• MidPhot 2012
  
  The Audio Visual competition of MidPhot 2012 took place at Burton upon Trent, on the last Saturday of January. This year our group took over the running of the competition.
  
  There was a good entry of 31 sequences from many clubs around the Midlands. On the day more than 60 people turned up to see the sequences and to hear the comments and judgement of the 3 Judges, Suzanne Walker ARPS, Howard Gregory and Gordon Nicklin.
  
  A number of members of the group entered and Judges' awards were given to Jeff Mansell for 'The Magic of Trentham' and to Howard Bagshaw for 'Ride to the Wall'. Alastair Taylor,who was MC for the day also received a Commentation for his sequence 'Red Ochre'. The overall winner was Richard Brown from Fentham PS, with his sequence 'The Man who Saw the Furure'.
  
  The awards were presented by the President of the PAGB, Peter Cheetham APAGB, seen above presenting Jeff Mansell with his MCPF medal. For all the results click here.
  
  There will be a public showing of the winning sequences at the MidPhot exhibition on 24th & 25th March.
  
  
• Thanks to all the members who entered the fun Christmas competition with a them of 'Lines, shapes or textures', though 'colours' also got included in some entries! Anyway, there were 14 enjoyable and varied entries. The popular vote winner was for 'y bae' by Howard.
  
  
• A bit of competition news, Jeff Mansell and Howard Bagshaw won the Great Northern AV Competition last December with their joint sequence 'Special'. Full list of entries here.
  
  
• On 29th October, at Braunstone, the PAGB held an AV awards day where photographers could apply for PAGB distinctions. Of the 10 applicants, five were successful, 4 gaining DPAGB and one gaining MPAGB. The MPAGB (Master of the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain) was awarded to one of our members, Howard Bagshaw. He is only one of five people in the UK who hold this award in AV.
  
  Howard is seen, alongside, receiving his award from
  Peter Cheetham APAGB, President of the PAGB.

• Our next meeting is on Wednesday 16th November. Following last month's meeting, where we looked at the equipment and a few techniques needed to record narration, our next meeting will continue on this theme, particularly looking at script writing and narration/speaking techniques. There will also be an opportunity for members to bring along work to show to members of the group
  
  
• If you want a slightly wider view of what is happening in AV, around the Midlands, you might be interesting in looking at the new AV website for this part of the country: www.wmid-av.org.uk .
  
  
• The latest version of PTE, version 7, is now released. New features include "...Video Clips in Slideshows, Unsharp Mask for Sharp Picture, Improved Quality of Picture on DVD and Improved Graphical Interface of PicturesToExe..."
  
  Download from www.picturestoexe.com/forums/index.php?/topic/13541-picturestoexe-deluxe-70/
  
  There is also a new pricing structure for PTE. If you are buying for the first time, you will not get free updates for life, but will have to pay for new versions. However, existing users will retain their current 'free for life' status on the standard version. Click here for details.
  
  
  
• The Royal Photographic Society has spent a year reviewing its distictions in the areas of AV and video. They have announced that a new panel, entitled 'Multimedia & Narrative' will be awarding distinctions (LRPS, ARPS and FRPS) in this new area. The full details are still being worked out, but it looks like it will be possible to gain distinction for AV sequences which include animation, video and also contain some third party images. The same panel will also make awards in video and web based productions. An article by Mike Hallett FRPS, (Chairman of the Distinctions Advisory Board) describing the new distinction, is in the RPS Journal.
  
  
  • download the article, as a pdf here;
  • or for a quick guide download the pdf here.
  • more detailed guidance is now available as a pdf here (8Mb)
  • and how to get their view on your work see here
    
    
    
• We are coming up to the start of the next AV competition season. Can I alert you to a few that I know of:
  
  
  • RPS National Championships, biannual presigious event, this year at Sutton Bonnington. Friday to Sunday, 16th - 18th September 2011. Entries 6th August. Website http://www.navc.org.uk/
    
    
  • IAC/Jessop's Rose Bowl, regional competition, being held this year at Smethwick PS clubhouse on 12th November 2011. Entries by 29th October. Website http://www.cemriac.org.uk/avcomp.html
    
    
  • Great Northern Festival, is a weekend of AV activities. On Friday evening there is a lecture, Saturday is a national competition and Sunday attendees' sequences and lectures by the previous day's judges..Website http://www.av-group.org.uk/WilmslowGuildAV/great_northern.htm
    
    
  • Midphot AV competition, regional competition, being organised by Staffs AV group and being held this year at the Priory Centre, Burton upon Trent on 28th January 2012, entries by 7th January.
    
    
  • IAC/Geoffrey Round International AV competition, held at Capel Curig over the weekend of 10th-11th March 2012. Website http://www.nwawavg.org.uk/
    

• At our June meeting, members decided that the theme for our Christmas competition, to be held on 21st December will be 'Shapes, Lines or Textures'. The time limit is 12 minutes maximum.
  
  
• Recent competition successes include a FIAP acceptance for Howard & Jeff's sequence 'Special' at the 50th Epinal Festival, acceptance also for 'Tough Guy' and a silver FIAP medal for 'Migrant Mother', both by Howard.
  
  Howard and Jeff also entered a reduced length version of 'Special' in to the MFFC South African Salon and were delighted to be awarded the Gold Medal in the 'Documenatry & Tourism' category.
  
  And finally in the 'International season', 'Special' with French sur-titles also got a distinction in the Trophee de Paris, judged by 29 Parisian camera club enthusiasts.

• The Annual Competition took place on 20th April 2011. The judge for the evening was Gordon Nicklin, from the Worcester AV group and Wolverhampton Photo Society.
  
  There were 11 entries, all of good standard, congratulations and thanks to all entrants. To see a list of all entries as a pdf file, click here. The quality of entrants gave the judge a hard time. However he chose the following sequences as his winners:
  
  1st - Beryl Slade, 'Rhythm of the Tides'
  (picture alongside of Gordon presenting Beryl with the Trophy)
  
  2nd - Jeff Mansell & Howard Bagshaw, 'Special'
  3rd - Beryl Slade 'H.A.P.P.Y.'
  Best sound - David Slade 'Walk with a Ranger'
  Commended - David Slade 'Walk with a Ranger'
  Commended - Alastair Taylor 'Red Ochre'
  Commended - David Slade 'When the Earl met Pugin'
  
  The audience voted for Beryl Slade's 'H.A.P.P.Y' as their favourite sequence.
  
  

• The latest version of Pictures to Exe is available to try out. It is still in it's beta version, i.e. still in development and will have bugs, but it has some new features, including one which ProShow users have had for some time, the ability to include video in a sequence. As always, to download a version of PTE, go to their website www.wnsoft.com and then to the Forum area. The link is from one of the Forum items. Please note that, as usual, you can download this version without it overwriting your existing version. Just beware that a sequence made in this version cannot subsequently be put into your existing version and edited.

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Peter's Funeral took place at Hebden Bridge on 8th May. To see a short sequence of the occassion and tribute to Peter, download here. (15Mb file)

It is with greatest sadness that we announce the passing of Peter Coles FRPS, FIPF, EFIAP, FACI (M) Peter has been unwell for some time and was admitted to hospital in early March. His own website entry for 31st March says simply that " Its with great sadness that we have to inform you that Peter died this morning in hospital following heart problems. You will be pleased to know he was working on a new AV sequence yesterday afternoon in his hospital bed.  His family were with him at the end." He was a prolific producer of AVs and a enthusiastic writer. His last poem records a recent AV success: I was delighted to be Awarded The Ralph Smith Trophy at The Leeds Colour and Music Spectactular on Saturday 5th March for my Sequence “Your Star” This is the Sixth time my name will be inscribed on the back during my 20+ years as a member of Leeds AV Group

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• Congratulations to Jeff and Howard for their entry to the Geoffrey Round competition. Their sequence 'Special' was awarded the runners-up cup for second place in this International compeition. To see all results click here.
  
  

• At our meeting on Wednesday 16th March the talk was entitled "Digital Magic Lantern Show".
  
  Our guest speakers of the evening were
  Edgar Gibbs FRPS, DPAGB, AV-AFIAP and
  Linda Gibbs DPAGB, AV-AFIAP.
  
  Edgar and Linda gave us an excellent evening, looking particularly at their approach to sound, it's recording, and the way they put a sound track together. This was illustrated by sequences such as their excellent 'Talbot House'.
  
  
  
• If you want to imerse yourself in AV for a few days and get the best tuition you can imagine, Keith Brown and Richard Brown are running a residential summer school again in Hope, Derbyshire, from 4th-7th July. With only 6 places on the course, you are guaranteed personal attention. Click here for a Word document for more information.
  
  

• Tony Winfield, Jeff Mansell and Howard Bagshaw entered the recent MCPF 'Midphot' AV competition. All entries received a very good response from the audience. Howard's sequence 'Staethford' won a commendation while Jeff and Howard's joint entry, 'Special' was awarded Keith Brown's judges award. To see all results click here. Judith Parry (MCPF Chair) is seen presenting the award to Jeff and Howard.
  
  Congratulations to all entrants and to the organiser, Peter Brown. Peter is standing down from running the competition having done so for many years, so from next year the Midphot AV competition will be organised and run by Stafford AV Group.

• There were 7 entries for our Christmas fun competition, all on the theme of 'Where I Live', but all with quite different subject matter. Congratulations to all who entered and particularly to those who were selected by audience vote.
  • 1st 'Staethford' by Howard Bagshaw
  • 2nd ' Where I live' by Terry Chinchen
  • 3rd 'Jack Frost comes to visit' by Jeff Mansell
    
    
• Congratulations to Howard Bagshaw for his success at the
  RPS AV International competition, held in Cirencester from
  17th - 19th September.
  
  From 74 international entries, Howard's sequence 'Migrant Mother' was awarded first prize. This is the first outright win by a Brit in this competition since 1994.
  
  Howard is seen here receiving his award from the RPS President Mrs. Rosemary Wilman, Hon. FRPS.
  
  Full details of all award winners at:
  www.rps.org/group/Audio-Visual/RPS-International-AV--2010
  
  
  
• There is a new article in the 'Resources' tab on Multimedia story telling, one way the press has taken on board the advantages of AV in presenting the news. Have a look and follow some of the links.
  
  
• Tony Winfield has set up a website of his photographs, have a look at www.tonywinfieldfineartphotography.com 
  
  

• The Annual Competition was held on April 21st. The judge was John Holt ARPS DPAGB. The picture alongside shows John (on the left) awarding the cup for the best sound track to Terry Chinchen.
  
  There were 14 entries from 10 members, covering a range of subject matter and styles. Click here for a pdf of all entries. Thanks to all those who entered.
  

The 'Peter Rogers Perpetual Trophy' for 1st place went to
Howard Bagshaw for 'Migrant Mother'.

The 'Edmund Graham Memorial Trophy' for 2nd place went to
Terry Chinchen for 'Puzzle Wood'.

The 'Stafffordshire AV plaque' for 3rd place went to Phil Gee for 'Two men, one Goal'.

The 'Howard & Carole Bagshaw Cup' for the best sound track went to Terry Chinchen for
'Puzzle Wood'.

"Thou shalt not' by Ray Taylor, 'Devotion' by Alastair Taylor, 'Farne Islands' by Howard Bagshaw and 'Every Dream is Different' by Tony Winfield were each awarded a Judges Commendation.

The audience voted 'Migrant Mother' by Howard Bagshaw the best sequence.

• Our speaker at the March meeting was Jeff Morris from South Africa. He talked about AV in his homeland and about the MFFC 2nd International Salon of AVs. Howard entered a sequence
  'Tough Guy Challenge', (a shorter version of his similarly named sequence which is available to view on the Resources page of this site).
  
  Much to his amazement Howard won the Documentary/Travelogue section and was awaded a PSSA silver medal. This was presented by Alastair Taylor at the April meeting of our group. Full results available on this link.
  
  
• Also at the 21st March meeting we looked at ways of adding more interesting text to sequences and adding narration inexpensively. The 'Samson Go Mic', a £35 USB cardioid microphone was demonstrated. There is a brief review, including sound samples, in the Resources tab. You will also find info about downloading new fonts.
  
  
• At the first meeting of the new year, on the 20th January Martin James, from Newport Photographic Club, talked about and showed us examples of his use of timelapse photography to make video sequences. For lots of information about how to do timelapse photography have a look at his site at www.tf10.co.uk/ .
  
  
  
• Putting sequences on the web for friends to see has always been a bit fraught. Not least because of the situation regarding the use of copyright music. In the latest copy of the IAC 'Film & Video Maker' magazine, the IAC reports that films/video/AV sequences using copyright music can be put on YouTube, provided you have the appropriate copyright clearance licences.
  
  I've put a couple of sequences on this site, under the 'Resources' tab. Interestingly, YouTube came back saying that the sequences appeared to contain copyright music, they would leave them up, but added adverts. I have sent off the dispute form and await developments.
  
  
• A newsletter from the PAGB (click here to download the newsletter), reiterates the situation about obtaining licences to use copyright music. One fact I didn't know is that members of clubs affiliated to the PAGB can buy licences. It states that "...Both the MCPS and BPI Licence can be purchased by members and clubs affiliated through Federations to the PAGB for £8.54 including VAT and clear all dubbings and recordings made within the 12 months FOR ALL TIME. " Our group is not affliated to the PAGB, but you may belong to a camera club that is.
  
  
• The 16th December meeting of the group was our Christmas fun evening. There were 9 entries for the fun competition, based on using one of the set pieces of music. Much to my amazement the majority used the 'Strange Boat' music. Congratulations to all who entered. Results were:
  
  1st Phil Gee (Strange Boat based on paintings by Turner)
  2nd Howard Bagshaw (Wet in the Dales - 'On my own' music)
  3rd Terry Chinchen (Humour using 'Strange boat')
  
  
• Congratulations to the four members of our group who entered the Great Northern AV competition. Terry Chinchen entered his hilarious sequence "The Policeman" which got the biggest laughs and loudest applause from the audience. Jeff Mansell and Phil Gee entered "A Case for Conan Doyle", the first time they had entered the Great Northern. Everyone was delighted that they not only won the "RPS George and Doreen Pollock Medal" for the best new entrants (being awarded by Keith Scott FRPS in pic alongside), but were also awarded a Highly Commended PAGB ribbon for their sequence. Howard Bagshaw entered "Migrant Mother" and won the PAGB Bronze Medal for third place. Big congratulations to all for raising the profile of the Staffordshire AV group.
  
  Full details of all entries award winners and photos are available on the AV News website here.
  

• If you're looking for other AV events, have a look at the AV News website, or link to the diary here.
  
  
• The latest version of Pictures to Exe (version 6.5) is now available. As usual go to www.wnsoft.com , and on the front page look for 'click here to download' in the 'latest news' section. Note that the new file will not overwrite your current version of PTE so you can have both running concurrently.
  
  Remember that there is no additional cost, once you have paid for any version of standard PTE, this is a free upgrade. The licence for video builder/Mac output is additional and valid for two years.
  
  NEW FEATURES INCLUDE:
  
  
• Audio Editing and Manipulations
  Crossfading between audio clips. Multi-tracks and simultaneous playback. Tools for editing of an audio clip (start time, duration, fade in, fade out, time offset, etc). Envelope Tool for an audio clip.
  
  
• Animated GIF Support
  In addition to animated GIFs, professionals can use manually animated PNG/JPEG images specially processed in a graphical editor.
  
  
• New Features in the Objects and Animation Editor
  Better usability, special improvements for editing of 3D objects. Reworked a tree of objects with icons. Automatic naming of new objects.
  
  
• Video Output for iPad and iPhone 4
  Watch slideshow in HD quality on mobile device.
  
  
• 1080p for YouTube Output
  FullHD quality for your slideshows now.
  
  
• Improvements in Slides
  A new feature "Insert blank slide". Name of slides displayed in the Slide list. Improved "Go to Slide..." of objects which can use a name of a slide in addition to a slide number. "Show Next/Previous slide" buttons in Slide properties window.