Color Slide Division Services - Photographic Society of America

PSA Journal, Jan, 1999 by Laura J. Davies

The Color Slide Division offers a wide variety of services to PSA members. By definition, the Color Slide Division, with no restriction of subject matter, covers a very broad area. Hence, our services tend to be broader in scope than those of other, more specialized divisions. The spectrum of our services includes services for the beginning photographer to the advanced; the new PSA member to the longtime member; services for the noncompetitive hobbyist to the serious competitor; and services primarily for individuals as well as services for clubs only.

Color Slide Division approved salons are probably our most well-known service. Unlike our other services, salons approved by our exhibition director are open to anyone, anywhere, with payment of the salon fee. Entering international exhibitions allows a unique form of artistic communication at a relatively nominal cost. An exhibitor's work can be sent to exhibitions in other areas of the USA, or even other countries. The slides are judged and the accepted work is exhibited in at least two showings. All slides are returned and then can be submitted to other exhibitions. Successful exhibitors look forward to the annual record of "Who's Who" published in the May issue of the PSA Journal. Entry forms can be obtained by writing to the person listed after each exhibition name in the "Exhibitions" section of the Journal.

Successful exhibitors gain further recognition by applying for Star Ratings and Galaxy Ratings. Acceptances received prior to membership in PSA are eligible for the acceptance requirements. However, Star Ratings and Galaxy Ratings are granted only to PSA members. International Exhibitions, Star and Galaxy Ratings are geared to the advanced photographer who enjoys competition.

Less experienced photographers, and those new to PSA, have a number of services available to them which they may find more helpful. The CSD Slide Evaluation Service has been described by a former director as "PSA's best kept secret." The secret is out now! Each member can send up to 20 slides to the directors of the service for evaluation. The directors will provide suggestions for improvement and additional comments relating to the slides' suitability for entry in PSA International Salons. More experienced members who do not belong to a camera club may also find this service very helpful.

Our International Color Slide Competition for Individuals (ICSCI) is designed to introduce PSA members to salon work. Entrants must not have stars in any division. There are three rounds of competition, plus a year-end competition. The director will give tips and instructions on salon competition work. A member may take part for two years or until he/she receives a star rating.

Slide Study Groups are available to members of all levels, from beginners to advanced. We have general interest groups, special interest groups, and star groups for those with star ratings. Each member of the group submits four slides each round for comments by the other members. Most groups have a commentator (a very experienced photographer) who also offers comments and helpful suggestions.

International Slide Study Groups build photographic relationships with members in other countries. Groups of up to 10 members exchange slides and comments with a group based in another country. Members also include letters to help forge close personal relationships with members in other countries. We currently have groups in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and England.

The Multimedia Study Group is currently looking for new members who have an interest in learning to make more professional multimedia slide presentations.

Our Instructional Slide Sets consist of a set of slides and a typed script offering instructions on a variety of photographic subjects. They are available to individuals for study at home, but can be used by clubs for an educational program.

The Slide Retouching Workshop offers information on retouching slides without the use of a computer--helpful to those members who don't have a computer or haven't invested in Photoshop.

The Portrait Competition has three rounds, plus a year-end competition, for Class A (Advanced) and Class B photographers interested in the art of portraiture. Judges' comments on individual slides will be furnished upon request. The entry form appears in the June issue of the PSA Journal.

For members interested in Photo Essays, the CSD sponsors an annual competition open to individuals and to teams. Entry form deadline is June 1 and the winning sets are shown at the following PSA International Conference. Photo Essay Competition forms appear in the January issue of the PSA Journal.

The winning photo essays are duplicated and placed in our Slide Set Library, along with winning essays from previous years. The Slide Set Library contains over 100 slide set programs which are available for loan to individual members and to member clubs. Need a program for your club meeting? Check this out!

Exhibition Slide Sets consist of accepted and award winning slides from PSA International Exhibitions. Each set has about 50 slides with a taped commentary and a script. They make good programs for a club.