Happy snappers recognised at local exhibition

NIPA President Vittorio Silvestri left presents Paul Devizes from Catchlight Camera Club with his NIPA awards. INBT 29- NIPA 1.

At the opening ceremony for the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB) touring photographic exhibition, it was announced that four Northern Ireland camera club photographers had the previous day helped both the PAGB and the Irish Photographic Association (IPF) take an incredible first and second place respectively in one of the worlds most prestigious photographic competitions.

The 2016 Federation Internationale de l’Art Photographique (FIAP) Monochrome Print Biennial competition saw forty eight countries take part and both Bob Given from Ballynahinch and Coleraines Keith Elgin had images included in of the ten image panel to represent PAGB. Lisburns Ross McKelvey and Ballynahinchs Hugh Wilkinson also had images within the IPF’s ten image panel.

Such a launch onto the World stage by all three local amateurs is a huge achievement. The four are from Catchlight Camera Club and Ballymoney Amateur Photography Club which are just two of twenty eight amateur clubs affiliated to the Northern Ireland Photographic Association (NIPA).

Ald William McNeilly , Deputy Mayor Mid and E Antrim Council presenting a NIPA award to Paul Hanley. INBT 29- NIPA 2.

Saturdays main event at the Mid-Antrim Museum at The Braid, Bridge Street, Ballymena saw awards made to seven local photographers at the opening of the PAGB annual Print Exhibition. In the Monochrome print section and Nature PDI sections, Hugh Wilkinson and Michael Rice were awarded prestigious Silver medals respectively. PAGB Ribbons were also awarded to Keith Elgin from Ballymoney, Joe Vize from Newtownabbey , Kieran Murray from Banbridge, Gary Johnston and Ian Lyons both from Newtownabbey.

The 150 print exhibition at The Braid features both Colour print and Monochrome print work by club photographers from all 15 regional federations of the PAGB as selected by three selectors from entries in the Inter-Federation Competition recently hosted by NIPA in Belfast.

However, the competition saw NIPA win, for the sixth time, the prestigious Keighley Trophy for the top federation in the monochrome print section.

The NIPA exhibition will be on display from Tuesday to Saturday each week until July 27 and the PAGB exhibition at The Braid will be on display until Thursday, August 25.

Further information on all the NIPA member clubs, results to date and the images from all the competitions this year and previous years are all available on the NIPA Website www.niphoto.co.uk.