FIAP Requirements for Print Acceptances

By Ann Bastion Hon PSNZ FPSNZ EFIAP/b MFIAP FIAP Liaison Officer

As previously explained, we are back to using the rules as laid out in Document 011/2016 E, the one we have been using for the last six or seven years. FIAP hopes to bring out new regulations for 2025 when there will likely be an increase in numbers required at some levels.

So, what does this mean for the next two years?

In 2023 (this year)

• From 1 January 2023 there will be an exemption to the requirement of “print acceptances” as set out in document 11/2016 E but, if you do have acceptances in prints, then they will be counted.

• Reduced fees (€50 instead of €70) extend to the end of 2023.

In 2024 (next year)

• From 1 January 2024, the requirements as set out in document 11/2016 E will apply in full, including the requirement for print acceptances for the AFIAP and EFIAP levels, plus fees back to full (€70).

• If you are intending to apply for AFIAP or EFIAP in 2024 or beyond, you should be entering some print sections in salons now, to meet the requirement for next year as set out in Doc 011/2016.

• AFIAP requires four print acceptances and EFIAP requires 12 print acceptances.

• Continue to work towards producing new photographic works and seek to gain at least five acceptances with each of these. This is because it is very likely that the new regulations in 2025 will be requiring a Title to have no more than five acceptances before you can no longer use it. FIAP is looking for ways to encourage new work.

As always, if you want to know any more about FIAP distinctions and how to go about applying for them, contact:

Ann Bastion - ajbastion@gmail.com.

The Challenges of Selecting a Coherent Set

Having helped with selections both here and internationally I would like to explain a little about how it works. There is a big difference between forming a set for yourself (where you have control over creating the images) and forming a set from other people’s work.

When creating a set for yourself, you have a concept and take your photos accordingly. You have control over the subject, lighting, lens, colour weight, etc. When forming a set from other people’s work, you have lots of great images, all worthy of selection, but also a lot of different styles, lighting etc, and they do not always sit together harmoniously.

For the FIAP Biennials, there is a theme that is decided upon before the call for submissions. Within this theme, we are looking for a progressive flow of story that needs to be considered. This year we had the theme of Mountains to the Sea. We started with mountains, then to lakes, and finally to the sea.

There are 20 images to the set and although, as Projected Images, they are judged in a line, they are also presented to the judges in four rows of five. This way the judges can see the coherence of the set as a whole and whether it relates to its title. This is why it is important to achieve continuity and flow from one image to the next.

There might be 60 great images of mountains, but we could only select five (for that top row) that sat well together in impact, colour, weight and flow. So, you can see that just because your image was not chosen, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t good enough. It was just that it didn’t fit in the row for some reason. Perhaps it had completely different lighting or the overall colour was different to the rest.

Selectors for all competitions and NZ Camera appreciate that you offer your images to be considered. Without them, there would be no competitions or challenges.