MEMBERS
Internal Competition 2025-26

The Society welcomes images taken by camera, phone or any other photographic device in all competitions. The photographer must have taken all images and have full copyright for all the elements within them. Manipulated images are welcome in all competitions except Natural History and documentary provided the photographer did the manipulation. Royalty Free and Copyright Free Images are not acceptable. Images should be correctly and clearly titled (see Preparation of Entries). In the Documentary and Natural History competitions titles must be factual, accurate and specific to the subject matter. Latin names may be used for Natural History. The Society organises three kinds of competition every season: championship, set subject, special and the Print Championship. Competition closing dates are at the back of this syllabus.

An individual image may be used up to four times: once in a Championship round; once in one of the Set Subject Competitions, once in the Theme Panel Competition and once in the Anna Pollitt Sports Competition or the Scapes Competition. Members may enter up to three images in each competition.

There are four Championship rounds. Each has a separate projected digital image (PDI) and print competition. Authors are free to choose any subject. Members compete for two trophies, one for overall winner in the PDI (Vera Becket Cup) and one for the print cup.

There are seven set subject competitions (and Trophies) as follows, with the exception of Creative, the medium alternates every year between PDI and Print (See Details of the Competition):

Any entry not complying with the competition criteria or following rules may be disqualified.

PDI’s should be: 1600 pixels horizontal x 1200 pixels vertical JPG files, preferably with an sRGB colour space. If images are smaller than this a background may be added to create a full size image, otherwise the club software will add a black background.

Prints of any size can be mounted on any colour of card. Mounts should be 50cmx40cm and overall thickness should not exceed 4mm. Adhesive tape or Velcro must not be exposed on the back of prints to avoid damage to other entries when packed. If a backing mount is used it must be the same size as. the front window mount

Championship – PDI and Print
These are open competitions and any subject is acceptable.

Chosen Subject Competition – Minimalism – Print Only
This is a set subject competition with the theme decided by Council each year.

Creative Competition – Print Only
The subject is open. Creativity can be done in camera or software generated.

Documentary Competition – Print Only
The principal aim is the clear recording of the subject. The title must identify the subject accurately; poetic titles are not appropriate. Subjects could include man- made objects recorded as distinctly as possible, architecture, sport, photojournalism, domesticated animals, cultivated plants, formal flower arrangements, mounted specimens, museum groups and other items and activities, provided that each is worthy of good photographic record. Technical quality is important. Any retouching or processing must not alter the truth of the photographic statement depicted in the original image

Scapes Competition – PDI Only
Any rural, urban or coastal landscape image will be accepted in this category including Colour, Monochrome, Infra-red, HDR and Panoramic images.
The image must be from one capture. (HDR from a bracketed set of the same image and Panoramas from a panned set of the same scene are viewed as one capture).
The integrity of the subject must be maintained and the making of major physical changes to the landscape is not permitted. You may not, for example, move trees or import the sky from another image. People and animals may be included in the scene as long as they are ancillary to and/or supportive of the main subject.

Monochrome Competition – PDI Only
An open competition for any subject in a black and white image. Monochrome images, i.e. black and white images, with a single tone over the entire image are acceptable. Images with areas partially toned or coloured are not eligible.

Natural History Competition – Print Only
The principal aim is the accurate recording of living creatures and uncultivated plants shown in their natural habitat, or of geological or other natural phenomena. Any retouching or processing must not alter the truth of the photographic statement depicted in the original image. Technical quality is important and the title must identify the subject accurately. Items included under Documentary are not allowed.

Portrait Competition – PDI Only
May contain the whole or part of one or more persons. If only part of a figure is shown it must include a substantial part of the head. Animals by themselves are not included in this category.

Sport Competition – PDI Only
Sport is defined as an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes/ participates against another or others for entertainment. It can be amateur or professional and may contain all or part of one or more individuals.

Theme Panel Competition – Print Only
The aim is to explore a theme of the photographer’s own choosing through three related photographs. These will be judged as a group of images. An overall title for each panel of three photographs should be provided, each image should not be individually titled. The images may be mounted individually (in which case the photographer must indicate on the backs of the mounts the order in which they should be displayed) or on a single standard size mount.

Members just starting their competition life. This section should not be chosen by experienced photographers or those who have gained recognised accreditations with external bodies.

Advanced members, regularly joining in with club competitions for a considerable time and those that have gained recognised accreditation with external bodies