Portfolio

Alex Stephen

Hi and welcome to my portfolio. 

I have posted this portfolio so that I may recount my experiences in applying for an Associate distinction. I hope that it may provide useful information and encouragement to members who have not yet made a distinction application, or who have, but not yet been successful. 

     As I am a member of the Travel Group it seemed a good idea to try for an Associateship in Travel.(Having gained a Licentiateship from the BIPP in an earlier life). I read the Distinctions Handbook and took advantage of all of the help available and prepared my first digital application. I was unsuccessful, however, - and judging by the remarks on the comment sheet it was not a near miss. The following year I went through the process again and did a little better - this time, it was a near miss. However I flattered myself that I should be doing a lot better than this. 

     It was then that I remembered a piece of advice I had been given by a Panel member from whom I had sought help. He said that one was most likely to be successful when applying for a distinction with a set of images from a subject that one felt a real passion for.

    In my case, I enjoy travel photography, but my passion is sport. My first application in this new category, in October 2008, is the one you see above. Five images in each of the sports of motorcycle racing, field sports, and golf - and it was successful.

     It still gives me a buzz to have succeeded on my first try. I should have been there from the start. I wish you similar success. 

Alex Stephen.