Competitions can be a way of improving your photography by listening to the judge's comments and suggestions about the images. (But remember it is one person's opinion and another judge may think differently.) Competitions are not for everyone and you do not have to enter competitions if you prefer not to, though most members enjoy watching club competition evenings and can learn from them whether they have entered or not.
Three trophies for success in competitions, the Photographer of the Year Award, The Monochrome Trophy, and the Tony Cutting Trophy, are awarded at the AGM at the end of the season. (See the Competition Rules for how these are awarded.)
Programmed Club competitions (Usually 5 in total throughout the year)
Members can enter a maximum of 3 images for the club competitions. Please read the competition rules which are downloadable here:
Rules for Print and DPI Competitions
(Please note in regards to use of AI in photography we have adopted the guidelines issued by the RPS, to view their statement click here:
RPS Statement on use of AI )
Titles and dates for 2023-2024 are:
- 20th October 2023 Open Subject, Print, (Closing Date 6th October)
- 1st December 2023 "ICM (Intentional Camera Movement)"*, DPI, (Closing Date 17th November)
- 2nd February 2024 "Urban"**, Print, (Closing Date 19th January)
- 15th March 2024 Open Subject, DPI, (Closing Date 1st March)
- 3rd May 2024 Annual Open, Print, (Closing Date 19th April)
*
Brief for ICM Competition:
ICM is intentional camera movement, the camera is intentionally moved during the exposure for creative or artistic effect. This can be achieved by any method but must be achieved at the point of image capture, NOT added in post processing. It is acceptable to add small, non ICM elements to the image. Elements added must belong to the same photographer.
**Brief for Urban competition:
Urban photography is a visual representation of urban spaces and everything that shapes the environment from architectural structures to people and other living things.
So images submitted for this competition could be a representation of contemporary city space or street photography which is a visual documentation of society within public spaces.
For print sizes and mounting information see the competition rules (above). If you would like help/advice with mounting prints please see Keith Sharples.
For information on how to title and size DPI entries go to the drop down 'About Us' menu - information for members page.
Other Competitions:
At various times throughout the year the club is involved in competitions with other local clubs. This includes competitions such as "Only Mono" ( a monochrome competition organised by Cymru Monochrome club), The Barrian Cup (organised by Barry Camera Club), the Stanley Chell Competition (organised by Aberdare Camera Club), The Memorial Trophies Day (organised by the Welsh Photographic Federation), the Ace of Clubs (dpi) and Ace of Prints (print) both organised by the WPF, and The Jubilee Cup (a five-way battle organised by Cwmbran Club). You may be asked to submit images for selection to represent Monmouth Photographic Club in these events.
We also have an annual "Battle" (photographic competition) with Ross-on-Wye Photographic Society. In 2024 this will be hosted by Monmouth club.
In 2023 we started an annual "Battle" by Zoom with Orkney Camera Club.
Use of images on website:
Please note we may use your competition images, (after the competition has run), elsewhere on the website, e.g. the home page slideshow or the news page, and also on our Facebook page. Please let us know if you don't want your images used in this way.
Image on this page: ICM by Fintan Healy