Yes, I believe there's a lot to be gained by just being a member of the RPS other than getting the letters... the process of improving your photography to reach a level where you'd enter some samples for possible distinction would require quite a lot of learning, which is beneficial in many ways. The RPS makes available a lot of lectures, presentations, training days etc.
With the PAGB, I just came across the following on their site....
"All applicants must pre-qualify in accordance with their Federations criteria as having supported
Federation photographic events. This support from current active photographers must have been for a
minimum of 2 years for CPAGB, 3 years for DPAGB and 5 Years for MPAGB, A retrospective period
of 10 years may be considered. Applications for MPAGB must have held DPAGB for at least 11
months on the date of adjudication. Please contact your Federation Awards Officer for guidance."
Also, "The Awards are normally held for life without any annual fee and holders are entitled to use the
designated letters after their name."
OK, so now I've got to look for a Federation Awards Officer.... I'm just going outside, I may be some time....
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By Jove, I have it...... I 'borrowed' the instructions to the
Chilterns federation's Awards Guidance (via the "PAGB > Awards" link), for the use of the Federation's representative at each club (and I expect it works the same in all PAGB Federations and Clubs)......
Check that the member has been with your club or other
clubs for the minimum period of support (currently 2, 3 and 5 years for C, D, and
MPAGB respectively).
Support of Federation Photographic events listed on the CACC form means that
the Member must have :-
• Made work available for selection, in the chosen medium (prints, slides or
A/V) for at least one event in each year of the PAGB qualifying period (above).
• Not included work older than 10 years.
The Awards are.....
'Credit' - CPAGB - 'Good Club Photography';
'Distinction' - DPAGB - 'Open Exhibition Photography';
'Master' - MPAGB - 'Highest Standard of Amateur Photography'.
Once recommended by a club and federation (not sure which, maybe it's both) the applicant sends 10 prints or 10 DPIs to the PAGB. They have six judges for adjudication, each giving a maximum of 5 points per image, making a maximum score of 30 per image, making a maximum total score of 300. Pass mark is 200.
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