We held our 3rd Awards Ceremony…
Kicking off 2024 could not start in a more positive manner. Our first Print Exhibition “Black & White” was referred to by some as the best Exhibition ever produced by the Algarve Photographers Group.
The APG is a group that lives for its members and without them there wouldn’t be an APG. It is with their input that the group continues to thrive and as such we are very happy to acknowledge members who have excelled during 2023.
Every year the APG holds six print exhibitions and six online challenges all of which contribute to the yearly Order of Merit which is the main accolade during the year. But we also like to inspire our members with additional awards that they can also strive to achieve.
2023 saw a number of new members join the group, more specifically, 14 new members since the start of 2024, all of whom have hit the floor running and made their own impact within the group. They will be setting thier sights on the (The Rookie Award), the award for newcomers which we hope will help will inspire more new members to join in the future.
And with that , the awards went to:
APG Order of Merit Winner: Mr Nigel Moore
The Order of Merit Award 2023 is awarded to the member who, throughout the year has obtained the most merit points. Merit points are obtained by participating in Print Exhibitions and corresponding public votes, as well as Online Challenges and other Challenges with subsequent selection.
This is Nigel’s Hattrick of Order of Merit Awards as he wins this award for the 3rd year running with total of 145 points.
Runner Up’s were:
– Robert Pool – 126 Points
– Daryl Gabin – 85 points
– Ernst Neidhardt – 69 points
– Ina Tanzer – 67
The President’s Award: Mrs Sharon Johnson
The President’s Award is presented to the member who, throughout the previous year has demonstrated significant improvement in their photographic work and abilities. (The Most Improved photographer).
Sharon has shown that you don’t have to have the latest and greatest equipment to take photos. She uses just her Mobile phone and Tablet to get her images. Her recent Black and White photo “The Kiss” took the Exhibition. She is a regular at critique sessions and it’s the information shared in these sessions that she says has helped her get to where she is now.
Also nominated for this award were
– Mrs Adilia Coleman
– Mrs Eileen Henighen
The award is presented by the President, Mr Daryl Gabin
The Veit Mueller Award: Mr Robert Pool
The Veit Mueller Award is for exceptionally high standards of work presented during 2023 and is named after one of the group’s founding members who was also an advocate of delivering images with very high standards.
Robert’s work is synonym to High Standards as well as other elements of evaluation. His work and his input to the group is truly a benefit.
Also nominated for this award were:
– Mr Nigel Moore
– Mr Daryl Gabin
– Mrs Ina Tanzer
– Mr Ernst Neidhardt
The Award this year was presented by Mr Peter Kain.
The Mary McClay Award: Mr Daryl Gabin
The Mary McClay Award (Dedication Award) is presented to the member who, throughout the previous year has gone out of their way, moved mountains and constantly been promoting the APG as a whole, not to mention holding APG activities as high as if not higher than their own daily activities.
Daryl Gabin is and has been the Group’s President since Jan 2020. He, along with the Steering Group, guided the APG through some very challenging times in 2020/2021 due to the pandemic. But with tenacity and perseverance, he has kept the group together and implemented some valueable ideas that are now helping the group to flourish once more.
Also nominated for this award were:
– Mr Fred Bos
– Mr Neil Adamson
– Mr David Durrant
The Award this year was presented by Mr Neil Adamson.
The Govert Sakkers Award: Mr Robert Pool
The Govert Sakkers Award is the award which puts a premium on Creativity and Consistency and is presented to the member whose creativity is always noticed and whose consistency with their work, in general, is also clear for all to see.
Ever since Robert joined the group, there have been an abundance of creativity, consistently ebbing from his images.
The fact that he was runner up in the Order of Merit standings this year and as he won the Veit Muller Award (High Standards), places Robert as one of the talented members of the APG and a serious contended for the Order of Merit in 2024.
Also nominated for this award were:
– Mrs Ludi Stiebner
– Mrs Ina Tanzer
– Mr Paul Cresswell
This award was presented by Mr Mark Braun.
The Rookie Award: Mrs Sharon Johnson
The Rookie Award was introduced in 2022 and is aimed to be presented to the most integrated newcomer each year.
Sharon has definitely found her feet within the group so much so that she accepted a spot on the Steering Group this year.
She was also credited with the most voted image in this years opening Exhibition “Black and White“.
Also nominated for this award were:
– David Durrant
– Eileen Henighen
– Heidi Beck
This Award was presented by Nigel Moore (Order of Merit Winner for the previous Year).
A few photos from the lunch and the awards themselves.
The APG would like to thank José Carapinha and his team at Vila Sol for the spread laid on and their impeccable service. In addition, a big thanks to Robert Pool, Daryl Gabin and Marijke McBean for their Photos.
