Photographic award for the Duchess

Lay off Kate. She was old enough and wise enough to know what she was doing marrying Wills, unlike his poor duped mother. Cut her some slack and let her enjoy something that she's good at and is all hers, in an environment that must be suffocating. She does very well and in her public life does a lot of good for charities as do a lot of the royals.

I am not a great fan of them but recognise the sacrifices to their freedom, the good they do. Would any of their detractors on this thread like to take on their lives? Mean spirited at best.

It reminds me of when a young Princess Anne won an Olympic medal and some people said it was only because the Queen bought her a superb house. Absolute rubbish. I don't particularly like her but she is an extremely talented and accomplished horsewoman, as is her daughter. An expensive horse alone does not win Olympic medals. Likewise does the most all singing and dancing camera take good photos. Castigate RPS but leave Kate out of it.

It's good for the Royal Photographic Society to give her this honorary award, that's all.
It promotes them.
Of course she isn't vacuous.

Where Kate has been clever is being good enough to take photos of the children quietly without fuss which are good enough for world coverage. I think she is an amazing asset to Royal Family. Definately cream who has ridden to the top.

Thanks to you Jalima.

My concern about this discussion now is that it seems to me it no longer about the issues about someone's photography skills.

It seems to me that people are dismissing her skills (or otherwise) because of her royal connections.
It now seems to suggest that some on this thread seem to feel she is only getting an award because she is a royal. That is a gross thing to say without any evidence.
Whoever she is, it is wrong to assume that this is a fix.
It takes us back to the prejudice of the past and the sort of attitude that says "this black person could not possibly have done this by themselves" just because of who they are.

Thanks POGS for the explanation as, of course, this is The Royal Photographic Society and not the Institute of Professional Photographers which is different altogether and of which my relatives are members.

Silly me, I should have remembered, I am a qualified dimwit even without going to St Andrews.

She's a royal who is interested in photography. She'll look good on their letterhead or whatever. Stop being catty.

Speaking as another St Andrews graduate I may be a dimwit (put it down to age!!) now, but degrees are not given lightly, and vacuous she ain't!
There are a few St Andreans on GN whose intelligence I would not insult either.

Tablet playing up so some of the above post is gobbledegook!

May i have a lifetime award for use of portable tablets?
No!

Reading bellsisabelle's link, I see it is traditional to award the Royal Family with a photographic award as Prince Albert founded the Society. Just another Royal custom then and not that contentious.

The word 'Honorary' is missing from the OP and it has a relevance to this award.

Of course the problem for some may not particularly be with the award itself but with the dislike of the person the 'Honorary Membership' has been given to for whatever reason but I would suggest in this instance for many people because Kate Middleton is simply a member of the Royal Family.

The Honorary Membership is not necessarily given for the professionalism of the pictures she has taken but as an ambassador for the wider picture (no pun intended) of promoting photography in general, which is the purpose of the Society, at least that is my perception others may well disagree.

About The RPS

The Royal Photographic Society exists to promote photography and image-making and to support photographers in realising their potential, 'irrespective of their level of knowledge', equipment or skills. It has an international membership. The Society also acts as a public advocate for photography and photographers.

The Royal Photographic Society is an educational charity promoting both the art and science of photography and aims to help individuals realise their potential as photographers. It is a membership organisation but, as a charity, undertakes a significant number of activities for the public benefit.

Membership is open to all, irrespective of experience or knowledge. No qualifications are required to join, simply a passion and love for photography or images, its technologies or applications.

Actually I find it rather weird when I read about Honorary Doctorates/Degrees given to people such as Gok Wan, Alex Ferguson, Ryan Giggs or Orlando Bloom. It doesn't bother me though.

Therefore I see no issue at all with Kate Middleton receiving an 'Honorary ' Membership to the Royal Photographic Society to be honest. I do however see a case for the old 'inverted snobbery' to raise it's ugly head or the need to show despise of all things connected to the Royal Family but each to their own I guess.

dimwit - so from St Andrews could be termed a dimwit?

What does that make the majority of the population then? Completely brainless?

Her photos are nice, the one of Charlotte giggling at her toy particularly so but nothing exceptional. My DIL has taken lovely ones too.

And, as paddyann says, digital photography has made the whole business so much easier to produce passable photos. We have two professional photographers in the family and you need to be excellent or exceptional to make a living.
How many people have been disappointed with 'passable' photographs of a special occasion and wish they had paid for a professional with a good reputation?

Lovely family shots but are they wirthy of membership

I don't particularly like/love the royal family, but I think they are a very useful institution for a country to have.

As far as criticism of her photos goes there have been lots of comments about the other photos she has taken and how bad they are. Only the photos of her children are acknowledged as being 'good' and then it's widely debated.

I can't understand all the venom being directed towards her. So she has been given an award for taking photos - how is that going to affect most of us? I don't think she plans to set up in competition to Paddyann. As EEjit says any ire should be directed towards the RPS. I don't like to see celebrities being given honorary university degrees but I certainly wouldn't go onto social media and make unpleasant remarks about them.

link

What is it stops people from just enjoying these two children? Their parents have been very reasonable about publishing photos of them. Why can't we look upon them as everybody's children, and just love them.

Btw ja there was a link to the photos in question in my post yesterday. (Why don't links show up better than they do?!)

These days with a good automatic camera it is not difficult to take a good photograph. If you take a dozen photographs there will be one that would be better than the rest. To get a good photograph with a basic camera is another story. You have to study lighting, composition, exposure, etc etc and that takes skill.

I like the Dutchess. I think her and William will be one of the most liked Royals. However, I do not think she should have been given a life-time award for taking family snapshots.

My son too is an excellent photographer. He has a decent camera and he has done a couple of courses on photography. He knows what he is doing. Unfortunately photography does not pay much so he could not take it up as a means of earning a living. He will never be given an award even though he takes amazing photographs because his is just an ordinary boy, not one of the 'IN' crowd.

Why are you having a go at her, she didn't ask for the bloody thing. If you need to have a go at someone then have a go at the RPS.

As a photographer, I'd say she's taken some good photos. Much better than some of the drivel some supposed professionals have done.

How do you know that Kate is vacuous radicalnan? Have you met her?
She has a degree from St Andrews University. Don't tell me that august institution awarded it on the grounds of her possible impending royalty.

She's bagged a royal, she doesn't need any more rewards / awards....I think she is vacuous so that must be the quality most admired at the moment as Posh is the same.

More fool us for buying the papers and magazines that promote these dimwits.............

Sorry Fran0251 but whilst I appreciate you obviously like/love the royals, I can't see what any of that has to do with winning some photographic award?

She was given an award for her photography which, whilst I have never claimed to be a professional, I do appreciate art and photography and hers is basically as good as "the guy next doors". It's nothing special whatsoever. It is her subject matter that attracts the attention not the photograph itself.

Good luck to her I say, but I do not think she is an exceptional photographer, just the same as any proud mother I think.

The Honours List needs scrapping as it is imo. They are given away like smarties these days. Mr Cameron recommended one for all his cronies and even his wife's hairdresser. I ask you! What happened to the rule on cash for honours? Too many people are being given an award for just doing their job, Victoria Beckham comes to mind, or just because they are pals with someone, or just because someone likes their pop music. Honours should be given to people who do something over and above imo. Just like it used to be.

Well .... I think we're very lucky to have a royal wife who likes dressing well and going to events and who's produced a boy and a girl. No way would I like to be on show every day with all the comments that are made of her. Evidenced by the fact that Harry can't find a wife. A royal family has a great non political role and we're lucky IMO to have such a thing. Would you like President Blair/Cameron etc in their place? Good on her and our Queen for all their hard work. The Queen used to frequently do two/three events a day - no way I would that. I expect Camilla is doing some of that now - would you like that life? No family is perfect but most aren't so open to the press.

Beammeupscottie IF she had the sense to refuse it we might have some respect for her.If this was some kid on x factor whose parents praised her awful voice and gave her false confidence you'd all be saying they were wrong so why cant people express an opinion about someone getting awarded for taking family photographs.?