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.
We have three trophies for success in competitions, the Photographer of the Year Award, The Monochrome Trophy, (awarded at the AGM at the end of the season), and the Tony Cutting Trophy, for the winner of the Five Print Challenge. (See the Competition Rules for how you could win one of these trophies.)
Programmed Club competitions
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 2025-2026 are:
- 17th October 2025 Open Subject, Print, (Closing Date 3rd October), Judge: David Straker
- 5th December 2025 Open Subject, DPI, (Closing Date 21st November), Judge: Rob Heslop
- 6th February 2026 "Architecture", Print, (Closing Date 16th January), Judge: Gareth Martin, AWPF, CPAGB
- 20th March 2026 "ICM" (Intentional Camera Movement), DPI, (Closing Date 6th March), Judge: Aleks Gjika, EFIAP DPAGB
- 1st May 2026 Annual Open, Print, (Closing Date 10th April), Judge: Julie Morgan, AWPF
In addition to the above competitions on 21st November 2025, (Closing Date 7th November), we will also be running our separate competition - The Five Print Challenge, judged by Ralph Snook, ARPS, DPAGB, EFIAP.
The competition, as the name implies, is in five sections and the photographer must enter one print into each section.
The Sections are as follows: Open Colour, Open Monochrome, People, Scapes, and Nature.
This competition is print only and this must be all new work, (work not previously entered into any Monmouth PC internal competition). Prints can be used in competitions after the challenge is completed.
This competition is in addition to the mainstream competitions and does not count toward the Photographer of the Year award.
The winner will receive the Tony Cutting award for excellence.
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. If you need help please ask, we are very happy to help.
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 Adrian Webster Trophy (organised by Western Valley Camera Club), The Memorial Trophies Day (organised by the Welsh Photographic Federation), 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" 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: "Bluebell Wood" by Adrian Butcher
