AOP latest news

Image Magazine Re-launches

We’re delighted to announce that Image, the AOP’s magazine has re-launched for the iPad.

The first issue is free, go to https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/image-magazine+/id868109431?ls=1&mt=8 to download your copy.

The Image app is just one part of an exciting future for the AOP, we’re really proud of our new venture; we hope you all love it too!

Image is published by Apptitude Media Ltd (by the team behind the award-winning British Journal of Photography) under contract to the AOP. It is aimed at image-makers in advertising, editorial and design, it is about both art and commerce, and celebrates visual elan and creative business solutions.

Features from the launch issue include clothes label WREN, the brand behind the viral video phenomenon First Kiss; Magnum Photographers Peter Marlow, Harry Gruyaert and Paolo Pellegrin on commission in Telecom Italia's Rozzano Data Centre; and Erik Kessels, founder of the Kessels Kramer ad agency.

AOP Members Summer Online Exhibition - Call for Submissions

AOP Members summer online exhibition call for submissions are launched. This years theme is Natural and is open to Photographer and Assistant members. DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES is MONDAY 7 JULY 2014

New work from AOP member Norman Childs

The Curtain Comes Down

Last Sunday morning in the Sierra Leone darkness of 5.30am, Pat and I

clambered off the jetty with a load of kit, into an inflatable craft

bobbing precariously on choppy waters. We crossed an enormous natural

harbour and tidal waterway, only to experience the fuel running out and

coming to a halt in a busy shipping lane. Eventually hasty calls on two

way radios brought a rescue vessel that took us further, to enable us

to again clamber onto a beautiful new and powerful tug, which was to be

our home, studio, and canteen for some time. The young lad of a chef

asked us what we wanted to eat each meal and cooked to our requests.

From a tiny galley, he produced some of the most amazing food we have had in Africa.

Our task was to produce exciting imagery from dawn until dusk of the

loading of iron ore into 100,00 tonne ships, which in turn we would

follow out to sea, where they transferred the ore to an even larger

250,000 tonne vessel that eventually plied its way to China.

This was the fifth visit in as many years we have covered this project.

We have seen it grow from a mine, the size of a tiny quarry found

anywhere in the UK, to a licenced area of working stretching from

Chelsea to Greenwich and from Hendon to Streatham. In other words, not

far short of the Greater London area. Five years ago, there were five

small dumper trucks and two excavators. Now the company has over a

hundred 150 tonne dumper trucks, serviced by ten excavators and ten

stacking belts. At one point a 2.5km conveyor belt services the

processing plant. Throughout every 24 hours the ore is loaded into

eight trains of 100 wagons, each carrying 70 tonnes; each pulled by four

huge diesel locomotives, on a specially built railroad, 184kms to the

port before being shipped out to sea.

Sierra Leone is not an easy country to work in. The four weeks every

year we spend on this project, has become ever increasingly more

arduous to cover. There are so many different facets of the life of the

mine and port and the people who live and work there. Apart from

documenting the ever increasing size of the project, we have covered

aspects of geology, the landscape, the environment, education, the

people, especially those who are indigenous to the area and whose lives

have been utterly transformed by increasing availability of work

opportunities and subsequent wealth. From seeing mud huts and thatched

roofs, change to corrugated roofs to ultimately, breeze block walls and

on this last trip even glass in the spaces for windows, it is clear

that the local communities are benefitting from increased wealth, even

if not from the red dust!

The development of the rail road from a derelict track that had to be

rebuilt; ore wagons with trees growing through them and one old 1930's

engine to the new track crossing new bridges over rivers, roads and

travelling through villages over manned level crossings. From the ruins

of an old port with broken jetties to the modern transfer station the

size of the Port of Southampton, three huge stacking machines and a

myriad of conveyor belts transferring the ore from trains to ships and

the maintenance of nearly forty modern locomotives has to be seen to be

believed.

This trip saw the final stages of construction of Sierra Leone's first

flyover bridge built in the country. Just outside the mine it was built

to carry traffic and people over the railway lines to improve safety

for local villagers.

This year with the emphasis on the environment, we even ended up on an

arduous hike through the rain forest, slipping and sliding down steep

banks to a river where we walked through, clambered and straddled thick

undergrowth for over two hours to reach some rapids. Here in these

rapids, grew the only known examples in the world of a particular type

of grass with a pink flower, as verified by Kew Gardens research scientists.

Standing on the rocks and in the water with the river in full spate

rushing past us, we took our photographs, with an observation: "was

that it then!" Such was the underwhelming appearance of the plant!

We were due to do aerial photography from a helicopter on this trip, to

encompass the enormity of the project. But before we got there we were

informed that the helicopter had a fuel pump problem and a new one had

to be shipped in from South Africa. Ever hopeful that it would be

sorted whist we were there, we looked forward to hanging out of the

doors as we have done so many times before over other parts of the African continent.

Then came news that the helicopter had failed its air worthiness

certificate due to a faulty air frame. At that point we settled for

staying on' terra firma' quite happily ensconced in a 'cherry picker'

at 30 metres high.

And so we left with many memories of an amazing project. The many

friends we have made over the years. The characters we have met, who

have made us laugh, feel at home and have helped us in so many ways.

They come mostly from Australia, South Africa, with a few Brits. So on

rugby days there is plenty of friendly banter. Few last for more than a

three year stint in that environment, looking forward to having a

secure financial base to venture elsewhere in the world.

And so for us, it comes at a time in our lives that we know that life

is for taking it a bit easier. Yes, we will miss the excitement, the

challenges, the friends we have made all over the world. Many of whom

we still remain in contact with. Yes, we will miss the beer in the

evenings after a hard days toil in the sun. Somehow it tastes so very

different in the heat than in our own country. We will miss the quaint

facilities at some camps. The posh facilities, yet; "Oh, for some decent loo paper!"

The fabulous looking showers that just manage a trickle of water! The

creaking beds, with mattresses that fall through the slats! The

journeys in 4 x 4's over pot holed roads that have to be experienced to

understand how long it takes to travel only short distances. They are

called the 'African Massage!' The food that varies from a state of

dreadfulness to amazing beauty and taste in such difficult

circumstances. The constant reminder of the threat of mozzies and

malaria, the snakes, the water and creatures that slither under the

bed, taking care of oneself whilst concentrating on the job in hand and

being aware of the sometimes extremely dangerous circumstances we find ourselves in.

We will miss it all as the curtain comes down, on what we can only

describe as the most amazing careers that anyone could wish for, of

over thirty years throughout over sixty different countries in the

world and particularly in the company of each other.... Now we move

onto other ventures.

To find out more, visit www.greenshoots.co.uk

New edition of Beyond The Lens available now

We’re delighted to announce the release of the new issue of Beyond The Lens.

Beyond the Lens is recognised as the essential guide to rights, ethics and business practice in professional photography.

Now in its fourth edition it has been likened to 'the bible for photographers and commissioners' and is used by colleges/universities as part of their courses and widely used by photographers and commissioners.

This latest edition of Beyond the Lens has a foreword by Terry O'Neill and is split into 3 parts:

The Law and the Photographer
This covers copyright, moral rights, contract law, privacy, photographing children, late payment, legal remedies for copyright infringements and unpaid debts both in the UK and EU plus legislation that photographers need to be aware of.

The Business End
With advice on tax, VAT, accounting, bookkeeping, insurance, limited companies, pensions, savings, investments and mortgages, dealing with income/career problems, standards and codes, social media, agents, collecting societies and associations and unions.

Making a Living
This section is written by photographers and covers how to be a student, working as an assisting photographer, specific area of photography from their perspective - advertising, editorial, architectural, corporate and design, stock, digital and moving image, working overseas, and shooting on the streets.

The appendix includes three sets of photographers' terms and conditions for those based either in England & Wales, Scotland or Eire; model release form; template business forms and agents agreement.

Beyond the Lens is available to buy from the AOP website - http://dataware.the-aop.org/Shop/tabid/90/product/4/Default.aspx - the cost is just £10 for members or £30 for non-members.

We have moved!

We have now officially moved and are currently unpacking at our new offices within the Holborn Studios.

30th AOP Photographers Awards - Winners' Exhibition at The Lowry Hotel

2013 saw The AOP celebrate its 30th Photographers Awards! This momentous occasion was marked in October with a prize giving ceremony and exhibition, enjoyed by our members and supporters alike.

Now, and for only the second time in The AOP's history - in collaboration with Comme Ca Art, we are taking The 30th AOP Photographers Awards Winners' Exhibition to the North.

We're delighted to be holding this prestiguous event at The Lowry Hotel, Manchester. The exhibition will be open from Friday 28th February until Tuesday 22nd April. So, catch it if you can!

Give Your AOP Portfolio A Leg Up

Did you know that every time you update anything on your portfolio you'll automatically be displayed at the top of the Find A Photographer page?

Don't forget to tag each image you upload in at least one of the possible categories (you can select up to 5 categories) so that you will be found in Specialism searches and on the appropriate Specialism page, e.g. Beauty, Landscape, Portraiture, Reportage.

Open Awards 2013 - Exhibition Online Now!

If you missed the 2013 Open Awards Exhibition, never fear they are now available to see online under Photography, Exhibitions, Current Exhibition.

See what you think.

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News

Image Magazine Re-launches

AOP Members Summer Online Exhibition - Call for Submissions

New work from AOP member Norman Childs

The Curtain Comes Down

New edition of Beyond The Lens available now

We have moved!

30th AOP Photographers Awards - Winners' Exhibition at The Lowry Hotel

Give Your AOP Portfolio A Leg Up

Open Awards 2013 - Exhibition Online Now!