Author: Simon Perry
Controversy At IW Photographer of the Year Awards (UPDATED)
Thursday, 11th December, 2008 at 1:57 pm, Isle of Wight
You may be wondering why there’s no photo of the winner of the Isle of Wight Photographer of the Year, at the event. Second and third placed Neil Hunt and Kelly Fraczynski were photographed there, but the winner, Tina Nicholls was not.
VentnorBlog has been contacted about it and have subsequently learnt that there’s a twist to the tale of Tina Nicholls winning the Isle of Wight Photographer of the Year 2008 award.
Apparently there was some controversy at the awards event at Quay Arts on Saturday night.
Those in the room were shocked to see that when Tina arrived with her friend and was refused entrance to the building by the IWDIG organisers, who asked him to leave.
We understand that it wasn’t because her friends behaviour was out of order, but that the IWDIG organisers had in the past objected to his critique of members work.
We hear that Tina felt that she couldn’t stay at the event because of the organisers attitude to her friend – pretty shocking given that she was one of the finalists.
Given no option, they had to leave the event, which she then went on to win. All rather confusing and embarrassing for the organisers.
Ho hum. With Tina hoping to finally collect her award and prize tonight at the Niton Camera Club meeting, let’s hope things are a little more cordial.
We’re contacting the IWDIG who are behind the event to find out their version of events. If we hear back, we’ll let you know.
UPDATE: IWDIG got back to us with the following, “unfortunately we are unable to comment at this present time but we will be issuing a statement in due course.”
(The cropped Web page grabs that originally sat in this article have been removed at the request of IWPOY)
Both graphics: grabs from IWDIG Website.
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If people are banned just for critcising something, then I’m going to get barred from a lot of places, mostly resteraunts and pubs..
Surely artists expect criticism
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Very shocking to hear the refusal of entry by Gary (IW DIG) however I do understand a lot of people have fallen out with Gary/IWFDIG over the years.
Let’s just hope there is a more pleasant outcome to next years event.
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Actually the story gets better, IWDIG failed to print the image onto canvas to an acceptable standard,(it should have been black and white) so the image which miss Tina Nicholls is holding in the County Press 12/12/2008 is an image printed by myself.(under the kolzwerk name) Now in my opinion if IWPOY organisers are to be allowed to continue with this competition they should make sure the winning images are printed to an acceptable standard.
As a recently accepted Southen Photographic Federation judge and with 25 years photographic experience I feel I have the right to criticise especially when invited to do so in an open forum.
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I know a lot of people have had a very distressing year.
So all I want is for all of this to calm down, to settle past misunderstandings and/or prejudices and be united in promoting photography on the Isle of Wight which is what we’re about.
Life too short for politics. I am attending the Jessops Cup this evening, come what may, in support of Wight Balance the photography club I am Secretary to and to support my friends.
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Well said Tina , well done again on
winning , have a nice time collecting
your award. J
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Glad you won, i remember when you got back from iceland and showed me your pics, that was the one that stood out from the rest, its a lovely shot and deserved to win. good going xxxxx
hope it all gets sorted out soon.
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Tina’s year has been a strange one – with this as a wonderful final prize for her. She has remained completely honest throughout, maintaining her dignity and integrity at all times. She just wants the best outcome for all concerned, I know because I am her mother.
Can I also add that she could not have got through the year without the help and support of her friends – they know who they are.
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I asked you remove my article and you didnt respond yet you re -edit tina’s story when she contacted you. so whats this one rule for one and another rule for others? sort it out please.
If you dont I will make a statement about your indifferent editing on my website which at the moment is attracting alot of interest
And if you publish anything which references me in this article, you can also expect a legal reminder, There’s a lot of it about this week.
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Adrian,
you’ve made yourself look a bit silly.
Please don’t sue me for saying so!
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@Adrian Yes we edited an article about Tina at her request – a very rare thing – to protect someone who was named in the article. She told us that that person was going through a testing time and we were sympathetic the situation.
We don’t edit comments. It’s the policy of the site. It’s up to the commenters to consider their comments before they leave them. We simply don’t have time to respond to every person who might regret a comment that they leave in haste, that’s why, above the comment box, the guidance is clear
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You photographers can be a funny bunch sometimes :)
Congrats Tina, I’ve always enjoyed your photography, it’s very inspirational.
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yes well done Tina ,have you been recognised by to ipoy organisers as their winner yet,
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Thought I’d take a look at Adrian’s website at http://www.kolzwerk.com only to find that it says “We are Visualthoughtconceptualists not a website”. Funny thing is, there’s an image of a stairwell on the opening page copyrighted under the Kolzwerk name that I feel I’ve seen someone before, what does anyone else think?
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Author: keithybaby
Keithybaby writes
Thought I’d take a look at Adrian’s website at http://www.kolzwerk.com only to find that it says “We are Visualthoughtconceptualists not a website”.
Funny thing is, there’s an image of a stairwell on the opening page copyrighted under the Kolzwerk name that I feel I’ve seen someone before,what does anyone else think?
Full marks for observation Keith, however I was baned from the IWPOY2008 and so my version of the image could not be submitted,however commercially my images sell, and hence the posting on the website and a topical marketing image.I wonder how many people have taken that classic picture of Godshill Church, from pretty much the same place.
Sad thing is the IWPOY prize givers still refuse to give the prizes to the winner, I cant imagine the sponsors being very happy either about this. Independent verification of authenticity has taken place and Miss Tina Nicholls has one, it would be a fool hardy organiser who decides to make this a copyright issue.
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and yes I type too fast and know that “won is spelt like this, but thats the down side of being a visualthoughtconceptualist.
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The opening image of the IWDIG at the top of this “discussion” is kind of symbolic or should it be simboll**ks of their attitude, first image is cover up, second image is refusing to accept and third image saying the wrong thing.
and finally the reference that the winner was
“that person was going through a testing time” is a lightweight excuse, if you look deeper into your blog, you will see that I am/have also experiencing “a testing time”, which is hopefully going to be resolved in my favour early in the new year, so to support someone because they have a testing time is,well…answers on a postcard to Blue Peter London, W1A 4WW
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“keithybaby Says:
Today at 6:16 pm (53 minutes ago)
Thought I’d take a look at Adrian’s website at http://www.kolzwerk.com only to find that it says “We are Visualthoughtconceptualists not a website”. Funny thing is, there’s an image of a stairwell on the opening page copyrighted under the Kolzwerk name that I feel I’ve seen someone before, what does anyone else think?”
Any accusation that the photograph I won IWPOY 2008 with not being my photograph will be taken very seriously.
I have inarguable proof that the winning photograph was taken on my camera and no-one else’s and as Kolzwerk has said previously, the image’s authenticity has been verified by an independant thrid party in a series of photographs that I took at the time.
The original photographs including exif data are still on my CF memory card, all untouched an in sequence as taken. Such is the vast quantity of CF cards, that I own enough not to have found it necessary to delete the images from it.
Is it not possible for two people to take simillar photographs on holiday or out for theday together?
Does that immediately label one of them a cheat if enetered into a competition?
If so then then half the awards and exhibited works on the IW are rip-offs.
The fact remains, I took that photograph, I won the competition irrefutably, I can proove this unquestionable fact and the organisers are not honouring their word.
Fact.
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Amateur Photographer has a feature on Iceland this week, strange co incidence indeed.
Anyway I declare myself the winner in this debate
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And IWPOY and IWCP and everyone else (how many ands in one sentence, there’s Trinity education for you?!) declares me the winner of the comp…
Hey it’s Christmas. Good will, love, compassion and all that.
No more nasties guys.
So a very merry Yuletide to All Pagans, Christians, Agnostics and anyone in between. Wishing EVERYONE a better new year!
Signing out.
xx
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it’s a storm in a teacup, stop stirring and it will all settle,then we can all go back to sleep
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It’s a great photo, congratulations Tina, wish I’d taken it.
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Thank you Keith (I assume it’s Keith).
I just ask that this does settle. I’ve offered my proof. I have absolutely nothing to hide, nor nothing to worry about.
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Amanda /Gary ,just give the girl her prize and move on to next year,and hope as good an image wins without the problems of this year
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Thank YOU Allan – your comment MUST be noted by the “Organisers” so please could the people concerned take action.Thank You & Merry Christmas.
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I’m intrigued to see that the Kolzwerk site has removed the image and has now gone into ‘hybernation’ until 2010. What is going on?
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I am falling of my chair laughing at all this hoohaa about this little competition.Because it is a little competion with a big name. There were i think about 250 entries, not really a true representation of the many talented photographers on the island. A competion that is judged on a web sized image, the quality obviously of the image doesn’t actually matter. That aside the image deserved to win on its merits alone.
P.S. I take photos whilst out with my partner and they are often the same, just means there was a scene crying out to be photographed.
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Exactly my point Christine and thank you!
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This situation is thankfully resolved.
Please can there be no more comments on the subject but thanks for the support.
May my wishes be respected in this matter.
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