Competitions
We hold a monthly internal competition for all current DPS members. There are 12 competitions, 8 are projected and 4 are print competitions. All members are allowed to enter two photos in each competition. Entries for internal monthly competitions need to be in no later than midnight on the first day of the month preceding the competition.
For competition rules click here
For other internal and external competitions, please see the Competitions drop down menu.
Coronavirus Update
The monthly competitions are still running but are being judged remotely by the appointed judges.
Print competitions will resume once club meetings start again.
Competitons 2020/21
March 2020
Open Competition
Projected
Competitions that are designated ‘Open’ do not have a specific theme which you are expected to follow. Instead you are free to choose the subject matter. As the competition is Open, it is even more important that your image ‘stands out’ so that the Judge finds your image interesting in its subject matter, and can appreciate the technical skill in its creation. Good Luck!
Judge Peter Siviter
April
Open Monochrome
Projected
Submit up to two monochrome prints on any topic of your choice. Monochrome images are produced using a single hue, rather than recording the colours of the object photographed. It includes all forms of black and white photography, which produce images containing tones of grey ranging from black to white. No ‘colour popping’ allowed.
Judge: Wes Gibbon
May
Creative – The Peter Cosentino Trophy
Projected
The key to creative photography is to try and see things in a different way to ‘normal’ so that it provides impact and originality beyond that of a straight record shot. This can be achieved at the point of pressing the button or in post processing. Your photos do not have to be photoshopped but can be if you want to.
You could try over and under exposing your photos to change the mood.
You could make a composite, but all elements must be your own work.
Take your photos at a different angle, try lying on the floor and looking up! The key to creative photography is to try and see things in a different way to ‘normal’. It contains elements that are deliberately used to change the photo’s original status – be that at the point of pressing the button or post processing. Paint with light. Play with colour. Play with perspective. Play with shapes. Photograph things in places not usually found – a polar bear in a deck chair!
The possibilities are endless, limited only by your imagination.
Judge: Chris Baldwin
Projected
June
Roofscapes
Whether you live in a town, city or village, most buildings you see will have a roof of some sort. They may be old, new, covered in moss or solar panels! The judge will be looking for interesting shapes, angles, textures, not just a photo of a house. The roof/rooves must be the main feature.
Judge: Chris Forster
July
Blurred Movement
This month you will use your camera skills to create images with blurred movement. Blurred movement can either be created by control of shutter speed and lighting, or by moving the camera itself – sometimes called intentional camera movement. All or part of your image must be blurred and convey some feeling of movement. The subject matter is your choice – traffic and nature are all good starting points.
Judge: Peter Going
August
Open Competition - Untouched Straight from Camera
Projected
You can choose any content but this competition will be judged on your ability to produce an image at the point of pressing the shutter button. There will no post-production processing either on a computer or in camera. This includes cropping in camera or using in-camera pre-sets. The aim is to produce a level playing field for all members. It would be preferred that the images are shot as jpegs. If the image is shot in RAW, you may not use any of the RAW image sliders. Remember the key items that make such a difference to your image - viewpoint, frame, focus and timing.
Judge: David Lowe
September
Transport
Projected
You may choose any form of transport that can or has been used to carry people or goods from A to B. Your transport can be of 2 or more wheels, 4 legs, caterpillar tracks, boats, aircraft etc, new or old. Try to convey a sense of purpose.
Judge: Paul Nickerson
October
Still Life
Still Life is a genre of photography that features an arrangement of inanimate objects. The choice of objects and subject matter is yours. You can take inspiration from everyday objects in your home, or look to nature or the unusual. Your image should have good composition, arrangement, lighting and framing. Good Luck!
Judge: Roger Parry
November
Texture
Projected
Everything has a texture. Texture is all about feeling, appearance or consistency of a surface or a substance, or thing – hard soft rough smooth gloopy, sharp, rocky etc. try looking to nature or manmade objects – but make sure the texture is the main focus of your image.
Judge: Gareth Martin
December
Water
Projected
Water is everywhere. People, plants and animals depend on it.
Submit images with water in its liquid form – steam snow and ice will not be accepted. Water is powerful, you may wish to show it nature weather or industry. You can use its reflective properties, or even try some macro droplet photography.
Judge: Richard Houghton
January 2021
The Colour Purple
Projected
This month the subject matter is your choice, so long as the dominant colour and/or the point of interest is purple. You can take inspiration from nature, sunrise, sunsets, clothing, landscape, abstract etc.
Judge: Louise Walton
February
Open Competition – Panel of 3
You may enter 2 panels into the competition. Each panel will consist of 3 different images which may be mounted together on a single mount or on 3 separate mount boards. No repetition of images across a panel will be allowed nor a single image simply sliced into 3. Your aim is to select 3 images which either tell a story or are linked by their subject content, colour, style or format which together form a single related work. See also the guidance note on the creation of panels in the Resources section of the website.
Judge: Malcolm Sales