All posts by admin

Lajos Nagy – Pure Soul of Artistic Photography

Lajos Nagy, GMPSA, EFIAP/d3, MAAFR, GPU CR5 VIP3, GAIUP, PEPSS, FAPU, GAPU, R-ISF10

Lajos was born in 1950 and lives in Romania.

He has studied economics and is licensed in economic science. He is a businessman in his own company.

He also studied facultative fine art and photography. He got his first camera in 1957 and photography has been his hobby since 1961.

Between 1980-1990 he had numerous acceptances and prizes in national photographic salons.


In 1986 he received his first acceptance in an international salon and today, he has more than 20,000 acceptances and more than 2,000 prizes in international salons.

He worked in analog photography but since 1993 he has taken only digital images. His interests in photography are wide and varied, pictorial landscapes, people and places, nature and travel photography, and altered photography but he also enjoys photojournalism.

His motto is “To see and to show” – catch the moments and present the feeling of the moments through the pictures.

He has been a member and honorary member of numerous important photographic societies in the world and received the prestigious photographic titles as Grand Master PSA, EFIAP Diamond 3 from FIAP, Crone 5 and VIP3 GPU, Great Achievement IUP, Platinum Exhibitor of  PSS, Fellow of APU and Gold Exhibitor APU, and R-ISF10 from Image sans Frontiere.

In Romania from AAFR he earned the title “Photographer of the Year” in 2010 and in 2011 and the title MAAFR (Master AAFR). In Hungary from MFVSZ in 2014, 2015, and 2016 he earned the title “Photographer of the Year”, and in 2017 the title “Lifetime Achievement in Photography”.

He had more than 100 individual exhibitions in Romania, Hungary and other countries in Europe. He edited two individual albums with the title “Impressions” in 2000 and “Images from the Curvature of the Carpathians” in 2017.

Take a look and enjoy the beautiful photographs of a worthy and talented artist:

Soulpresence (portraits and life scenes)
Close to nature (nature)

Daniel De Cort – the photo art passion

Mr. Daniel De Cort

Born in a vivid student city, Leuven (Belgium) where photography was an activity practiced lively in the family.

Very early I became a member of a photo association and later I developed my artistic skills at the SLAC (Academy of Fine Arts).

My interest in photography always is very broad: underwater photography, studio and drone photography. Now I focus me especially on travel photography and street photography.


Street photography or Urban Life is the public space that became my main photographic subject. In this space, I am searching for the human influence on the environment. I observe and shoot whatever strikes me as special, different or humorous in everyday life, thereby not losing my sense for aesthetics. I frame my photos carefully and show a minimum of details.

Jacques Tati’s saying: “Life is funnier than any joke ever invented” inspires me. Of the German photographer Harald Mante I have learned how to frame my pictures tightly.

During my travels, I like to take pictures as a reminder of the places visited, but I always try to use my own point of view. 

My photos have been accepted at various photo competitions worldwide. 

I am also a member of the jury on different photo exhibitions.

Shortly after the foundation of Global Photographic Union (GPU) I became an active member and since 2020 I am also a board member and treasurer. GPU is formed for those photographers who wish to take part in a truly international organization, where photographic art allows and encourages cultural exchange.

Every genre of photography is encouraged by GPU and equally valued. By this, we mean that all the aspects of photography can be found within GPU and based on comradeship and mutual.

Take a look at his beautiful artistic photographs and immerse yourself in a world of reality and imagination:

Emotional Photo Story by Gottfried Catania

Dr. Gottfried Catania

AFIAP, EPSA, GPU CR4, VIP4, c*MOL IIG/s2 BAPU, I.APS/B, GM.SSP, M.NPS, E.CPE, ES.CPE, Hon.CPE, Hon.WPAI

His interest in photography started way back in the late 1980s when, as a student, he acquired his first SLR camera.

He joined the local photographic club, started participating with some success in regional competitions, and even gained a few acceptances and a couple of awards in International Salons, leading to the achievement of his AFIAP in the early 1990s.


His hobby then had to be put aside for a long time, during which he got married, had 4 children (including triplets), changed careers a number of times, and returned to studying. During this time, he remained interested in photography, particularly while traveling, but did not compete in competitions anymore.

He completed his PhD in June of 2018, and suddenly had a lot of time on his hands – this led to the rediscovery of his passion for competing and exhibiting his work. Between September 2018 and August 2023, he has collected over 25000 acceptances and more than 3000 awards in international exhibitions with FIAP, PSA, and GPU patronage. He has been on the judging panel of a few such exhibitions in different countries.

His preferred subjects are travel photography, street photography, and nature.

We met Gottfried and got to know him better during the GPU Photo Festival in Kyrgyzstan in 2023. Our close and very relaxed relationship has resulted in this photo presentation of his artistic work, which we consider to be extremely interesting, inspiring, and deeply connected to his inner emotional being.

Enjoy Gottfried’s images, let’s enter the inner world of his imagination

 

Arfan = Love for Photography

Mohammed Arfan Asif

Mohammed Arfan Asif

FRPS, EFIAP/d2, MPSA, GWP.ICS, MICS, MIUP, MAPS, FICS, c*MoL, APSA, Hon.YPS, HonFICS, Hon.MICS, Hon.EUSPA, Hon.FSWAN, Hon.EFMPA, Hon.FPSNJ, Hon.PSPB, Hon.PIP.ICS, Hon.EICS/PSBP, Hon.EIUSF, Hon.CPE, HonMLMG, Hon.GMPIPC 

Mohammed Arfan Asif / Arfan, 58 years of age is a Hospital Pharmacist by profession and a photoartist by passion.

His photographic journey began in the mid-80s in his native Bengaluru in India. Arfan’s photographic subjects are primarily portraits and landscapes, though he has dabbled in all genres including nature and travel with a preference for the monochrome medium.

He has exhibited his photographs regularly in photography exhibitions and galleries all over the world for more than 35 years of intense photography and won many awards including the Grand Prix in Serbia, FIAP blue-pin badges for best author in salons, Trierenberg Gold medal, Photo of the Year in Germany, Al Thani gold medal, The RPS Landscape Photographer of the Year Award, many PSA and FIAP gold medals.

Arfan has been awarded International photographic distinctions from various organizations including the Fellowship of The Royal Photographic Society (FRPS in 2021), the Master distinction of the Photographic Society of America (MPSA in 2018), the Excellence Diamond of the Federation of International Photographic Art (EFIAP/d2 in 2022), Grand World Photographer distinction of Image Colleague Society International (GWP.ICS) in 2021 and Master distinction of International Union of Photographers (MIUP) in 2020.

Many photographic organizations have awarded him their honorary titles. In 1997, Arfan founded “Askary Awards” for promoting photography among the youth in Karnataka State, India. He is currently the Chapter Organizer for the Dubai Chapter of The RPS and the UAE Country Representative for Image Colleague Society International. He is also the Director of the PSA Portrait Competition as well as the 1st Vice Chair of the PSA PID Board apart from his most important role as Mentor of Shutter Bugs Creative Forum in Dubai.

Arfan has given talks, presented workshops, online lectures, judged International exhibitions/salons, featured in group exhibitions, curated 8 photography exhibitions and organized 3 International salons. He has been a prolific writer on photography topics and in the past was the columnist for Photography Middle East and Connector magazines. He has mentored more than 50 enthusiasts to achieve International distinctions from among his 100+ Shutterbugs he currently mentors.

For Arfan, photography is a passion and he strongly believes that it brings people together and makes them human.

Contact details:

Mohammed Arfan Asif, MPharm. PDCR
PO Box 28303
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
arfan7@yahoo.com
(preferred mode of communication is Email or Facebook messenger)

Take u journey to the magic world of Arfans photography passion, just take a peek into the secrets of a noble heart of a great artist and dear friend:

Mohammed Arfan Asif – Dunes

Mohammed Arfan Asif – People

Mohammed Arfan Asif – Scapes

Salaj-Beauty Romania 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Review from the Photo Camp organized by the Culture and Art Center of Sălaj County, the Photo Club Varadinum Oradea Association

Fortunately, we were able to participate in the 6th edition of Salaj-Beauty, Tradition, Story 2023 Photo Camp organized by the Culture and Art Center of Sălaj County, the Photo Club Varadinum Oradea 19 – 25 May.

This is a prestigious manifestation in the field of creative and artistic photography and we would like to share our impressions with a few words.

Summing up everything we experienced, felt, and learned during this unforgettable gathering with dear fellow photographers, we must say, with a full heart and with a lot of joy that the gathering at the Salaj photo camp was more than unforgettable.

The Salaj Foto Camp exceeded our highest expectations in everything. We have a special honor and pleasure to thank all the organizers and people with good hearts and goodwill for the successful realization of this unique cultural event.

Romania was presented to all of us in one unique and outstanding visual perspective, we were able to fill the hospitality and warmth of our hosts in the ethno houses we visited there, making us sufficient to realize all the cultural potential of the Romanian countryside.

We visited many churches, museums with professional guidance, and many respectful wineries in Romania, making us understand all the variety and rich cultural traditions of the Romanian people.


Adela Lia Rusu

Especially and with a lot of warmth, we thank our beautiful Adela Lia Rusu, a friend with a big heart and good soul, for her selfless help, extraordinary organization, and the great effort she takes to make every participant of this camp feel “at home” like among their closest friends. In our humble opinion, everything about the organization of this photo camp worked precisely “like clockwork”, bringing us incredible satisfaction during our entire stay in Salaj, Romania, during the actual work and planned activities and all the moments spent with our old and new friends as well.

Thanks to her efforts, cooperation, and socializing, the new friendships have ennobled our hearts with new hope, with the kindness of commitment, and devotion in the organization of such a prestigious photography event.

Only that kind of effort can result in unique success.


Ovi D Pop

Also, we are extremely grateful for the support, warm relationship, and excellent organization of this event to our friend and good and open-hearted man Ovi. D Pop. Without his effort, help, and commitment at every moment of our friendship, this meeting would not have gone like this, especially since the atmosphere in which we worked and lived for 6 days of the photo camp was at a more than enviable level. His powerful drone with “All-Seeing Eye” made our meeting and gathering timeless.

It was obvious that in cooperation with all the organizers and participants of this gathering, Adela and Ovi did their best to make every moment of our gathering a beautiful memory.

In addition, all the photo models, a coordinated selection of beautiful Romanian and Hungarian folk costumes, excellent accommodation, and supreme domestic food fulfilled our impressions. We have outstanding good cooperation with all our friends during the shooting itself, giving the personal stamp of our dearest Adela and Ovi.

During many years working in the field of artistic photography, we had the opportunity to participate in numerous manifestations of this type. We can say with pride and honor, with admiration and full of love – this was our most beautiful and heart-warming meeting with people of goodwill ever, in which Ovi and Adela were far ahead, first of all with their humanity and organizational skills, where, without a doubt, every participant felt respected and accepted as a member of a one loving big family.

We would especially like to refer to the devoted, warm, big-hearted artist, our new friend Mr. Mohammad Arfan Asif, who spread kindness and love with his presence every moment spent in the camp. My unique and unforgettable early morning walks and taking photos with him completed my skills in the field of photography and enriched my knowledge in observing light, atmosphere, photo shoots, and choosing the new angle of photography perspective as well. His rich experience and big heart made our new friendship strong and meaningful, so we can freely say that Arfan becomes a part of our family in Dubai, UAE.

In particular, it was a special pleasure for us to socialize, stay, and exchange experiences with warm and kind-hearted friends from Egypt, Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Hassan and Mrs. Nora Maher, where every moment spent with them was filled with mutual understanding and sincerity. Ljiljana had the special honor of receiving from Mr. Ahmed, The President and Founder of PIPC (Pharaos International Photographic Club) the high and prestigious title of Grand Master Distinction – Hon.GMPIPC for her merits in the field of artistic and creative photography.

I also had the honor of becoming a Life Time Member of PIPC and we are both convinced that we have made new wonderful friends with them and that our cooperation and friendship will develop successfully.

How can we not mention the driving force of the whole group, a person full of enthusiasm and good energy, Mrs. Derya Yazar Atasever from beautiful Cappadocia, Turkiye.

Her enthusiasm and motivation captured every moment and encouraged us to participate with the same enthusiasm in the work of the whole group, bringing us a lot of good photos from the photo camp in Salaj, Romania. Mrs. Derya is an exceptional artist and a friendly person, with whom we would love to hang out and share experiences.

It was very pleasant in the company of photography artists from Hungary – Miklos Mehes and Zsolt Bikfalvi, with whom we also achieved wonderful cooperation and friendship.

Enjoy, together with us in many documentary photos from Salaj Beauty, Romania 2023

Posted by: Ljiljana Vrzic & Nenad Nikolic

Cuba Square Project

Bright sunny afternoon week in Havana…
A couple of decisive moments…
Cuba was my remedy.
Havana was my cure.
That is my silence, my solitude of silence, tightly connected with Cuba.


I would like to share with the rest of the world my light signature.
We really are so small behind our own eyes.
Behind our fancy clothes.
Behind our favorite colors.
I would like to share the emotions and vision into the memories of the audience.

Street Photography is Zen – in every sense of the word.

Nenad Nikolic

Sara GABRIELS – Light from the Open Hart

Sara GABRIELS

Sara Gabriels, GMPSA, EFIAP/b, Belgium

Sara Gabriëls bought her first DSLR in 2016 and immediately enrolled in an entry-level photography course.

The start of an amazing adventure.

By the end of 2017, she decided to try her luck in the international photography competitions.

She wanted to find out if she had a place in the amateur photography world.


A short overview:

  • 2018: PPSA  AFIAP 
  • 2019: AFIAP – PPSA  
  • 2020: EFIAP – MPSA 
  • 2021: MPSA2 – Belgium photography champion
  • 2021: EFIAP/b
  • 2022: GMPSA

In six years she won many – national as well as international – titles, medals, awards, trophies and several blue badges. One of the highlights happened in 2021 when she earned the title of Belgium Champion Photography.

Sara’s first love is a night photography. However today she equally finds pleasure in portrait photography, street photography and macro as well. She is driven and doesn’t rest once she sets her mind to it. 

Sara operates from the heart. 

Her images don’t need further explanation.

The image is the story brought with honesty, purity, and openness that is so typical for this photographer. 
Every image must connect with the photographer before being published. Without this “seal of approval”, the image holds no value for Sara and doesn’t get to see “the light of day”.

However, every photograph says more than 1000 words.

We suggest you to dive into the Sara’s inner world, feel the trembling tingle of every colour, shade, or shape, originating directly from her hart.

Enjoy!

Jacky’s photo passion amazing X-factor

Jacky Panhuyzen, EFIAP/g – GMPSA

Living in Belgium, I always have been interested in photography, but it never happened due to other interests until my retirement.

Then I started taking classes and in 2010. I started to photograph, joined a local photo club, and also participate in National and International photo competitions.

It all started as a hobby but soon it became a passion until today with especially Nature (Macro), Land & Cityscape, Architecture, Streetlife, and Travel photography where I try to photograph people in their daily activities.

Every year (without Corona) I try to make 1 or 2 long journeys, usually to South-East Asia; Vietnam, Nepal, Myanmar, and my absolute preference is Incredible India because it is so special with a very colorful population and for a photographer a top location. 


My photo material consists of:

Canon 7D + Canon 5DIII + Canon R6
Canon Lenses 17-40, 24-105, 70-200, 100-400 and Sigma Macro 150 mm
I use Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and NIK software for post-processing.

If you like to enjoy the Jacky’s inner photo artistic impressions, please take a look in the outstanding and remarkable photo gallery here:

Ole Suzskiewicz – Pure Magic

Ole Suszkiewicz

Honours:

G MPSA, MFIAP, E FIAP/d3, G PU CR-4
Hon.M.KTFIS in Poland, Arnica del CFR in Italy, FPSG in Pakistan, S.E.HKCPAC in Hong Kong, SAWIE P in the USA, Hon.FPSBP in Malaysia, Hon.PESG.SPC in Cypern, Hon.FtG M in Serbia, Hon.CPE and A.CPE in Romania, GAPS in Bangladesh.


He started sending out to competitions ca. 40 years ago and has obtained more than 7.000 acceptances, ca. 1.300 medals, and more than 1.000 other awards.

He is a self-taught photographer.

He started with sandwich slides and uses almost the same technique in his digital images. He prefers experimental pictures, where he can create his own reality.

He is a member of The Danish Society of Photography (SDF) in Denmark, where he has the 2 highest titles: Hon.MSDF and MSDF/Platin.

He is a member of Stella Polaris Photo Group in Scandinavia and has here the tide NSMiF/Gold.

We tried to convey in words what Ole’s photos tell us.
We failed.
It is completely understandable why.
That’s not possible.

It is only possible to look, feel, enjoy the energy that these images carry and selflessly pass it on to the observer.

“The art of a magician is to create wonder.
If we live with a sense of wonder, our lives become filled with joy. “

Doug Henning

Enjoy the Pure Magic of Ole Suszkiewicz

Discover Barbara Schmidt Photo Story

Barbara Schmidt

MPSA, EFIAP/b, GPU CR-4, GPU VIP-3, GPU Hermes, RISF-10, AISF, HIUP, cMoL, DVF, GAPU, FAPU, CMP.PPI, Hon.CAS, HON.FICS, Hon.CPE, Hon.G.APS, Hon.WPG, Hon. FSAP, Hon.FPPS, Hon.PESGSPC, Hon.GPA.PESGSPC ,  Hon.GMGMG, Hon.GMTPAS, Hon.APF, Hon.FPMP, Hon.Adv.PPI

“You are your own limit, rise above it.” (Hafis)


Born and living in the Ruhr area, Germany. She graduated in administrative sciences and retired in September 2015, after more than 40 years as a civil servant. Barbara and her Fuji XT 2 have been on the road since May 2014. She learned all by try and error, with a lot of love.  The motifs are varied because everything that arouses their interest is photographed! She doesn’t go out with the intention of bringing a certain picture with her but goes to places, where she wants to be and expects what may come there. This brings special and very successful images.

Since the 1st acceptance 21.03.2016 at German International DVF-Photocup more than 5000 acceptances with over 500 awards have been given.

Photographic focal points:  Architecture, Landscape, Long exposure, People, Nature, Travel, Street, Animals, Competitions

Member of the DVF – Deutscher  Verband für  Fotografie e.V.: State Photography Champion NRW 2016, Vice-Champion NRW 2017, Third Photography Champion NRW 2018 and 2019. Third place North-German Photography Champion 2018, Silver Medal 2019, Gold Medal 2020. Third best Photographer North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, 2017 and 2018, 2nd in 2019. Since 2015 many certificates and medals, including the DVF Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Gold. Photographer of the month in the journal PHOTOGRAPHIE 04 | 2017

Barbara has extensive experience as a national and international judge.

Look and enjoy Barbara’s photo gallery: