Repeal of Section 52

The government announced last week that they have finalised their response to the consultation on the transitional arrangements for the repeal of Section 52 of the CDPA 1988.

Their position is as follows;
The repeal of Section 52 will occur on 28 July 2016.
The depletion period will run up until 28 January 2017 - a miserly 6 months.

94 responses were received, of which the AOP's was one and despite an overwhelming majority of objections to the shortened timescales, it is obvious that the IPO has ignored those representations.

The repeal of Section 52 of the CDPA 1988 has implications for anyone using 'designer' items (i.e. industrially manufactured artistic works where more than 50 copies have been made) in their photographs that fall outside the incidental inclusion exception in copyright. Any interiors, still life and fashion photographers using industrially manufactured artistic works will need to take particular note, of both work they currently have available for license (library/stock) and work they might make in the future.

There is a government advice document available here 

Ephotozine features launch of 2016 AOP Awards

Stuart Fawcett of Ephotozine came to the launch night of the 2016 AOP awards at Holborn Studios, click here for the full story: https://www.ephotozine.com/article/aop-launches-2016-photo-awards-29245

AOP Awards 2016

The AOP Photography Awards remains the most prestigious photography competition worldwide.  This year marks the 33^rd year of the awards.
 
Call for entries opens on 21 April 2016.
 
The winners will be announced at the presentation ceremony party which will take place on 13 October at The Old Truman Brewery in Brick lane. The exhibition will be open to the public from 14-17 October with a busy programme of events and talks also taking place alongside the exhibition. 

Curators confirmed so far are Nadav Kander, Nick Moran and Piers Morgan. More to follow. 
 
New for 2016
 
Building on the success of last year we have some changes and additions planned:
 
We are introducing the AOP Discovery Award. Assisting Photographer members will be eligible to enter the Photography categories, going head to head with our Photographer members. This will enable us to discover and nurture new talent within our assisting photographer membership, and offer those who are selected the opportunity to become Photographer members. This will be a great way to attract new up and coming assisting photographers to join the AOP.    
 
There will be Early Bird discount for those who enter between 21 April and 20 May. Those who enter between 21 May and 30 June pay standard price for entries. There will be a late surcharge for all entries between 1 and 7 July. We hope this will enable entrants to plan when they would like to enter. There will be staggered closing dates - the Photography categories will close in early July and the Open categories in early August. Those who do not make the final of the Photography categories may resubmit their image into the Open, if they wish. 
 
These Awards include the Photography Awards & Open Award, with the following categories: 
 
The Photography Awards 
Commissioned Advertising Single
Commissioned Advertising Series
Commissioned Design Single
Commissioned Design Series
Commissioned Editorial Single
Commissioned Editorial Series
Non-Commissioned Portrait Single
Non-Commissioned Portraits Series
Non-Commissioned Life Single
Non-Commissioned Life Series
Non-Commissioned Environment Single
Non-Commissioned Environment Series
Non-Commissioned Objects Single
Non-Commissioned Objects Series
Non-Commissioned Fashion & Beauty Single
Non-Commissioned Fashion & Beauty Series
Project 
 
The Open Awards 
Open Award Single
Open Award Series  
Moving Image
 
AWARDS IMPORTANT DATES
 
21 April – Call for Entries opens for Photography & Open awards
20 May – Early bird discount for Photography and open awards ends
30 June – Photography Awards deadline   
7 July – Photography Awards Late Entries deadline (Open categories remain open)
7 August – Open awards closes
13 October – Awards Party at The Old Truman Brewery (evening)
14-17 October – Exhibition and programme of events & talks at The Old Truman Brewery
 
Main sponsors so far confirmed include: 

Your journey into professional creative photography

Here's what Jessops have to say about the AOP and what we offer photographers, at every level. 

Photography News talk about this year's AOP Awards

Congratulations to AOP member Franz Pagot

A Reason to Leave won Best Drama at the National Film Awards at the Porchester Hall in London last night and leading members of the cast and crew, including AOP member Franz Pagot were there to receive the award and join in the celebrations. Other films nominated in this category included The Lady in the Van, MacBeth, The Danish Girl and 45 Years.

Receiving his award, Norman Gregory the film’s Director said: “It has been an incredidble few weeks, first the North Wales International Film Festival and now we have won Best Drama at the National Film Awards against such phenomenal opposition. It’s good to know that the lack of budget doesn’t stop you telling a good story. It is wonderful to share the award with all those who worked so hard on the film and deserve the recognition.” 

A Reason to Leave is a tragic redemption story set in Dorset and Tuscany. It stars Mark Wingett and Claire King who is currently in Coronation Street, supported by Alice Bird, Simone Spinazzè and Jack Brady. The film was conceived whilst Norman Gregory was completing his Masters degree as a mature student at Bournemouth University.

The National Film Awards celebrate the achievements of established and independent film makers in the United Kingdom, USA, South America, Africa and Australia. 

For more information read the article on the National Film Academy website here

Student Awards 2016 Closed

A BIG thank you to everyone who has taken part and entered in to this years Student Awards.

The deadline has now passed & the entry portal is now CLOSED 

We will be announcing those selected for the exhibition in May.

GOOD LUCK

Creative Skillset launches free online commercial photography course

Photographers click to win £500 as free online course goes live

Creative Skillset launches a commercial photography course, produced by Norwich University of the Arts (NUA). This free online course will be guided by celebrated commercial photographers, and helps aspiring photographers understand the process of forging a career in still image.

To celebrate the launch of this free course, Creative Skillset has teamed up with expert photo retailer Wex Photographic to offer a competition prize fund of £500 for the best three portrait shots as judged by the course leader James Smith and others. Seasoned or budding photographers who want to enter the competition need to first register for the free course then simply tweet their favourite portrait photo to @SkillsetSSC using the hashtag #SayCheese. Deadline for entries is midnight, Sunday 13 March 2016 when registration for the free course also closes. Terms and conditions apply*

Over the course of four weeks, Commercial Photography: Still and Moving Image experts including legendary music business photographer Andy Earl (Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Johnny Cash, Morrissey, Oasis) and celebrated anthropomorphic photographer Tim Flach will help students get to grips with emerging media, moving image and potential markets for their work.

The course will begin by looking at the importance of developing students’ visual sensibility through personal work, where they will be free to push boundaries, make mistakes, pursue passions and hone their craft.

Students will then find out how to create work that is new, exciting and individual – whether in advertising, fashion or editorial photography – in order to secure commissions. You’ll be encouraged to consider the complex interplay between individual approaches to practice and client-led work.

Topics covered include:

• Why personal work is key to commercial photographic success
• Relationship between still and moving image photography
  • Future of photographic practice in a commercial context
  • Sound recording for moving image; tools for photographers using DSLR
  • Moving image; historical and contemporary context
  • Creative retouching, CGI and interactivity

James Smith, Course Leader for Photography at NUA says: “During the next four weeks, this course will consider the relationship between creative personal practice and commercial practice and look at how the development of the internet has changed the way in which photographers are now working with moving image and emerging technologies. Supported by highly regarded practitioners, learners will also have the opportunity to make some of their own work and engage in the process of supportive critique.”

The course is one of a suite of eight, which has been developed for FutureLearn, following a £200,000 investment from Creative Skillset. To check out the other courses, please visit the Creative Skillset page on FutureLearn.

Once registered, you can learn at your own pace and in your own time. Sign up now!

*Terms and Conditions:

Deadline for entries to Creative Skillset's #SayCheese photographic competition is midnight, Sunday 13 March 2016. One winner and two runners-up will be chosen from all entries submitted and notified by Monday 28 March 2016. Individual prizes will be issued in the form of Wex Photographic vouchers and emailed to winners once eligibility has been confirmed and relevant email contact details received. First prize will receive £300 and two runners-up will receive £100 each. Please note there is no cash or product alternative and vouchers cannot be exchanged, refunded or returned in any way. The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. By taking part in this competition, entrants agree that Creative Skillset may contact them, name them as winners and use any imagery submitted in relation to the competition to help promote its offers/services (with appropriate rights acknowledged). Maximum three entries per person. This competition is not open to Creative Skillset staff (employees or contractors) or their immediate family members.

Winners must be registered on Creative Skillset's free online Commercial Photography course on FutureLearn.com to be eligible for this competition. For further information, please write to Creative Skillset, Focus Point, 21 Caledonian Road, London, N1 9GB or phone 020 7713 9800.

About the Norwich University of the Arts

Norwich University of the Arts (NUA) is an independent specialist arts, design and media University with a 170 year reputation for excellence.

NUA is dedicated to providing vocational, practice based courses which allow students to enter an exciting and challenging community of artists, designers and makers who share their passions and interests. Whilst the institution’s history can be traced back to 1845, it is contemporary and forward thinking with industry standard facilities in its city centre campus.

Today NUA continues to thrive as an established University sector institution, with a national reputation for excellence and a strong ethos as a creative academic community. http://www.nua.ac.uk 

About Creative Skillset

Creative Skillset empowers the Creative Industries to develop skills and talent; it does this by influencing and shaping policy, ensuring quality and by securing the vital investment for individuals to become the best in their field and for businesses to grow. As the industry skills body for the Creative Industries, it works across film, television, radio, fashion and textiles, animation, games, visual effects,  publishing, advertising, marketing communications and performing arts. www.creativeskillset.org