COMPETITIONS

Entering competitions gives our members the chance to have their work assessed/appraised by our hand-picked and experienced, external judges. Apart from the competitive opportunity, there is much to gain from entering each competition. The advice given as part of the judging process helps you improve your work.

It also gives you the chance to see the work of your fellow members which, in itself, can extend your knowledge and improve your own photography. It is not compulsory to enter competitions but it is a good way of getting feedback on how your are doing.

LIST OF COMPETITIONS WE ENTER

INTERNAL COMPETITIONS

We have 5 internal competitions each year. Each member can enter 2 images in each of the 3 categories - colour, mono and digital. The results from all internal competitions are accumulated on the evening of the 5th judging and the winner at the end becomes eligible to move to the next division. The results from this are accumulated and the winner at the end becomes eligible to move to the next division. We use accredited SPF judges who will critique and score your image. You can use any image twice over the categories ie colour, mono and digital. You may also use the same image a 3rd time in the annual exhibition.

2 WAY COMPETITION

The two way competition has now been a part of our syllabus for over 10 years. This is an inter-club competition with Linlithgow Camera Club. This competition is held every other year with the hosting club providing the judge and a buffet. It gives members a chance to mingle and get to know each other.

4 WAY COMPETITION

Another inter-club competition with Musselburgh, Stirling and Edinburgh. This is always an exciting competition where we need our very best images - the competition is fierce. Again we have the obligatory buffet and each club hosts every 4 years.

INTER FIFE COMPETITION

Annual inter-club battle with most of the Fife clubs. Again a very exciting competition where we need our very best images - the competition again is fierce. We go into battle with St Andrews, Cupar, Dunfermline Photographic Association and Dunfermline Camera Club. Again we have the obligatory buffet and each club hosts every 5 years.

BATTLE OF THE TARTANS

During lockdown Cathy made contact with Penwith Photographic Group and an inter-club battle was arranged. This is a slightly different competition for us as we have a maximum of two images per member which allows more members to take part. Season 2020-2021 saw us go head to head and we came out winning. Again each club hosts in turn.

2021 - winning club - KIRKCALDY PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

2021 - Winning image - Roy Balfour - Hoopoe.

A little nod to our past president - a good friend gone too soon.

Sadly Roy was no longer with us when his image took 1st place.

Roy Balfour - Hoopoe

BATTLE ACROSS THE OCEANS

This has become an annual event with Cape Town Photographic Society. This competition was instigated in 2020 by our late president, Roy Balfour, after a recent trip to South Africa. This competition is held via zoom with the hosting club being responsible for booking the judge for the evening.

We also enter a number of SPF and PAGB external competitions:

SPF DIGITAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Held in November it is often called the Digital Knockout . It is a club competition with awards for individual merit.
Min club entry of 20, max of 40.
Max 2 per author perround (3 rounds).

This is one of the competitions where the selection committee have to choose the very best of the submissions as we are up against all of the clubs in Scotland.

SPF PRINT CHAMPIONSHIPS
Held in February it has both club and individual classes. Small charge for entries.
Colour print + mono print
Max 3 prints /author /section.
Overall max of 80 prints per club.

As with all SPF events we require to choose the very best images we can.

SPF PORTFOLIO
Judged over the summer, the best images are put onto disc which is available to all clubs for viewing during the following year. Small charge for entries.
Prints + digital images.
Club entry: max 2 prints per author per class.
Plus individual entries.

MASTERS OF PRINT

The Masters of Print competition is open to Individual Photographers, who are members of SPF member Clubs. Individual Photographers may enter directly, without any pre-qualification. Some details are available below, more can be found (click here).

This fairly new Masters of Print Competition normally closes around October, and is judged shortly after. The Judging will be followed by a public Exhibition normally around December. Photographers may enter prints to any combination of the Monochrome, Colour and Nature Categories, and awards are made to individual prints. Prints are then selected for the Exhibition. Awards and Selections for the Exhibition will also be published in the Exhibition Catalogue.