What is VAPS?

VAPS is an affilliation of Victorian camera clubs and an incorporated body.

VAPS is a Committee of Management, elected each year at an Annual General Meeting, by the membership of affiliated camera clubs. It is a "not for profit" organisation, put together principally to manage the promotion of photography for Victorian camera clubs, to give Victorian amateur photographers, through their respective clubs, a collective voice and provide the management facility to stage and participate in large and small-scale events that would normally be beyond the administrative and financial capabilities of any one small group.

VAPS as a body, runs an annual Interclub competition. Entries, while created by individuals, are presented for judging as a collective represention of their particular camera club. Merits are awarded to the top images in small and large print, slide, digital media and audio-visual divisions. The small print division is where most novice workers start their pilgrimage toward bigger and better things, moving up to large prints as they progress. The digital division is for digitally projected images. There is no novice section in the digitally projected image division. The A-V division gives workers an opportunity to display images in a continuous, 'sophisticated slide-show', story-telling enviroinment, with accompanying voice-over naration and music.

VAPS also runs an annual Muster, a convention-style gathering staged at varying locations throughout Victoria, for members to attend seminars and practical worksops presented by photographers and speakers of renown. It is also the place at which the Interclub Exhibition is held, giving attendees the opportunity to view the prints, digital images and AV's that gained Acceptance level in the VAPS Interclub Competition.

VAPS, with it's direct links to Australian and international clubs and organisations, provides Victorian camera clubs with the knowledge, initiatives and incentives to promote and expand the art and craft of photography.