LANDSCAPE DISTINCTION
Landscape Distinction Panel Q&A The Society has recently introduced a new distinction genre for landscape photographs and, as this issue went to press, the first assessment day was fast approaching. The editor had the opportunity to virtually pose some questions from the Group’s committee members to two members of the panel: Joe Cornish HonFRPS and Tony Worobiec FRPS. Joe and Tony found time to answer the questions to help anyone considering submitting a panel for their next distinction. All being well, in a future edition, we will be able to catch up with them again after a few assessment days have been completed. Ed. Why do you think there is a need for a landscape category within the RPS distinctions process? JC. As an RPS member who did not go through the distinctions process myself, I felt that there was no natural home for the work that I do (so-called ‘straight’ landscape). Over time I realised that I was almost certainly not the only one who felt that way. While landscape could arguably fall into alternative genres, these force the landscape photographer into what is often a false genre (square peg in a round hole syndrome). TW. The difficulty I have here is that I find myself wearing two hats, as I am a panel member of both the Fine Art panel (which has traditionally been the home for landscape orientated applications) and this new Landscape panel. However, if we carefully consider the criteria for the former, it would be possible to submit a highly “processed” version of a landscape which lacks the authenticity this new genre seeks to promote. It is, for this reason, I believe that a discrete distinction panel, exclusively for landscape, is appropriate. Ed. If there is one piece of advice for someone starting out to gain a RPS distinction, what would it be? JC. I always hesitate to offer anyone else advice about their photography. However, if forced, I’d always ask for authenticity. In other words, do your photography for yourself and don’t try to please others, including the RPS and their assessors. TW. In my opinion the most interesting landscape photographers reveal a passion and an empathy for a particular area. They understand how it is fashioned by varying weather and lighting conditions and have the technical skills to capture these elements at their most revealing. The following questions are loosely based around the definitions provided by the Society in the booklet available online: DISTINCTIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS GENRES DEFINITIONS: ADDITIONAL CRITERIA AND REQUIREMENTS GUIDELINES FOR PRINT, IMAGES FOR SCREEN AND BOOK FORMATS Web Link: https://rps.org/media/ag4mjrvs/dg005-genre-definitions-april-2020.pdf 8 Landscape Magazine Winter 2020
