On Sunday afternoon, March 5, 2023, I received an email informing me that my application for the Associate Photographic Society of South Africa honour, APSSA, was successful!
This after a terrible attempt about 3 years ago, when I really had no idea of the quality expected, an attempt in July last year, and finally this attempt in January 2023. Of the 15 images submitted in July last year, 9 received acceptances, and these acceptances stay valid for a period of 2 years. So I had to find or take 6 new images that would blend into the panel and get them accepted. Thankfully this last attempt succeeded.
There is a panel of 12 judges who sit and evaluate one's images. In order for an image to gain acceptance, at least 8 of the 12 judges have to rate it as being to the required level. This applies to every image in the panel of 15 submitted. On top of it all, the total panel has to be in harmony and flow smoothly when the images are viewed one after the other and as a panel as a whole! So it's not easy, but very rewarding when it happens.
I have a number of people to thank for helping along the way, especially Evelyn Gibson, Kim Stevens, and Nicol du Toit - these three were the leaders of an "Honours" group in the Western Cape for the July submissions, and finally to Jill Sneesby, for her invaluable insight into the selection of the final 6 images.
My successful panel can be viewed here.