Competition information

Jump to the DPI and Print Requirements section of this page
Jump to the Photographic Definitions section of this page

Subject/Open Critique Evenings

Throughout the year we hold various non-scored critique evenings, where professional judges are invited to give feedback on members’ DPIs or prints. (See the DPI and Print Requirements section lower down for more information on sizing, naming and mounting). Although points for images are not awarded on these evenings, the judges are asked to choose 1st, 2nd and 3rd position images in each category and have the option of choosing commended images as well.

Participants can enter a maximum of four images, with no more than two in each category. (The requirement is the same for both DPI and print evenings).

Portfolio Competitions

There are two portfolio competitions: print and DPI, each of which is to consist of four images. These may be images previously in any other competition except for previous portfolio competitions.

Each portfolio must be made up of four images taken from the following six categories with no more than one image in each portfolio being from the same category.

The six categories are:

- Pictorial
- Nature
- Landscape
- Portrait
- Record
- Street or Reportage

(See the Photographic Definitions section lower down for an explanation of these categories). The images will be judged individually and as a set, with a maximum of 20 points being allocated to each image and 20 points being allocated to the set giving a total possible score for the portfolio of 100 points.

The set will be judged to assess the photographer’s versatility, it will not be judged as a visually cohesive panel.

However, the way in which the set is presented is in the photographer’s control:

- for the prints this could be just the consistency of the mount boards, cutting and the use of borders or could include dictating the order in which the images should be shown as a set (they will be displayed in a single row, side by side), in which case number them from 1 to 4, with number 1 being on the left.

for the DPIs, again this could just be the use of borders or pin lines or could include setting up a fifth image which shows the full set. This should have a maximum size of 1920×1080 pixels and the background colour can be selected to best present the images, which can be arranged in any way within the frame. If a combined image isn’t provided then one will be set up by the Competition Secretary, which will be on a black background with the four images set out in two rows of two.

The image name should include the category in parentheses, e.g. (PICTORIAL) THE DECISIVE MOMENT by Henri Cartier-Bresson

Panel competition

A panel consists of three print images. You may enter up to two panels. Chris Shore FRPS EFIAP MPAGB BPE5* and Helen Taylor ARPS DPAGB BPE3* provided the Club with an excellent talk on Panels back in 2016. Here are their top ten tips for creating a panel:

A Panel isn’t just a set of pictures of a subject; they have to hold together with a unifying theme.
A Panel can be made up of:
- different viewpoints of a single item (their example was different parts of a christening gown);
- one subject, different items (their example was door knockers);
- images that tell a story (their suggestion was a race);
- different images with a theme (their example was ‘love’, with a heart in every image);
- different images of one small locale (their example was stones by the breakwater)
Having one good print doesn’t make a good Panel. In fact, one excellent print will show up the rest as mediocre. An evenness of standard is preferable.
Images need to have the same colour feel or treatment. Whilst both colour and mono are obviously acceptable, mono can be easier to match up.
Images should be similar or the same in size.
If there is an odd print – content, shape, or colour – it should go in the middle.
The mounts need to be the same colour and size and the bottom of each image, at least, should line up.
The Panel needs to have stops at each outside image, either with content or colour.
Regarding direction, with three images, the outside images can look inwards, with the centre image either full-on, or looking to the left. Obviously, this may not work with a story, where images would all face the same way (normally right).
If you have the opportunity to enter two Panels, choose one to please the judge and one for your own pleasure.

Summer Trophy 2024

Subject: Weather

To give members something to work towards through the break we have our annual Summer Trophy (and yes, there is a trophy). The images for this competition have to be new – taken between 28 May 2024 and the hand-in date, which will be 17 September 2024. At the end of the final meeting of the previous season, members chose the subject, which this year is “Weather” – interpret this however you wish!

We will be running both Print and DPI formats of the competition. Members can submit up to two images in each format. Print images should be mounted and your name and image title written on the reverse. Please check the Photographic Definitions sub-page for the size and naming format for DPIs.

We hope you enjoy taking part in this competition. If you have any questions or queries about it, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Scavenger Hunt 2024-25

The Scavenger Hunt will take place on the 21st and 28th of January 2025. Our judge for the event is Di Long.

Your titles for 2024/25 will be announced at the first meeting of the season (03/09/2024).

Chairman’s Trophy

The Chairman’s Trophy is awarded by the current Chairman to a member who in their opinion has contributed most to the club in whatever capacity they feel appropriate.

DPI and Print requirements

Digitally Projected Images

The software we are using to present the images has its own set of rules as follows:

Images may be submitted on a memory stick, memory card, CD, or by email to the DPI Competition Secretary.
No image must exceed a maximum size of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
A landscape format image must be no more than 1920 pixels on the horizontal side.
A portrait format image must be no more than 1080 pixels on its vertical side.
The image must be saved as a jpg file and the colour profile must be sRGB.
The title should appear in CAPITALS followed with the word “by” in lower case, followed by the photographer’s name in lower case with an initial capital letter. i.e.:

THE SKY AT NIGHT by Patrick Moore.jpg

Prints

Prints must be mounted in card, preferably with a card backing for protection. The card size should be a maximum of 50cm x 40cm which is the only size permitted for Battles and KCPA competitions. Smaller sizes for club competition will be accepted. The title and entrant’s name must be printed on the back of the image. The club’s name should also be included in case the print is used in a Battle.

Photographic Definitions

For the purpose of the KCPA rules a photograph is an image formed by the action of light falling on a sensitive medium to form an image.The term monochrome and colour have the following meanings:

Monochrome Photograph – including all black and white photographs and those that have been modified by the addition of a single tone to the entire image.

Images entered in a KCPA competition must conform to the PAGB definition:

“A monochrome entry is a black and white work going from a very dark grey (black) to a very clear grey (white) and containing only various shades of grey. A black and white work toned entirely in a single colour will remain a monochrome work. A black and white work modified by a partial toning or addition of a single colour becomes a colour work (polychrome).”

Colour Photograph – All other photographs are defined as colour photographs. For example, a black and white photograph which has been modified by the addition of partial toning, or the addition of one colour to any part of the photograph, is a colour photograph.

Pictorial

Pictorial plays down the identity of the subject and stresses the artistic input of the photographer by way of atmosphere, mood, pattern or viewpoint. This category includes landscapes and seascapes together with images not falling into one of the other categories.

Portrait

A portrait photograph is the capture by the means of photography of the likeness of a living person or creature or a small group of people or creatures (a group portrait), in which the face and expression is predominant. The objective is to display the likeness, personality or the mood of the subject. Like other types of portraiture, the focus of the photograph is the person’s or creature’s face, although the entire body and the background may be included (environmental portrait). A portrait is generally not a snapshot, but a composed image of a personal or creature.

Landscape

A landscape is the capture by means of photography of a pictorial study of a scene (water/seascapes/cityscapes and skyscrapes are acceptable). A landscape being a wide view or vista of a scene.

Record

A record photograph is an accurate a representation as possible of an inanimate object or set of objects. This includes building interiors, exteriors and architectural details.

Street

Street photography, also sometimes called candid photography, is photography conducted for art or enquiry that features unmediated chance encounters and random incidents within public places.

Reportage

Reportage is the photographic art of blending documentary and first hand observations, with personal experience, perception and anecdotal evidence, in non-fiction form.

Nature

Natural history is defined as flora, fauna, geology (including rocks and pebble studies etc.), natural phenomena and astro photography (stars, planets etc.). Plants may be cultivated or wild. Fauna can include animals in capitivity (and pets). Photographs should enable a well-informed person to identify the subject material and to certify that it is an honest representation. Mounted specimens are ineligible.

Clubs should be aware that whilst the KCPA has a broad brush approach to nature photography, the PAGB has a strict interpretation.

The following stricter definition of “Nature” has to be adhered to for images submitted to the Kent County Photographic Association.

“Nature photography depicts living, untamed animals and uncultivated plants in a natural habitat, geology and the wide diversity of natural phenomena, from insects to iceberg. Photographs of animals, which are domesticated, caged or under any form of restraint, as well as photographs of cultivated plants are ineligible. Minimal evidence of humans is acceptable for nature subjects such as barn owls or storks, adapting to an environment modified by humans, or natural forces, like hurricanes or tidal waves, reclaiming it. The photographer, whatever photographic medium is used, must have taken the original. Any manipulation or modification to the original image is limited to minor re-touching of blemishes and must not alter the content of the original scene. After satisfying the above requirements, every effort should be made to use the highest level of artistic skill in all nature.”