Congratulations to the 80 APS members who had one of their images selected to represent APS. (Australia) in the 4 Nations 2014 – Inter-Society Digital Image Competition Invitation.

After the initial invitation by e- news and a later e-news reminder, 302 APS members (down from last year) sent 610 digital images to me. (A few came via the APS secretary). Only 80 members could be selected with one select image of the two sent per member. It is unfortunate that 222 APS members missed out on being selected, as well as their 530 images.

Boosted by the submission of many of our international successful photographers, the standard of the images, available for selection, in my opinion, was not as high as last year 2013. The technical quality of the Monochrome entries was excellent. The action and decisive moments of the Nature entries reflected the technology of the digital cameras and shutter speeds. I felt that the subject matter of how we depict Our Country was disappointing. I received more landscape type entries than I anticipated. I thought that we are a sport orientated country , yet I received very few entries.

The subject matter sent for consideration, whilst the majority were predictable Like being still "within the box", very few showed imagery depicting lateral creativity. Image submissions consisted of..232 landscapes, 12 surfing, 18 rodeo, 62 portraits, 161 birds, 6 theatre shots, 12 still life, 18 flowers, only 3 sport images, 3 architecture, 11 kangaroos, 15 cockatoos, 8 figure studies. A notable drop in images was in overseas/travel, photojournalism and manipulated - filter imagery.

Selection of our entry was mainly based on five key qualities - originality, technique, strong visual storytelling (especially in "our country" section), integrity and the decisive moment. Images that were not considered where the design was weak, a rehash of the same subject, an absence of something worth saying, or just a snapshot. Thank you, sincerely to the APS members who took the time and effort to send images for consideration. We would all like to be selected, but unfortunately only 80 members make up the entry 2014.

South Africa (PSSA) is the host nation this year, and all entries are being judged by a photographic group from Singapore. Results will be released about the middle of June 2014. Results on how we did competition wise will be released in e- news and each selected members mark will be on the APS website along with the awards.

An audio visual of the overall results, awards and images will be presented and shown at APSCON Ballarat, Victoria in September 2014.

Peter S. Manchester AFIAP, AAPS, Hon FAPS
Coordinator of 4 Nations 2014 for the Australian Photographic Society Inc.