AUSTRALIANPHOTOGRAPHY.COM 73
APS FOCUS
AUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPHY + DIGITAL JULY 2015
With Peter
Manchester
I
t’s over 12 years now since the
Australian Photographic Society
Incorporated set up its own website
(www.a-p-s.org.au/). Like most
societies or organisations emanating from
a group of individual photographers,
some members wanted to move into
the digital age. Communication with
members had previously been by the
society magazine “IMAGE”, which also
contained a newsletter of information
including the results of competitions,
reports by directors, future competitions,
and deliberations of management.
Unfortunately, by the time it came out, the
results were old and sometimes out of date.
The magazine Australian Photography
offered further communication to a
larger audience, but only on a monthly
basis. Then in August 1991, along came
the Internet, which gave birth to a new
technology that would fundamentally
change the world as we knew it. Speed
was its essence. Members of the Australian
Photographic Society wanted to share
images and receive feedback from other
experienced photographers within a
couple of days. With the net, they no
longer had to wait around for weeks,
or sometimes even months. But APS
management procrastinated for many
months considering its future success!
Starting on a trial basis, the society tried
setting up document registration, on-line
help, exhibition information, and up-
to-date photographic news. Also in 1991
the first software called the World Wide
Web (www) was written and uploadedto selected groups. The first image was
uploaded in 1992 (a French parodic rock
group Les Horribles Cernettes).
But the web has now become a part
of our everyday lives – something we
access at home, on the move, in planes,
and on our TVs. The membership really
forced APS management to change to
the new technology. Many members
resisted and some even resigned because
of this decision. It was an interesting
period! Today every conceivable aspect
of the Australian Photographic Society
can be found on the web, which is a
credit to the Webmaster/Secretary Stella
Fava. The main purpose of the site is to
communicate the aims and objectives
of the society, which shows members
photography, galleries and slideshows,
exhibition services, and a critique room,
to name just a few things. One would
have thought the website would satisfy the
needs of the membership, but along came
the newer technology of social media, with
services like Facebook, Twitter, Google
+ Instagram. Now, not only has social
media become a key part of our modern
lifestyle, but it has also evolved into a vital
marketing channel for businesses of all
sizes. APS membership requested that the
Australian Photographic Society come
on board with Facebook, Twitter and
Google+ and it has officially embedded
itself into our culture.
The Australian Photographic Society
offers the social media because it allows:- Immediate access to information on
the photographic world;
2. Pervasive connectivity to others of all
social classes and interests;
3. Globalised viewpoints, with opinions
from every corner of the world;
4. Hashtags which are tied to a specific
photographic theme, event or topic
in order to filter out everything that
doesn’t relate to the hashtag.
But unfortunately social media and how
photographers use it can also leave much
to be desired at times. Social media has
acted as a vehicle for concepts like “selfies”.
But are these images quality photography?
It publicises images that promote
“political” tirades, allows users to hide
behind anonymity, and promotes many
images which are often copies of others.
On social media, ignorance is amplified.
Images put up are often commented
upon in a negative way, promoting the
attitude that “I know better than you”.
To be truly effective the focus with
social media should be on being helpful.
Unfortunately, everybody has an opinion,
whether they’re experienced, proven or
not even into photography! Programs like
Photoshop and Lightroom have changed
the way we interpret life and our planet,
but not in a way which appears to be
self-indulgent, ordinary and mundane.
Personally, I don’t think social media has
promoted good photography at all. The
Australian Photographic Society website,
along with its sister publication Australian
Photography + Digital, aims to enhance
the creativity of photography throughout
Australia. Let’s hope this approach
continues well into the future. ❂
The Social Good
ABOVE
“Selfie!” I went to a
sideshow in a local
town in Tasmania
and asked this
bloke if I could I take
a ‘selfie’. This is his
interpretation!