Our competitions
Competition rules
Our competitions are enjoyable ways to see a variety of photographs and hear - and learn from - feedback by the independent judges. Nevertheless to keep the events running smoothly there are some rules and you can download them from the Competition section of our Downloads page. (They include the requirements on photo sizing, and other needs for digital image competitions.) They are also available from the Competition Secretaries at any meeting.
Competition summary
Our programme (use Current Programme menu link at left) shows the dates of our competitions, plus the deadlines for handing in entries, but here is a summary of the usual annual contests.
- Four competitions for prints - black & white or colour, traditional or digital, home or trade processed. Pictures must be mounted, with maximum mount size 50cm x 40cm; the longest side of the print must be at least 18cm.
- Four competitions for digitally projected images: three for any subject and one on a nominated theme.
- A Panel competition, in which individual members can enter a panel of between three and nine mounts, each measuring a minimum of 30cm x 30cm and a maximum of 50cm x 40cm. Mounts may have one or more pictures on them (minimum picture size 15cm x 10cm), either colour or black and white, on a theme of the entrant's choosing. Entries are assessed on photographic merit, relevance to the chosen theme, and how the prints work together as a panel.
- Normally we hold a 'team challenge' competition, but due to the impact of Coronavirus this is again not being held in the 2022-23 season; we hope to reintroduce it the following season. Teams of three members are asked to enter a panel of six prints on a subject set by the Club. Entries are assessed on their photographic merit and on the success in illustrating the subject. We allocate the volunteer entrants to teams to create broadly similar experience levels in each group. Teams have roughly nine months to complete the project before a judged competition evening is held Mixing people like this has been a tremendous contributor to getting to know other members, to learn from each other and hopefully having some fun as well. Oh, and it very often produces some of the best photos we see in the Club!
Certificates and trophies are awarded to winners of many of the season's events. A specific award is made to 'starters' at the Club to encourage our newer, less experienced, members to take part in our competitions.
