My LRPS panel

I am now home again after my quick visit to Bath, and have proper wifi again. I was in Bath to get my panel assessed at the Royal Photographic Society for the Licentiate distinction, and I am so relieved to say that it was successfully recommended for the distinction. Above is a copy of my panel that was assessed today.

Some of you have been through this process so know exactly how nerve wracking it is. There is something quite terrifying about six judges (we had one extra who was training) all whispering over your images, with much nodding of heads and pointing at things in your images...while you sit in the audience with your heart thumping, trying to determine whether they like it or not, whether it is technically acceptable, and whether it will pass! It is quite a job choosing images that work together in a cohesive panel, and some people did not pass because their panels just did not work, so it is not a case of choosing 10 of your best images, they have to work together.

I was the second candidate assessed (out of 26 candidates) and they said some very positive things about my panel and fortunately there was no negative criticism. They did spend an extraordinarily amount of time peering at the mono portrait (of Thomas), when my heart just about stopped but finally they said it was a very bold portrait with perfect focus on the eyes.

I felt sorry for those who did not pass - after all the work, the disappointment of not passing must be awful. Quite a few did not pass, some were invited to resubmit certain images. One lady was being assessed on a resubmission and when she passed this time round she burst into tears with relief.

It has been quite a draining day and I am tired from driving as there are so many road works on the M3 and A322 that I had to really concentrate.