AV News 180 - May 2010
IAC Geoffrey Round International
C h ris B a te & C h ris N o b le
CB - This year's competition was hosted by the North Wales
and Wirral AV Group, at Capel Curig North Wales, over the
weekend of the 20/21 March. The venue being the
Community Centre, which was previously a school. I am
sure that I speak for all those present in conveying our
sincere thanks and gratitude to Marion Waine and her
supporting team, for not only providing a pleasing venue,
but also for running a well oiled machine.
The 2pm start on Saturday I felt, was an excellent idea,
giving those not too far away time to arrive and not having to make a crack of
dawn start from home. Also having the last session of the day starting at 7pm,
after an enjoyable and delightful meal at the Tyn-y-Coed Hotel, which
conveiniently is situated almost next door, helped to make for a very convivial
and light-hearted atmosphere.
It was this very friendly and lively atmosphere throughout the weekend which
struck me as being far more intense than I had found at other events
previously, that's not to say other events are not friendly or lively, it's just that
this one seemed very much more so.
CN - The 20th & 21st March 2010 will probably go down as
two of the most memorable and influential days of my life,
because after attending the IAC Geoffrey Round
International AV Competition at Capel Curig, I have come
away with my eyes wide open about the power of the
medium.
I first came across AV's about 18 months ago when I
attended a meeting of the North Wales And Wirral AV Group
at Capel Curig. I came away from that meeting unsure about
what I had seen and how it could benefit me as a photographer, but I returned
for more meetings and began to get a real interest in making AV's properly. I
had been using AV software at home to create Photo Albums for myself, but as
time went on, I could see that what I was doing, was very basic in comparison
to what I was seeing being produced by guests and other members of the
group. I'm not saying that making photo albums is wrong or has any less value
than the competition entries, but it is just one use of the software.
I continued working on AV's and started to develop my sequences, based on
the information I was getting through the lectures I attended at the NWAWAVG
and at Mold Camera Club, the advice I was being given by more experienced
users of the medium and, most importantly, looking at the work that other
people were showing.
In January of this year, with the Geoffrey Round competition approaching, I
decided to have a go and put an entry in. Like everything in life you only get out
of it what you are willing to contribute. And so I knew that being involved would
only help me to develop the few skills I had acquired even more.
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