Best Author – A FIAP Blue Badge
Has it really been three months since my last update on my chase for FIAP distinctions? Unlike my almost daily FIAP updates last year, I have been making a conscious effort not to update my blog every time I pick up acceptances, for fear that it would flood the blog with nothing other than content relating to FIAP salons and distinctions. But I feel my recent success in the PhotoVacation Salon in Bulgaria, was worth shouting out about; which is actually what I did when I found out the news myself 
This year FIAP introduced a new award called a “Blue Badge” for the best author in any salon and I’m over the moon to have picked up my first one 
Voyeur
FIAP Bronze Medal: PhotoVacation, Bulgaria
Salon Gold: Trierenberg, Austria
Salon Gold: Grand Digital Circuit, India
In addition to the Best Author award, my shot “Voyeur” of Madame Bink picked up a FIAP Bronze Medal in the same salon, as well as picking up two other Gold medals, in Trierenberg/Austria and India since my last update But the Best Author award has brought me the most satisfaction this year. It’s rare I enter every category in a salon, so I’m considerably handicapped before the salon judging even begins. So to win the award, having entered only two out of the three categories feels like a big achievement.
Most recently, Brian Hopper from Dundalk Photographic Society and Wesley Law from East Cork Camera Group also picked up Best Author awards, so it’s nice to be in such esteemed company… even if I am playing catch up
The results of the actual salon still aren’t available yet, where only the awards have been announced, so I’m still not sure what other shots were selected. But leaving this salon aside the submissions continue to do well. I’m very close to having had 300 acceptances now across 37 salons in 24 different countries. Counting the Best Author Award, I have picked up 15 awards, 11 of which were medals 
So it’s a case of so far, so good. I’m also sticking to my policy of entering a new image into every salon I enter, which is really helping me up the counter for accepted works. Hopefully by the end of this year, my goal of having achieved everything I need for the EFIAP/b will be met.
Very well done and well deserved Ciaran. As you say when you don’t do ‘ducks’ or travel you are handicapped. If you’re playing catch up I haven’t even crossed the start line
Oh, great news, congrats! A few more pictures of birds in flight and you’re onto the “best of the best” cup someday =)
Congrats Ciaran and welcome to the club ! Funny, I knew it was only a matter of time before you achieved this award. Congrats on the FIAP Bronze – another multiple award winner and well deserved. As for playing catch-up – you must be joking !
I was never convinced I’d be a member of the club, due to the fact I rarely enter all sections of a salon.
I have nothing against nature or landscape photography, but I just don’t see myself investing a lot of time and effort in it. It would have to be a case of having a shot almost presented to me, before I’d actually attempt to take it.
So yeah, it came as a nice surprise.
Well done Ciaran, I had no doubts that you would get one. Its great that there are 3 of us. There are no handicaps. If you enter only 4 images in one category, you have a chance at getting the overall award. The highest scoring set of 4 images gets it. Doesnt matter what category they were entered in.
Oh, hadn’t realised that’s how it worked? I assumed they just summed all scores. Is there an official blurb about the Best Author Award? Cheers BTW
Cant find original blurb… but if you download the recent German catalog 10mb, you will see from overall scores.
http://www.germanphotocup.de/ergebnisse.html#HSBEST
In the overall best author, it says what category the images came from, CPID or N. Most entered 2 categories. This was for all 3 salons, your best category. 12points, one for each acceptance in 3 salons would have got you 6th place.
Pins or badges were awarded for the best single salon (just to confuse things) 7 or 8 points won that per salon, again your best category. 1=acceptance, 2=hm, 3=medal. Look up any of the overall winners to see the scores matching one category only, even though most entered 2 categories.
Obviously, in other salons, if judges go to the trouble of marking images out of 15 or 27 or whatever number, it is this total for 4 images that decides the best author, There are always a lot of people who get 4 acceptances in a category.
Here’s the official explanation from FIAP. – hope this helps.
Think you missed the link Brian?
Found the link: http://fiap.net/pdf/I588-bestaut-fr.pdf#
“Best author
Starting with the salons from 2011, FIAP will offer to the organisers of salons with FIAP
Patronage a special badge (light blue) to be awarded to the best author for each salon
number. The one who has achieved the highest number of total acceptances of all the
sections of the salon added together will be proclaimed “best author”. In the event of a
tie, the organiser will decide irrevocably. The name of the best author must be
mentioned in the catalogue.”
There’s a “Best Of The Best”….. is that the next goal?