IPEVO Recommendation

Well today was a pretty exciting day for me. First I get my LRPS certificate and then I get a lovely recommendation letter from Caroline at IPEVO regarding my photographic shots they used at the CES in Las Vegas, Jan 8-11th 09.

The CES is the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow.

This was totally unexpected but very, very welcome and I will be thanking her in due course.

Royal Photographic Society LRPS certificate arrived!

Well the postman delivered a nice little tube today which contained my newly gained LRPS certificate and a little lapel badge.

They also sent me a press release I can use for local news/radio which contained this little excerpt about the RPS;

"The Royal Photographic Society, founded in 1853, is the most prestigious international photographic society. It has long been recognised for the promotion and maintenance of high photographic standards around the world and has established itself worldwide through its programme of touring exhibitions, events and special interest groups. In order to gain a Distinction, a photographer has to submit a portfolio for approval by a highly qualified Panel of Fellows of the Society, or hold one of the accepted qualifications."

www.rps.org for further info.

Royal Photographic Society LRPS Distinction

On February 22nd, 2009 I was driven down to the Focus on Imaging show at the Birmingham NEC to go before the RPS judging panel with 10 of my wildlife images in the hope of gaining my Licentiateship distinction.

The day was not without its dramas, or should I say, it was actually the whole weekend.

On the Saturday I was driving my daughter to Chester Zoo when I felt decidedly unwell with numbness in my mouth and face. I was on the motorway when I decided I had to turn around and try and make it back home but ended up calling my childminder, Rachel, to come out and help me when I reached Knutsford. Rachel ended up driving me to the hospital for checks. I spent three hours in A&E to be sent home to take some paracetamol.

My husband was out of the country at the time but had called my parents, who live in Scotland, to warn them what was going on. I later spoke to them and told them the hospital said it was best not to drive, so I had resigned myself to the fact I would miss my distinction. Late that night my parents called back to say they had decided to drive down early morning to take me to the show. After getting up at 3am and a four hour drive, they arrived the next morning at 8.20am ready to head straight back out to Birmingham at 9.30am.

It was great watching all the panels being assessed but when it came time to watch my panel I was a nervous wreck with sweaty palms and a heart which wanted to pound out my chest. The judges were very complimentary which was wonderful to hear and when John Long stood up to announce I was being recommended the relief was unbelievable.

After the show I went back in to the hospital as the condition had worsened and it was confirmed to be Bell's Palsy, a paralysis of one side of my face. I was given a course of steroids to take for five days with a visit to the doctor at the end of the week.

I am very grateful to my parents and Rachel for all their help this weekend. Without it I would not be as happy as am I now, even though I can only smile on one side of my face!

Below is my winning LRPS panel. Larger images can be viewed at Diffanglephoto

The Power of Flickr

I am constantly surprised by the power of Flickr. Since the beginning of the year I have had photos chosen by IPEVO (read previous blog entry), a California university professor, who may publish a nature shot in a book due out next year, and two photos chosen to represent Chicago and Milan by the online travel guide company Schmap.

Chicago's Civic Opera House can be viewed here:


Lake Como can be view here: