Midphot Panels Exhibition 2018

Most of you will be aware that we are affiliated to the Midlands Counties Photographic Federation (MCPF) which in turn represents us at National level with the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB). Both organizations hold exhibitions for their members each year and for us this is Midphot.

In the past there has been a small section of Midphot for creative panels but this was felt to be too constrained by the demands of the other sections. Consequently the decision was taken to hold an annual Panels Midphot exhibition in October, separate from the main Midphot exhibition in March.

Stratford made a good show at this inaugural exhibition which ran from the 13th to 20th October 2018, with successful panels from Stewart Band, Malcolm Ranieri, myself and life member Ian Bailey. I was fortunate enough to get the best panel trophy (the Barbara and Ray Porter Trophy) at this inaugural event.

Barbara & Ray Porter TrophyBarbara & Ray Porter Trophy	Trophy Winner - Dick Prior
Barbara & Ray Porter Trophy	Trophy Winner - Dick Prior

Aerialist © Malcolm Ranieri

California Dreaming © Dick Prior

Me and my Owl © Dick Prior

Railway at Night © Malcolm Ranieri

Wreck at Crow Point © Stewart Band

At the AGM this year a commitment was made to retain our own panels exhibition and this decision had the full approval of the meeting. Panels are an interesting and challenging aspect of photography and have the added advantage that they can also lead to a panel of 10 pictures for an LRPS distinction. Panels are a group of pictures which are related in some way and present a balanced view. This view can be extended to tell a story.

Panels should form part of the long term aims of all serious photographers. These can be either purely personal or as part of a longer term project. Either way it is my view that they broaden the enjoyment we all get from photography. Our own panels exhibition has 4 sections: Colour, monochrome, nature and creative. Don’t wait ‘till spring before putting one together, start now. Look for a subject and take 3 – 10 pictures to illustrate it then look how they relate to each other and can be arranged in a pleasing, pictorial fashion.

Should you want further help and advice on this subject I can be contacted on [email protected]

Dick Prior