, which drove him to do what he has done. He will share the seven must-haves if you want to do the same.
Over the last 20 years, Yusuf has visited >130 countries, and driven a 4x4 go anywhere vehicle, across and around, almost every continent, every desert, and over almost every mountain range worldwide.
Yusuf has also been a part time lecturer in photography at Malaysia’s Open University. He writes articles for magazines, and has published six online print-on-demand coffee table books. He has also participated in photography exhibitions. Presently, he is in a fund-raising project in which 40 of his pictures will be printed on large canvas, and sold to raise half a million Ringgits for Cancer Research in Malaysia.
Yusuf’s other passions are trekking, motorcycling, and flying. He’s led several groups on trekking expeditions in the Himalayas and Patagonia. He does regular sailing-trekking photography workshops to Iceland, Greenland, Svalbard, Wrangle Island, the Falklands and Antarctica. Yusuf has a PPL (Private Pilot’s Licence) for planes, and at age 70, he got his wings for paramotoring, becoming one of the oldest Malaysians to qualify to fly paramotors.
"Come and join us, listening to Yusuf, as he shares anecdotes and photos from his Journeys from Pole to Pole, and in between".
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