Competitions 2026-27

 

10th March 2026

Digital* Competition - Open Colour

Judge: John Lewis - Zoom

As the title suggests, there are no restrictions on your subject matter, other than those of decency, to hinder your choice of content. Your only restriction is that the images you choose must be in colour. You may want to use an image that didn’t fit any of the themes we used last year, for example. Now is the chance for you to show off those images that you are really proud of but haven’t yet had the opportunity to share.* The term ‘digital’ is intended to include the full range of digital cameras as well as mobile phones. ​

 

14th April 2026

Print Competition - Open Monochrome

Judge: Chris Baldwin

Another open competition with no restrictions on your subject matter other than that the image must contain only one colour. Many of us will interpret ‘monochrome’ as ‘black and white’ and that is fine. However, you might want to use sepia tones to give your image an older feel or go blue and mimic a cyanotype or use any other single colour of your choice. As this is a print competition, you could use an analogue route to process your image, or you could use any digital device to generate the image to be printed. Your print must be no larger than A3 and your mount no taller than 50cms.  

 

19th May 2026

Digital Competition – Minimalism

Judge: Jonathan Vaines

Minimalist photography is a style that emphasises simplicity and focuses on the essentials in a composition. By stripping away the clutter and unnecessary details, your images will convey a sense of calm, highlighting the essential. Key characteristics are limited colour, shapes and lines, subtle textures, and negative space. Use minimalism to enhance your storytelling. 

 

9th June 2026

Digital Competition – Creative – The Peter Cosentino Trophy

Judge: Amanda Wright - Zoom

In this competition the judge will be looking for something with a real ‘Wow!’ factor. It may be the subject content which is unusual or have been taken from a different angle or perspective, or it might be what has been done to the image post- production that demonstrates your creativity and/or artistry. You might want to produce a composite image, but remember, all of the individual elements of a composite be your own work.In summary, you don’t need to be a Photoshop wizard to enter this competition. The creative elements of your image might have been captured ‘in camera’ or they might have been developed in any post-production software.  

 

21st July 2026

Digital Competition – Abandoned Places

Judge: Phil Cooling – Zoom

In a world that often prioritises the shiny and new, there’s something profoundly beautiful in photographing decay. Photograph your abandoned place to show how nature slowly consumes buildings. Show the beauty of rust, peeling paint and broken glass. Create a sense of silence, of a world left behind. Create eerie moods - capturing personal objects left behind to evoke stories of the former inhabitants. Create a sense of dystopia, of a world left behind perhaps after a catastrophe.Always prioritise safety, as buildings may be unstable, and respect privacy notices!

 

11th August 2026

Print Competition – Close-Up and Details

Judge: Dave Belton

A close-up shot fills the frame with a specific matter to emphasise detail. These photos are achieved by putting the camera very close to the subject matter or by zooming in on a particular part of a larger subject. By focusing in on intricate details, you can reveal the hidden beauty of your subject matter. Faces, flowers eyes, architecture, animals – are just some ideas to look at more closely! 

 

8th September 2026

Digital Competition – Urban Life

Judge: Rebecca Entwhistle – Zoom

Urban life photography is a genre of photography that focuses on capturing the essence of, and daily life within, urban environments. This type of photography highlights the interactions and lifestyle between people, architecture and the bustling atmosphere of towns and cities. Include people, structure and atmosphere.

 

6th October 2026

Digital Competition – Documentary

Judge: Martin Patten – Zoom

Documentary photography is an umbrella term used to describe a real moment as it happens, often conveying a message about the world, as opposed to photojournalism which focuses on breaking news stories. Documentary presents a straightforward record of events, people and places at a particular moment in time. There is no posing nor directing in this form of photography. Your image should tell a story, inform and educate.This one will need a bit of planning, so explore your passions and interests or consider photographing a local event. Alternatively, develop a photographic narrative around social or environmental issues.

 

17th November 2026

Print Competition – People and Portraits

Judge: Jonathan Vaines

People and portrait photography focuses on capturing the personality, emotion and essence of individuals or groups of people. Your images may be candid, capturing subjects in unposed authentic moments, or you may choose to use a studio – but you must be in control of all the lighting. Your subject could be in their natural surroundings or in a workplace environment, or you could go down the creative route, using props, unique lighting, or other effects.

 

8th December 2026

Digital Competition – Night and Low Light

Judge: Bob Goode - Zoom

Night and low light photography involves capturing images in dimly lit environments, ranging from indoor scenes to outdoor, after dark settings (dusk to dawn). It requires special techniques – such as using wide apertures, slow shutter speeds, and higher ISO settings. Use long exposure for dramatic effects such as light trails or experiment with motion blur. Explore shadows and silhouettes. Shoot in cities and urban landscapes or have a go at photographing the night sky.

 

12th January 2027

Digital Competition – The Natural World - Graham Brown Memorial Trophy

Judge: Sue Clark - Zoom

The title is intended to give you very free rein on your subject matter. The natural world goes far beyond flora and fauna and landscapes. It encompasses all the living and non-living things occurring naturally on planet Earth. The natural world includes all the plant and animal species, micro-organisms, soils, rocks and atmosphere which make this planet so unique. Humans of course fall within this spectrum and humans interacting within the natural world will be acceptable, but please try to avoid man-made objects and structures as the main focus of your images.  In summary, the natural world is the sum of all living and non-living things that occur naturally, without human intervention. It includes the Earth’s land, water, air, climate and weather. 

 

9th February 2027

Print Competition – Panel of Three

Judge: Malcolm Hupman

You can enter 1 or 2 panels, each comprising 3 separate images. You might choose to mount all 3 images on a single mount board or mount each image individually. The same size restrictions apply as all print competitions: your mount board should not be taller than 50 cm and each printed image should be A3 maximum. Panels comprising a single image spread across 3 mounts will not be accepted. Panels with the same image repeated or flipped will not be accepted. Your panel must comprise 3 individual photographs, but the best panels will comprise 3 images that sit well together and look like a single piece of work.  You might want to apply the same post-production processing to each of the 3 images to make them into a coherent panel or use images with co-ordinating colours or similar subject matter, which may even tell a sequential story.