IAN PLATT MFIAP, FRPS, HON.EFIAP, HON.PAGB (Published March 2004)
Ian has been involved in organised amateur photography since 1960. Until retirement, his work as an Air Traffic Controller moved him round the country and this brought him into contact with clubs in many different places. In the past he has been Chairman of Haywards Heath Camera Club, President of the Sussex Federation, Smethwick Photographic Society and The Midland Counties Federation as well as Chairman of the Smethwick International Colour Exhibition, the Midland and Surrey Salons of Photography.
His personal photographic interests cover a very wide range with a special emphasis on Pictorial and Creative work and also Nature, Record and Travel photography. He works in both monochrome and colour prints as well as slides almost exclusively in the 35mm format nowadays, and still exhibits internationally having received over one thousand acceptances. He was awarded his RPS Associateship for Pictorial Slides in 1968, his Fellowship in Monochrome Prints in 1971 and his Master FIAP award also with Monochrome Prints in 1989.
Ian served on the RPS Licentiateship panel for seven years in the 1970's and then the Associateship and Fellowship Pictorial panel for ten years from 1985-1994, and is presently a member of the new A and F Travel panel. He was also the first Chairman of Adjudicators for the PAGB Merit Awards or "distinctions" scheme that is now in its tenth year and continually gaining in stature.
He currently belongs to Mirage in Kent, Southampton CC and United Photographic Postfolios, and is an honorary member of Smethwick PS and Sheffield PS. He has been a member of the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain Executive Committee for fifteen years as its FIAP Liaison Officer.
In April 1999 he was elected President of the PAGB, which he regarded as a significant honour especially as it coincided with the move of organised photography into a new century. Most recently, in April 2000 he was awarded his HON.EFIAP in recognition of his exceptional services to International Photography.
Ian's favourite places to visit to take photographs are Seaton Sluice and Hartland Quay and surrounding areas in the United Kingdom and the National Parks and Forests in the United States of America.
One amusing incident which happened to Ian was the reaction he received after giving an Audio Visual Show for one and a quarter hours to the Welsh Photographic Federation, one elderly lady came up to him and said how much she had enjoyed his A/V adding "I just closed my eyes and listened to the music"!!!
Editor