Overseas photo groups: sisters to PSA - Photographic Society of America

PSA Journal, August, 1997 by Claude Hennart, John Reece, Joachim W. Dettmer, Gregory C. Tansiongkun

The photographic organizations introduced here are leading establishments of considerable prominence in their respective areas overseas and are a continuance of our "sister society theme" which first appeared in the November 1996 PSA Journal. The following articles have been written by PSA Country Representatives at the request of PSA's International Affairs Committee Chairman, Gregory C. Tansiongkun, FPSA.

Photographers worldwide, either hobbyist or professional, may access the resources of these organizations for bettering their technique, skill, knowledge, joy, fellowship and friendship.

From time to time the IAC will also bring "insider's viewpoint" travel articles to the pages of the PSA Journal for your education and enjoyment, such as this month's "Australia: Land of Contrasts" by Fabian K. Beal, APSA.

If you would like to introduce your country's photographic activities to PSA or have questions or suggestions, please contact us through Gregory C. Tansiongkun, FPSA, 24 Hamilton Drive, Roslyn, NY 11576-3102.

The German Association for Photography

The Deutscher Verband fuer Fotografie (DVF) was founded originally as Association for German Amateur Photo Clubs (vdav) in 1908. Considerations regarding our professional working members led to a change of the association's name in the nineties. Since then the association has been named DVF and registered as a nonprofit photographic organization. There are 14 state chapters in the reunified Germany now.

Photo clubs as well as individuals may become members. Our about 8,000 members are very active in organizing various regional, national and international competitions as well as lectures, workshops and tours. Once a year the association organizes our main event, the German Championships for Photo Clubs, by turns, for prints or slides.

A bulletin, called DVF Journal, is issued commonly with DVF's official publication PHOTOGRAPHIE. Both are distributed ten times a year to each of our members. Joachim W. Dettmer, APSA, EFIAP

The Photographic Society of New Zealand

Camera Clubs were established in New Zealand in the 1880's but it was not until 1953 that a national body, the Photographic Society of New Zealand was formally established.

The idea for a New Zealand Convention and a New Zealand Photographic Society arose from a visit to the USA by Fred Bowron of Christchurch who was given a letter of introduction to Ray Miess and Phil Marples (PSA members), who invited him to a PSA Convention and inspired him with the idea. Today there are 72 member clubs and just over 500 individual members.

Each year the society runs a national convention and national exhibition organized by one of the member clubs. The country is also divided into three regions, and each year clubs in those regions run regional conventions on behalf of the society.

The society has an honors system based on photographic ability, similar to that of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain, and a system of service awards.

The Photographic Society of New Zealand has very close ties with the Australian Photographic Society and maintains close contact with the Photographic Society of America and the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP). John Reece, Hon. PSNZ, APSA, ESFIAP

Image Sans Frontiere

ISF is a European organization which brings together the best clubs and photographers within Europe. It was formed in France in May 1994 with its aims and objectives to promote original work of a high standard in all fields of photographic media, whether traditional or modern, in monochrome or color, silver or digital.

This aim is pursued without limitations, geographic frontiers, artistic frontiers, ideological frontiers, or technical frontiers.

The News Sheet is published in English and French for Affiliated Members; this contains internal news and a complete table of international salons. The Bulletin is a liaison review and documentation which is sent to all other members (active, founder, donor and subscriber); it is larger and contains information from the News Sheet and articles on images and techniques.

ISF gives members the opportunity to gain Honors as a result of their success in international salons and obtain the famous Constellations as a proof of their creativity.

The organization is always ready to listen to its members if there are technical, legal or other problems and will help to resolve them. Further, ISF offers information about salons, copyright, electronic imaging and computer equipment.

ISF is linked closely with PSA, in that, nearly all of the PSA Country Representatives in Europe are members of ISF. Both the ISF News Sheet and the Bulletin advertize the PSA Exhibitions, and ISF collects PSA subscriptions from the ISF members. Claude Hennart