MPA West Midlands Regional Print Competition and Presidential Visit 2018

Each year professional photographers from across the region compete in the MPA West Midlands Regional Print Competiton – a showcase of the very best of the industry around your local area.

The 2018 Regional Print Competition in the MPA West Midlands marked the 2nd birthday of our newly reformed region, under the leadership of Karen Massey AMPA, Mike Baker and myself.

A highlight of the region’s year, the regional print competition, was coordinated this year with the visit of the MPA President Richard Bradbury FMPA.

One role of the President is to champion membership, encourage members to help set goals of reaching out and attaining qualification within the association and improving relationships with the trade.

Our delegates enjoyed a full day of education, starting with a talk on Travel Photography by Saraya Cortaville. One of the few ladies to achieve two Fellowships within the industry. The tales of Saraya’s travels and the challenges of being away from home for up to 3 months at a time, along with her beautiful work awed and inspired all present.

Richard Bradbury then gave our region and insight into his commercial work with the Guinness Book of World Records, shooting from Far East to Far Out. The quirky, to the downright bizarre. Have you met the most pierced lady? Bradbury has.

Finally, our print competition graced the evening, with a great mix of members and welcome new faces. Each photographer can enter the MPA West Midlands region print competition, with a huge range of categories, from Wedding, Portraits, Architectural, Newborns, Animals, the list is exhaustive.

Images are entered into the competition totally anonymously, the judge has an initial image sift to ensure the right categories are used and to inspect the print quality. Later, the images are discussed, the judge giving ideas on how to improve the image or areas to pay attention to.

Awards are then given for the best images, based on judging criteria from a national standard – A Merit, an Award of Excellence or a Gold. There are then Awards for Regional Master Photographer of the Year.

Here are a few images from the day:

MPA West Midlands Regional Chairperson Karen Massey welcomes the group of members and new faces to the 2018 Presidential Visit and Regional Print Competition Day held at Warwickshire College.

Before the judging commences, MPA President Richard Bradbury FMPA and Chairlady Karen Massey sort the prints into their respective categories. — with Karen Massey at Warwickshire College.

Saraya Cortaville delivering her talk on her travel adventures at the MPA West Midlands Regional Print Competition and Presidential Visit held at Warwickshire College, July 2018. Sponsored by Alex Ingram Digitalab and PermaJet — with Mike Baker and Karen Massey at Warwickshire College.

MPA President Richard Bradbury delivers a talk on photographing for the Guinness World Records to a packed room at Warwickshire College at the MPA West Midlands Region 2018 Presidential Visit and Print Competition.

MPA_West_Midlands_Regional_Print_6 — Winning Gold in Commercial Product Category of the MPA West Midlands Regional Print Competition 2018 - Martin Strivens.

MPA_West_Midlands_Regional_Print_8 — Winning Gold in our Aspiring Member Category of the MPA West Midlands Regional Print Competition Tianna Jarrett-Williams.

MPA_West_Midlands_Regional_Print_9 — Winning Gold in Portrait Studio Category of the MPA West Midlands Regional Print Competition 2018 - Martin Strivens.

MPA_West_Midlands_Regional_Print_11 — Gold Winner - MPA Regional Print Competition - Landscape and Nature - Martin Strivens

MPA_West_Midlands_Regional_Print_14 — Gold Winner - Portrait Animals - MPA West Midlands 2018 Print Competition and Presidential Visit — with Jamie Morgan at Warwickshire College.

MPA_West_Midlands_Regional_Print_15 — Gold Winner - MPA Regional Print Competition - Under 18 Months - Fran Coleman

MPA_West_Midlands_Regional_Print_18 — Winning Gold in our Wedding Classical Category of the MPA West Midlands Regional Print Competition Mike Baker — at Warwickshire College.

MPA_West_Midlands_Regional_Print_19 — Jay Watson recieving her Regional Master Photographer of the Year 2018 Award and Prize from Permajet UK. Pictured with MPA President Richard Bradbury.

MPA_West_Midlands_Regional_Print_20 — Gold Winner - MPA Regional Print Competition - Commercial Press & PR - Mike Baker

MPA_West_Midlands_Regional_Print_21 — Gold Winner - MPA Regional Print Competition - Portrait Newborn - Jay Watson Lmpa

Jamie Morgan LMPA and Richard Bradbury FMPA Photographed receiving the Gold Award in the MPA Regional Print Competition.

One of the country’s leading environmental dog photographers’ Jamie Morgan wins Gold in the MPA West Midlands Regional Print Competition. Pictured with Richard Bradbury FMPA, MPA President.

Would you like to come along to the MPA West Midlands Region as my guest?

If so, just drop me a line, we hold a monthly meeting around the Leamington Spa area. Throughout the year we also host training days on business, marketing, technical aspects of photography and a whole host of subjects.

Why the Master Photographers Association?

The Master Photographers Association is a not-for-profit organisation, established in the UK since 1952 with members in the UK and across the globe.

It’s an association owned by it’s members, run by it’s members, for their benefit. Each regional team are volunteers giving their time freely to support the aims and goals of the organisation, to help train, mentor and qualify professional photographers.

What that means is, if you have a business or photography need, then our region can tailor training, speakers and events to help you and other members, because Together We Are Stronger.

Find out more about the MPA here.

www.thempa.com