March 2021

Open Competition

Digital

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: Anne Sutcliffe 

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April

Open Monochrome

Digital

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: Judge: Kylie Martin

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May

Three of a Kind

Digital

We are always told that odd umbers work better in photography as in other things, eg flower displays. The judge will be looking for three of anything that you choose as the subject of your image.  You can do this indoors or outdoors - there are lots of opportunities to show your camera skills - from macro to still life to landscape.  Just make sure it is obvious what 3 things are the main subject matter

Judge: Julie Cleaver

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June

Creative (The Peter Cosentino Trophy)

Digital

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.

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NB: Round 1 of the Graham Brown Memorial Trophy will be held on the same evening.

Judge: Paul Nickerson

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July

Shapes

Digital

This month we are asking you to produce images including a specific shape (or shapes) such as squares, triangles, circles, etc, either as your main subject (eg a round or square clock) or made up by a number of elements in your image (eg a number of shadows forming a triangle or square).  You may choose to create your own shapes in a still life image that you create yourself or offer something that caught your eye in the street or countryside.  The choice is yours, but it should be obvious to the judge, which shape is the main focus of your image.  Look at this article for some ideas.

Judge:  Trevor Rudkin

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August

Open Competition - Untouched, straight from camera

Digital

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: Mike Fuller

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September

Negative Space

Digital

Negative space is the area surrounding the main subject of the photograph which is left unoccupied. 
Put simply, it is the space around the object itself that helps define the main focus and often helps convey a story about the main subject: eg a shot of a single supporter in a huge stadium; or the space in front of a car or running animal that it can move into enhancing its speed. When used creatively together, the negative and positive space can greatly enhance the composition of the photograph: eg positioning a model to the extreme right or left of an image. Get some ideas here.

NB: Round 2 of the Graham Brown Memorial Trophy will be held on the same evening.

Judge: Catherine Knee

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October

Industry

Digital

Industry is all around us, wherever we live.  This year we will be including farming and smaller manufacturing/processing industry but not retail or office-based commerce into our definition.  You may choose to photograph industrial buildings (new or old, even derelict), equipment, workers, vehicles, or anything else that relates to the aspect of industry you decide to focus on.

Judge: Peter Gennard

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November

Music

Digital

Another broad subject: your image can relate to any aspect of music or the music industry.  You might choose a photo from a concert or a gig, or buskers in the street - even a child taking a piano lesson.  On the other hand, you might focus on musical instruments or perhaps old LP covers within a still life shot (but please not just a shot of a single record cover).  Whatever you choose, it should be obvious to the judge that ‘music’ is the main focus of the photo and you have created an image that is your own.

Judge: Dave Stewart 

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December

Fog and Mist

Digital

This is the time of year when we regularly wake up to a foggy morning.  Take yourself out and get a fog/mist photo.  Or perhaps you could manage to find a valley somewhere with mist lying in the dips, or a stream with swirls of mist rising as it is warmed by the morning sun.  Tip: If your main subject is really hidden in the mist you may need to use manual focus.

Judge: Chris Baldwin

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January 2022

Flowers

Digital

Flowers grow everywhere, even where we don’t want them to.  You may even have flowering house plants at home.  So, this is another broad subject and there are lots of styles you can use.  Why not try some still life or macro shots to make the most of the intricate detail of the structure of a single bloom, or just take a walk out to your garden or to a garden centre?  A flower, or a group, or a field of flowers just need to be the main subject of your photo.

NB: Round 3 of the Graham Brown Memorial Trophy will be held on the same evening.

Judge: Graham Heywood

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February

Panel of Three Prints

Digital

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: John Haines

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March 2022

Open Competition

Digital

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 TBC

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April

Open Monochrome

Digital

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: TBC

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