Biography

Hi, my name is Sheila Haycox ARPS MPAGB/AV, EFIAP, AV-AFIAP, retired, and thoroughly enjoying this status. I am widowed with three children, and between two of them they have four daughters and one son.They all live locally to me which is in the West Country in the county of Devon .

As the years have gone by my interests have changed, I used to enjoy gardening but have now moved to a smaller place and gardening is not something I can now do. My main hobby is photography which I started in the late 60's when my husband gave me a camera, mainly for use to take holiday snaps and pictures of the family as they grow up. However in 1986 I took photography up more seriously and joined Exmouth Photo Group. Since then there has been no looking back. I have also taken up other interests since I moved, now do Quilting and belong to the U3A Quilting Group.

I have now gone completely digital producing both colour and mono images and now use a mirrorless Sony with a number of different lenses.  I use Adobe photographic software and do my own printing. I enter club competitions, Salons, have had work accepted with several Photographic Magazines, at a few exhibitions and salons. I like to tackle a range of different photographic subjects including landscapes, sport, abstract and candids. I have visited various parts of this country and travelled abroad as well. Quite a bit of my work has been taken on photographic workshops which are an absolute boon to me.

I also produce Digital Audio Visual sequences which started as a bit of fun taking images of the grandchildren and putting them into an AV and they chose the music. . I now take this form of work more seriously and tend to concentrate mainly on doing Audio Visual work. Have entered International and National AV competitions and have been fortunate in gaining several awards for my work. During 2020 I was awarded the title, Champion Audio Visual worker at the Tauranga AV Competition, New Zealand.

Since the Covid-19, I have done more and more presentations via Zoom all over the UK with my Audio Visual work which has been a real boon for me during 2020 to 2022.

I was Secretary of the Exmouth Photo Group , Devon for 18 years and because of this long service to the club I was given Honorary membership to the club in 2014. This group is affiliated with the Western Counties Photographic Federation. The Group has a membership of around 40 members and this is where I pursue my photographic interests. If you would like to visit their site then click here. I also joined Exeter Camera Club to widen my interest and so far am thoroughly enjoying their programme. To see Exeter's Club site click here. Since 2020 and Zoom conferencing I have joined Wilmslow Guild AV Group.

Over the years I have gained my EFIAP with prints. I got my first ARPS as a print panel with the Royal Photographic Society and then gained an ARPS with Audio Visuals. To see my ARPS Panel please click here. I gained my MPAGB with Audio Visuals in May 2016 with the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain . As only 9 MPAGB/AV Distinctions have been awarded in the country I feel quite honoured.

In October 2021 I was awarded the Members' Award and Honorary Life Membership of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain. Members Awards document can be viewed here. A real honour and there is a video of the award ceremony hereand I am at the end of the video. I am also in the RPS Award Journal Page 94 with an article Also have an article in the RPS Digit Magazine.

Here is an extract from the letter I received from the RPS. "I am delighted to tell you that the President and Trustees of the Royal Photographic Society would like to offer you the Society’s Members’ Award this year.  This award has been given since 2005.  Please can you keep this news confidential for the moment."

 

 

 

 

For more information on The Royal Photographic Society, FIAP and PAGB awards please click on the following links. Please click on badge for more information on the RPS and their distinctions. FIAP is an International federation please click on badge for more info. FIAP Distinctions must be made through the representative federation in their country. UK please click here. Please click on the badge for more information on PAGB Distinctions. .