Martin Fry FRPS AV-EFIAP EFIAP/g ABPE APAGB

It is a honour to judge my Federation’s AV Championships. For me, it is one of the highlights of the year since first entering in 1984. Having won on 7 occasions and also last year’s inaugural Photo Harmony competition, I am really looking forward to seeing this year’s work in this wonderful medium. 

I gained my Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society in AV using 4 projectors and since the digital age has developed this art form. Over the last few years I have also been on the salon trail with my still images, gaining over 250 awards and some 3000 acceptances in 48 countries.

I have lectured in photography and AV to over 300 clubs across Britain,  judged many Natonal and International Salons and been a panel member on both the PAGB and RPS Distinctions. I received the coveted Dobson Henry Medal for Services to AV in 2013. At present, I am chairman of Cheltenham Camera Club and a founder member on the Cheltenham International Salon of Photography.

David Gibbins ARPS CPAGB-AV EFIAP/b APAGB

Photography has been my main hobby for over 35 years. It is not just “taking pictures” as I get even more enjoyment from the camaraderie of being a member of a Camera Club (Beeston (Notts) CC), visiting Clubs as a Judge and Speaker plus helping Clubs through active involvement on my Federation Executive.

I have served on the Executive Committee of the North & East Midlands Photographic Federation (N&EMPF) for over 30 years having been President twice. I have held several positions and I am currently the Exhibition Secretary, for the second time.  My own photography has moved towards audio visual in recent times and to encourage that medium in N&EMPF I organised the Federation’s first AV competition in 2018. In 2018 I also gained my CPAGB in A/V for which I was delighted.

Judging gives me my greatest personal satisfaction, whether it is a club competition or an international exhibition. I am delighted and honoured to be invited to judge the MidPhot annual A/V competition.

Keith Watson LRPS CPAGB-AV

I became hooked with photography in my early teens and the appeal of projecting a slide film onto a large screen was enhanced by a family member who showed a travelogue of Pompeii which he had taken using an anamorphic lens. It literally blew my mind. I then started to dabble in slide shows with music although true audio-visual did not start for me until well into the digital revolution.

I had joined Dunchurch Photographic Society and took on the role as chairman until 2016, but they also had an AV sub-group that taught me the basics of using Winsoft Pictures2exe. My audio visual inspiration then took a big leap forward when I also joined East Midlands Audio Visual Group and I then realised where I wanted my AV journey to take me, and I am now very proud in being their vice chairman.

Applying to the RPS multimedia panel for a Licentiate and also for PAGB Credit in audio-visual gave me the target for me to aim at. And now here, in my first judging role at the Midphot annual AV championship is certainly an honour, a privilege and daunting prospect, but one which I hope to carry out to the best of my ability.