FRPS Success!
The Royal Photographic Society offer three levels of distinction; Licentiate (LRPS), Associate (ARPS) & Fellowship (FRPS). Having achieved my LRPS, the first of the three distinctions, some 8 or 9 years ago, I then got sidetracked by other projects and didn’t proceed any further.
I have to admit that although I found the LRPS a worthwhile challenge which made me consider my photography much more objectively and although it is the first step I wouldn’t say it was easy by any means but I did wonder at the end whether it was all worth it. I had started the process with the belief that having the letters after my name may lend more weight to my new photography venture and I wasn’t sure wether the meaning of the letters was widely enough known for this to be the case.
It was talking to photographers in my camera club, The Beyond Group, about their ARPS & FRPS panels and seeing them develop an idea into an interesting body of work that once more sparked my interest. So I returned to the idea deciding to apply for an FRPS in the landscape genre but this time it was all about the personal challenge, the excitement of having a project to focus on rather than any thoughts of fame and fortune!
The theme for my panel of 21 images came about as I had been working on a guidebook to Essex for the last 2 or 3 years and having spent a lot of time exploring the area, the subject was close to my heart. It’s also a surprising place full of history and atmosphere, overlooked by all but local photographers. Part of the process of applying for an FRPS is to outline the purpose of your panel of images in a Statement of intent. Here is mine…
Undiscovered Essex
Essex has one of the longest shorelines of any English county; it is also one of the most diverse, a place of surprising beauty.
Nestled between the faded resorts and industrial areas that many would associate with this county, there is an alternative, unexplored, and captivating Essex.
Here lies a myriad of mudflats and peaceful estuaries, where the only sounds are the cries of the sea birds, the murmuring of the breeze, and the whispering, gentle waves. Deserted islands with derelict structures can be reached by ancient wooden causeways, and where seemingly forsaken fishing boats and decaying wrecks tell of times past.
This panel is centred around an aerial image revealing the capillary-like network of saltmarsh and creeks, shaped by ever-changing tides that is at the very heart of this landscape.
This is a unique and special wilderness with an atmosphere that captures my imagination like no other place.
Coming up with the concept proved to be the easy part, putting the portfolio of images together is probably best described as a rollercoaster of emotions and it wouldn’t have been possible without some help and guidance. I owe a massive thanks to Paul Mitchell, Tony Worobiec, Colin & Chrissie Westgate for their advice, encouragement and freshly baked cheese scones! Thanks also to Eastern Frames (www.easternframes.co.uk) for their flawless printing and mounting.
Unsurprisingly I was over the moon to be awarded my FRPS but especially to hear the comments from the panel of judges, which was made up entirely of well respected and hugely influential landscape photographers, to whom I am very grateful.
