Interclub Judge Profiles

John Chapman APSEM/g EFIAP/d1 ARPS GMPSA/B SAPS

I have dedicated many years to sharing my passion for outdoor activities through books and magazine articles. I emphasise the importance of outdoor adventures and provide practical information for enthusiasts looking to engage in activities like bushwalking and rock climbing.

My interest in photography started as a means of showing others the unusual places I visited. Early on, I enjoyed moderate success by winning some photo magazine competitions, and this drove me to learn more by entering photography exhibitions. After a brief spell in National Exhibitions, I tried the larger International Exhibitions where there are thousands of entries. Winning over 150 awards in 38 countries with 1,800 acceptances in nine years starting in the mid-1980s,

I became one of the most successful exhibitors from Australia and have since judged numerous National and International exhibitions. Exhibition success has also given me various photographic honours, such as the highest Australian Photographic Society Medal (APSEM/g). APS has also granted me an award for outstanding service to the society and photography. I have also been awarded Grand Master of the Photographic Society of America, bronze level (GMPSA/b) and the EFIAP/d1 (diamond level 1 - FIAP is the international photographic federation) and Honorary Membership and other honours from several overseas camera clubs and societies. In late 2013,

I started exhibiting again, and the standard was similar to what it once was, except there were more exhibitions and also more photographers entering. In 10 years, I had gained over 10000 acceptances with more than 280 different images, obtaining awards, and learning new ideas for photography and also becoming proficient with new image editing techniques.

Ruth Burleigh AAPS SSVAPS Life Member

I have been a member of the Warragul Camera Club since 1991. During my membership I have always tried to give back to the club as much as I receive. I have judged at many camera clubs over the years, not so much these days as I am finding travelling difficult, local shows and art/photography exhibitions. I proudly held the position of president 2005 – 2007, 2010, 2013 – 2017. Currently holding the position of External Competition coordinator. It is such an honour to have been awarded a life membership in 2015.

I am thrilled to be asked to be part of the judging panel for the VAPS Interclub.
I have also been a member of the Australian Photographic Society for many many years.

I Worked as full time staff photographer for The Warragul Gazette for thirteen years during the transition from 35mm negative film to digital.
As well as the valuable practical experience gained working at the newspaper, during and after my time there I was able to further my photographic education. Completed an advanced certificate of

Photography and Digital Imaging, Certificate in Fast Track photography and many Adult Education Courses.
I have had four solo exhibitions in Melbourne, and three locally. I published a book ‘Living History’ on the volunteers of the Neerim District.

One has to be very lucky to be paid to do something they love doing.

Photography by Andrew Greig

Andrea Cornwall

My interest in photography started in late teens at university. I would spend hours in the dark room, watching the black and whites, appear magically in the processing tray. Life got in the way and so about 15 years ago, I immersed myself back into the world of photography. I began camera and editing courses and joined the Knox Photographic Society in 2015. In 2018, I won Novice EDIs and runner up in Novice Prints. I was moved into A grade competition. I completed the VPJA Judging courses and have been enjoying judging for the last three years.

My passion is for wildlife photography, and I have expanded into landscapes and aerials. Portraiture has become important with the emergence of grandchildren and have an appreciation for creative photography and the beauty of simplicity.

Reserve Judge

Alan Boyd LAPS

Alan started his serious pursuit of photography in 2010, buying his first DSLR camera and a few lenses and then headed for a holiday to Norfolk Island.
For many years he focused on landscape and travel images. Alan has attended many workshops in Australia and overseas and has visited more than 25 countries. His love of travel and photography complement each other.

Alan started developing a passion for aerial photography in 2018. A year later he went to Namibia and became hooked on salt works and salt ponds.

Today, ninety percent of Alan’s photography is done with drones. He concentrates mainly on salt lakes, salt ponds, salt works, and mine tailing ponds. Many of the images he captures are intriguing abstracts and have minimal post processing changes.

Alan actively enters national and international competitions and has over 4,300 international acceptances to his credit. He has received 680 international awards, including 170 gold medals.
Alan is the Vice President and a Competition Steward at Berwick Viewfinders Camera Club and a member of the Australian Photographic Judges Association.

David Burren APP M.Photog FAPS

David started with photography as a birdwatcher back in the 1980s.
He’s worked professionally in the fields of nature/wildlife, digital processing, colour management, and travel photography (taking groups to exotic places like Antarctica).

He's been a member of the Knox Photographic Society since 2002, and has provided judging and critique at club, national, and international levels for many years.

These days, he's transitioned from being a professional photographer to running a biomedical research company, but still identifies as a photographer.

Tuck Leong AAPS SSAPSSVAPS

I am a member of the Australian Photographic Society and am a past member of its Nature Division Council. I am also a past president of Ivanhoe Photographic Society, the Victorian Nature Photography Group and a past committee member of Waverley Camera Club, Victorian Association of Photographic Societies (VAPS) and Victoria Geelong Exhibition (VIGEX).

I was a director for the RASV-VAPS National Exhibition of Photography for 2 years and also directed the VAPS conventions on six years held during the June Queen’s Birthday long weekends.

Over the years I have entered and received acceptances and awards in numerous International and National Salons of Photography
I received the state service awards from both Australian Photographic Society and Victorian Association of Photographic Societies for my contributions to photography.

I have judged in current Victorian National Salons, VIGEX International Exhibitions and Adelaide National Exhibition of Photography.

I have presented talks to clubs within Victoria and interstate and continue to judge for metropolitan and country clubs.

David Norris FAPS EFIAP/b AAPJA

For over a decade, David has been quietly involved behind the scenes with Melbourne-based camera clubs. Whether organising outings or supporting training activities, he has contributed in practical ways to the ongoing life of club photography.

He regularly judges at club, state, and national levels, offering feedback that is considered, constructive, and respectful. His approach reflects an appreciation for both the work and the people behind it.

David has also served as editor of APS eNews and Australian/FIAP Coordinator for the Black & White International Biennial.

While he has stepped back from international competition in recent years, he continues to enjoy his photography. Having explored genres including real estate, weddings, and portraiture, his current interest lies in seascapes.

In partnership with long-time colleague Gail McTaggart, David helped bring the Southern Cross National Photographic Exhibition to life in 2022–23. Building on its success, the exhibition evolved into two international salons from 2024: Terra Australis and Outback International Photography Exhibitions.

Reserve Judge

Katy Lylak JAPJA

In her free time, Katy is a self confessed “Nature Nerd” and specialises in photographing Australian native orchids, Wildlife, and night time phenomenon such as Aurora australis, glow worms and Omphalotus nidiformis, the glowing ghost mushroom.

A mother to 2 teenage sons, Katy is also a lover of animals, and spends her time caring for her boys, her pony, rabbit and 2 cats. Her passion project is volunteer work for VicSES, as well as her personally run “Project Kindness” providing photographic memories in compassionate circumstances. She believes that it’s vitally important to “give back to the universe” in any way that she can.

Katy is an APJA judge, and came to judging through a curiosity about “what makes a good competition photo?” after joining her beloved Casey Camera Club, of which she is now a committee member and former Vice President. The training proved to be extremely interesting to her, and she continued, completing image evaluation, level 2, 4 and 6 in one year, beginning judging and earning the honour of Novice in the APJA honours system. In the year since, she has also earned the honour of Intern in the APJA honours system, and currently holds the honour of Judge in the new system.

She hopes to bring a fresh set of eyes and positive, helpful feedback to Victorian judging in the coming years.

Alia Naughton AV-AAPS, CAPS/b, SAPS

Alia is an award-winning photographer specialising in travel photography, audio visual making, and photo books. Her journey started as an 11-year-old, when she photographed the building of the Gladesville Bridge and Sydney Opera House in NSW, Australia, while on a school excursion.

Fast forward to today, Alia’s photographs have been published in the Australian Photography magazine and she has won numerous awards, the biggest being the inaugural winner of the Sydney Morning Herald Big Picture competition in 2014, out of 2,500 entries. One of Alia’s audio visuals was also selected for the AV-FIAP Collection as a Grand Prix National/International Distinction/Award.

Alia’s interest in audio visuals started at the APS conference in 2003. Since then she has gone on to win national and international awards and also judges national and international AV competitions.

Carol Packwood AV-AAPS

I have been involved in AV making since 1995 when Adelaide first hosted the Adelaide AVFEST. I became a committee member of avfest in 1999 I am still on that committee, I Have had success locally and internationally and in 2015 was awarded AV-LAPS, in 2016 I was awarded AV-AAPS, I have judged local and National exhibitions; I love telling Stories mostly documentaries most of which are emotional although I love all genres

In 2024 I was awarded the gold medal in APS spring exhibition for one of my sequences .

Cynthia Henley-Smith AV-AAPS LAPS

As a child I liked taking photos with my father’s camera but it wasn’t until I retired that I took up photography as a hobby and joined a camera club.

My career was as a High School teacher mostly in English and Music but I did teach other subjects as required. My main relaxation and interest during all that time, and beyond, was playing viola in the Unley Symphony Orchestra, forty-four years in all.

I have served on the South Australian Photographic Society committee for a few years in the past and have been secretary of the Camera Club, of which I am a member, for the past 17 years. I have had success within the Club’s competitions.

At the Port Macquarie APSCON I was invited to join the committee of the South Australian Audio Visual Club even though I had never made an audio visual! I promised that I would join the Club when I had finished writing the family histories, which meant in 2012.

As I did a double major in history in one of my University degrees many of my audio visuals have an historic flavour. I am fascinated by changes that have occurred over time.

I enjoy the challenge of using photography, music and a storyline to present a whole work. It is time-consuming and addictive but very satisfying.