What are FIAP and FIAP Distinctions All About?

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

FIAP (International Federation of Photographic Art) is an international organisation whose purpose is the promotion of photographic art in all its aspects and through all kinds of photographic events.

The Photographic Society of New Zealand is a member of FIAP and is the operational member for New Zealand. PSNZ administers the processing of any submissions or recommendations to FIAP. Communication with FIAP is handled by the PSNZ FIAP Liaison Officer who can be contacted at ajbastion@ gmail.com.

FIAP offers a range of activities and services throughout the year. They include photographic skill and service awards, known as Distinctions, FIAP Biennials, FIAP Patronages for exhibitions, and FIAP World Cup Competitions for Clubs.

FIAP Distinctions Honours awarded by FIAP are highly appreciated and desired by photographers all over the world. Distinctions are applied for through the FIAP operational member in each country via its Liaison Officer.

FIAP also offers distinctions for Audio-Visual works. Details and application forms for all distinctions can be downloaded here.

Entering International Salons/Exhibitions with FIAP Patronage. There are currently over 500 international photography salons/exhibitions approved by FIAP. Such approval is known as FIAP Patronage and involves salons complying with rules stipulated by FIAP and meeting certain standards. These exhibitions are run as competitions, with the best of the images accepted to be part of the resulting exhibition of photography. Images may also win awards. Acceptances and awards can be counted towards FIAP Distinctions. When entrants meet the required number of acceptances in the required number of countries etc (as laid out in the rules and regulations) they can choose to apply for a Distinction. PSNZ requires that in addition to these acceptances, the applicants must also have gained at least five acceptances in the PSNZ SONY National Exhibition.

FIAP Information and Activities FIAP News is a digital publication. Produced four times a year, it is full of photos, articles and news that may be of interest to photographers around the world. Contributions are sent in from many nations. The latest edition of this publication is available for download at https://www.fiap.net/ en/fiap-news.

FIAP Biennials are competitions between FIAPaffiliated country organisations. Each country selects images from photographers within its organisation’s membership to represent its country. Different countries host these events each year. Images in the competition itself are awarded points and the full set of images from that country is also awarded points for cohesion, as each country is expected to present a themed set of images. There are awards and placings for the most successful countries and individual awards are also made for specific images.

As the name implies, Biennials are held every second year, alternating between the different Biennials. FIAP offers the following Biennials: colour prints, black and white, projected images, nature colour prints, nature projected images, youth print (two age categories) and youth digital (two age categories). New Zealand participates in black and white print and colour projected image Biennials only.

Preparation for the selection of the set will start at the beginning of the year and will usually take place at the end of February.

The call for entries is made in December of the year prior. PSNZ members will be invited to send in images fitting a chosen theme; the submission information will be sent to members via email each year, along with a flyer which can be found in the members area. It is an honour to have your image selected to represent New Zealand and it is free to enter. A complete revision of the previous regulation has been carried out and data protection clauses have been incorporated. From now on, all works that obtain a total score of eight (8) or more points may be considered for FIAP Distinctions.

The FIAP World Cup is an international projected images competition between camera clubs. Entries to this event are organised by individual local clubs, which enter directly to FIAP, not via the Liaison Officer. Most clubs already hold competitions within their own membership or between local clubs. This is a great way to have your club team enter a large international interclub competition event. For further details and entry forms please contact me at ajbastion@gmail.com.

The FIAP Photo Meeting is held every second year on the alternating year to the FIAP Congress. Like Congress, the event is hosted by a nation and it is based in a location with photographic opportunities. Whilst there is a formal meeting for officials, the event is largely one involving photography tours.

Both the FIAP Congress and FIAP Photo Meeting are usually held anywhere from June to August. Anyone wishing to attend must hold a FIAP Photographers Card which can be sought regardless of whether FIAP Distinctions are held. There is no requirement to be a PSNZ member to attend. Information regarding the upcoming event will be published in CameraTalk. Anyone interested in attending these events should contact the FIAP Liaison Officer who will send them the applicable documents as they come to hand.

PSNZ Judge Training Weekend

We are delighted to announce that there will be a Judge Training Weekend held 'in person' on 12 and 13 of August 2023 in Cambridge.

This is an opportunity to come and see what the process is for gaining accreditation and see what the judges are looking for when they assess your images. You will gain an insight into what is involved, how to view images, critique and communicate the results to the photographer.

The trainers for this weekend will be Shona Jaray APSNZ and Neil Gordon APSNZ.

The cost is $50 for financial PSNZ members and $85 for non-financial members. If you decide to join the scheme and become a trainee then a refund of $25 will be given once you have completed the training and have gained accreditation.

As this is an in-person course we are able to accommodate up to 30 people so please do not delay as it is on a first come first served basis.

More details of timing and address will follow in an email to all members.