Question and Answer
03rd January 2012
Given the new additional requirements introduced by the IPF, I have some questions which I hope you can shed some light on?
1. Rule 8.8 of the FIAP distinctions document 2012/310 E clearly states that "National federations have the right to add for the AFIAP and EFIAP distinctions national requirements within reasonable limits"
Can you please confirm that these new requirements do indeed ONLY apply to the AFIAP and EFIAP distinctions as per the FIAP document and not the EFIAP bronze, silver, gold or platinum? The wording of the new IPF rules uses the words "All applicants" which seems to suggest a conflict with the actual FIAP rules.
Given that I made a query relating to the distinction process in the past and given an answer by you, which in fact ended up being incorrect, resulting in me wasting over 200 acceptances, I would appreciate if this is queried directly with FIAP themselves?
Applies to AFIAP and EFIAP distinctions only – will clarify on post
2. Can you please clarify as to whether or not these new national acceptances are accumulative like the acceptances required for the AFIAP and EFIAP themselves (the same acceptances carry across both/can be used for both)? Or indeed are acceptances used for one distinction application effectively "used" once a distinction is applied for?
Acceptances are cumulative as per FIAP. I will get back to you re AFIAP / EFIAP levels and the need for separate achievements for each (good point - need to clarify myself)
3. Can you please clarify if there is a restriction as to whether or not the same image can count for multiple national acceptances or do these have to be from unique works?
No requirement re unique works at this point – 4 acceptances with one image is ok
4. It is my understanding that the National Print and Projected Image competition goes through a qualifying regional round, where from recollection approximately only 50% go through to the finals themselves. So choosing the top 35% from the finals, in fact means that only the top 17.5% of all images entered will in fact gain an acceptance. Surely this has to be seen as overly prohibitive and far from reasonable?
Disagree
5. In the TPS Salon in 2010, out of the 3864 images entered, just 1127 were accepted (a 29% acceptance rate - effectively 71% of all images were not accepted). In 2010, 4144 images were submitted, but just 1107 accepted - a 26% acceptance rate. Effectively the salon is seen more entries year on year and accepting a smaller proportion.
To have a single salon act as a gating factor for FIAP distinctions surely has to be seen as overly prohibitive. Salons work on the basis of numbers. In 2012 there are 232 salons, so people have numerous options to pick up acceptances over the year. Our new requirements are gated by potentially just 1 salon!
Three separate events as per announcement – in any given year upwards of 34 different images could be entered – not just restricted to Tallaght. Anyone entering and achieving acceptances at FIAP salons should not have any issues.
6. As there is no definition for what one could deem "reasonable requirements" what appeal process is there available to members? Should one register our appeal with you as FIAP rep and have you appeal these new rules? Should it be brought up at council? Would one have to wait a whole year for an AGM (assuming one could even have a motion put forward by their club)? Or is there a path of appeal direct to FIAP where one could register a concern/protest?
The requirements are deemed reasonable by National Council. No formal appeal process exists, however the matter can be raised at Council by submitting your concerns in writing directly to the National Secretary, Sarah Nix LIPF, 23 Oak Rise, Green Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. As this is a National requirement it is not a FIAP matter.
7. I would be interested to have the"contribution" process explained? I understand that clubs themselves were contacted in relation to the introduction of these new restrictions? Sadly my club, in which there are only 4 members that have FIAP distinctions (of which I am one) never consulted with me, so I was not able to voice my concerns. I am unaware of what feedback there was (if any)?
This process is now complete.
Regardless of the clubs, I would have thought a logical step in this consultation process would have been to consult directly with existing FIAP distinction holders and photographers that have paid for and hold FIAP membership?Again, it is my understanding that this was not done?
Almost without exception, every photographer I know that is actively participating in FIAP salons views these restrictions as both unnecessary and damaging to the process. I expressed my concerns on the IPF website when the new rules were announced (but not specified). but sadly had no response nor was I contacted in relation to it. So it would be good to have some response when you get the time.
Not the feedback that we have received.
1. Rule 8.8 of the FIAP distinctions document 2012/310 E clearly states that "National federations have the right to add for the AFIAP and EFIAP distinctions national requirements within reasonable limits"
Can you please confirm that these new requirements do indeed ONLY apply to the AFIAP and EFIAP distinctions as per the FIAP document and not the EFIAP bronze, silver, gold or platinum? The wording of the new IPF rules uses the words "All applicants" which seems to suggest a conflict with the actual FIAP rules.
Given that I made a query relating to the distinction process in the past and given an answer by you, which in fact ended up being incorrect, resulting in me wasting over 200 acceptances, I would appreciate if this is queried directly with FIAP themselves?
Applies to AFIAP and EFIAP distinctions only – will clarify on post
2. Can you please clarify as to whether or not these new national acceptances are accumulative like the acceptances required for the AFIAP and EFIAP themselves (the same acceptances carry across both/can be used for both)? Or indeed are acceptances used for one distinction application effectively "used" once a distinction is applied for?
Acceptances are cumulative as per FIAP. I will get back to you re AFIAP / EFIAP levels and the need for separate achievements for each (good point - need to clarify myself)
3. Can you please clarify if there is a restriction as to whether or not the same image can count for multiple national acceptances or do these have to be from unique works?
No requirement re unique works at this point – 4 acceptances with one image is ok
4. It is my understanding that the National Print and Projected Image competition goes through a qualifying regional round, where from recollection approximately only 50% go through to the finals themselves. So choosing the top 35% from the finals, in fact means that only the top 17.5% of all images entered will in fact gain an acceptance. Surely this has to be seen as overly prohibitive and far from reasonable?
Disagree
5. In the TPS Salon in 2010, out of the 3864 images entered, just 1127 were accepted (a 29% acceptance rate - effectively 71% of all images were not accepted). In 2010, 4144 images were submitted, but just 1107 accepted - a 26% acceptance rate. Effectively the salon is seen more entries year on year and accepting a smaller proportion.
To have a single salon act as a gating factor for FIAP distinctions surely has to be seen as overly prohibitive. Salons work on the basis of numbers. In 2012 there are 232 salons, so people have numerous options to pick up acceptances over the year. Our new requirements are gated by potentially just 1 salon!
Three separate events as per announcement – in any given year upwards of 34 different images could be entered – not just restricted to Tallaght. Anyone entering and achieving acceptances at FIAP salons should not have any issues.
6. As there is no definition for what one could deem "reasonable requirements" what appeal process is there available to members? Should one register our appeal with you as FIAP rep and have you appeal these new rules? Should it be brought up at council? Would one have to wait a whole year for an AGM (assuming one could even have a motion put forward by their club)? Or is there a path of appeal direct to FIAP where one could register a concern/protest?
The requirements are deemed reasonable by National Council. No formal appeal process exists, however the matter can be raised at Council by submitting your concerns in writing directly to the National Secretary, Sarah Nix LIPF, 23 Oak Rise, Green Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. As this is a National requirement it is not a FIAP matter.
7. I would be interested to have the"contribution" process explained? I understand that clubs themselves were contacted in relation to the introduction of these new restrictions? Sadly my club, in which there are only 4 members that have FIAP distinctions (of which I am one) never consulted with me, so I was not able to voice my concerns. I am unaware of what feedback there was (if any)?
This process is now complete.
Regardless of the clubs, I would have thought a logical step in this consultation process would have been to consult directly with existing FIAP distinction holders and photographers that have paid for and hold FIAP membership?Again, it is my understanding that this was not done?
Almost without exception, every photographer I know that is actively participating in FIAP salons views these restrictions as both unnecessary and damaging to the process. I expressed my concerns on the IPF website when the new rules were announced (but not specified). but sadly had no response nor was I contacted in relation to it. So it would be good to have some response when you get the time.
Not the feedback that we have received.
