Competitions Program for 2026/27
General Rules are shown below the program section. Click on competition name for specific rules.
** Take Note of the changes in these rules compared to previous years. **
Competition Rules General
GROUPING OF MEMBERS
- All members will be classified as either Advanced or Intermediate. This will initially be done based upon previous results.
- New members will be advised to look at previous competition images in both categories, and then asked which category they think they would like to start in.
- Members allocated to the intermediate level could ask to be moved to the advanced level if they wish, before the start of each season.
- Members will not be able to move from advanced to intermediate level.
- At the end of the season, the winner of the intermediate level annual award would automatically move into the advanced level.
- These groups would apply consistently to all competitions regardless of genre.
- Separate league tables for advanced and intermediate will be maintained, with separate end of season honours for each
- For all Competitions – the entries will be judged in 2 separate sections; Advanced & Intermediate
GENERAL RULES
- All images entered for any Society Competitions, battles, etc, must be the work of of the Society Member submitting them.
- Competitions, battles, etc. are open to all Society Members.
- The entrants name must NOT appear on any image entered.
- No image may be entered in more than one competition, except that it is eligible for entry into the appropriate Annual Competition in the same season.
- An image can be used in the following forms: mono print, colour print, colour PDI or mono PDI. Two versions of an image must not be entered in competitions judged on the same night.
- The society will use the Pixoroo software to manage Competitions, and ALL entries must be uploaded to this system by the entrant prior to the Closing Date. (Instructions will be provided).
- Late entries will not be accepted. All Judges’ decisions are final.
- All images entered in club competitions will be available to the Selection Committee for use to represent the club in outside competitions.
- Whilst every care will be taken with Member’s entries, the Society cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage.
- Any image which does not comply with these rules will be rejected. The Competition Secretary’s decision on rejection is final.
PRINTS
- The minimum size of print is 7in x 5in.
- For Advanced level members, all prints must be mounted on board, and the mount size must be 50cm x 40cm
- For Intermediate members the Prints may be submitted as an unmounted A4 print.
- A print which has not won an award may be entered in another competition in the same season.
- The members name SHOULD NOT appear anywhere on the Print or Mount.
- The PDI jpg image from which the print was produced MUST be uploaded to the Competition using the Pixoroo system, prior to the closing date. Prints will ONLY be accepted if the PDI has previously been uploaded.
DIGITAL (DPI)
- All images must be submitted in jpg (jpeg) format, in sRGB colour space by uploading to the Pixoroo system.
- Images will be projected at a screen resolution of 1600 x 1200 pixels. Therefore, images should be no more than 1600 pixels wide and 1200 pixels high. A portrait format image will be a maximum 1200 pixels high.
- Image files should ideally contain the title of the image ONLY, although when uploading the Title may be entered independently of the filename.
- The author’s name should NOT appear in the filename or Title.
The rules above will apply to ALL competitions unless overridden by the specifics of the Competition, as below.
Competition Specific Rules
INFORMAL SUMMER COMPETITION
An informal competition to be held annually as the first of a new season, and ONLY accepting images taken through the summer break. The results of this competition ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE LEAGUE TABLES FOR ANNUAL TROPHIES.
Up to 4 images, Colour or Mono, 1600 x 1200. Each image MUST relate to one of the 5 themes defined below, and MUST have been taken between 1st June and 31st August.
Themes:
1 – Motion – An image which MUST depict motion in the subject
2 – Minimalism – This is also to be the subject of our Set Subject Competition next season. The definition of minimalism in photography is:
Minimalism in photography is a style of visual art characterized by extreme simplicity. It strips away distractions, focusing heavily on a single subject, clean lines, and geometric shapes. By embracing the “less is more” philosophy, it directs the viewer’s eye through intentional composition and ample empty space.
3 – Doors & Windows – Doors and windows must be the main subject of the image.4 – Street Detail – This is not to be a whole street scene! Focus on the smaller detail of a street, road etc. A reflection in a puddle, window or building; textures such as peeling paint, rust, worn surfaces; shadows and light patterns; partial human presence, hands, feet, silhouettes; street objects such as signs, bikes, benches, litter, markings.
5 – A Diptychs (Before & After) – This is to be two images paired and presented side by side in one PDI JPG showing contrasting images; EG Calm / Busy; Wide vs Detail (same object); Same place different time. So, in effect you need to get 2 images, and combine then into a single 1600 x 1200 jpg. For some examples see;
MEDALLIONS COMPETITIONS
- Two separate Open competitions for Prints & PDIs held annually, judged on the same night.
- Subjects – Open.
- Mono or Colour
- Chairman Medallion Competition is for PDIs and up to 4 digital images may be entered.
- Print Medallion Competition is for Prints and up to 4 Prints may be entered.
SET SUBJECT COMPETITION
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- A competition on a set subject, to be held annually with two sections. Both judged on the same night.
- Up to 4 prints and 4 digital images may be entered. The entries may be monochrome or colour, or a mix of the two.
- The subject will be chosen by the General Committee of the Society.
- Immediately after the presentation of the Trophies, the subject for the following year’s competition will be announced.
JUBILEE COMPETITION
- A competition for digital images for which an entry consists of four images. Each image must be from a different category.
- One or two entries may be submitted, but if two entries are submitted, all eight images must be from different categories.
- The categories will be decided by the General Committee. The number of categories must give entrants adequate choice.
- Each image will be judged in the category in which it is entered and in that category alone.
- The reference letter of the category in which each image is entered must be shown at the start of the filename, followed by a dash then the Title. eg ‘A – Pretty Bird’, ‘L – Hillside’.
- The winner shall be the entrant with the highest aggregate mark obtained by adding the scores awarded to each of the four images of a set.
- In the event of a tie, the winner shall be the entrant with the highest mark awarded to any one image. If this fails to resolve the situation, the criteria to be taken shall be the highest total of the two best images, or if this fails, the highest total of the three best images.
- With no outright winner, an Award shall be given to all those who tied.
Categories and Reference Letters- A – Animals Photographs of domesticated, farm stock, or pets.
- B – Architecture Buildings, part or whole, interior or exterior details.
- C – Candid A picture of a person or persons engaged in some natural believable activity,
unposed and ideally without the knowledge of the subject. - D – Abstract or Pattern A subjective impression, representation or distortion as opposed to a
realistic interpretation of a subject. A particular arrangement of forms, colours, shapes,
textures etc. - F – Flowers A pictorial or factual representation of a flower or flowers in natural or contrived
surroundings. - L – Landscape Also includes seascapes.
- N – Nature Definition is the one given in Appendix ‘A’
- P – Portrait An artistic representation or characteristic likeness of a person. It can be facial
features, head and shoulders, three quarters or full length portrait. - R – Table Top or Still Life & Record A contrived picture of objects over which the
photographer has complete control in a creative manner. A photograph which sets out to
state the facts about an inanimate object without any regard for its pictorial qualities, such as
architectural detail, stained glass window, picture for a catalogue, etc. - S – Sport Photographs depicting any form of sport.
- X – Action Photograph of a moving subject or object, which depicts the essence of action,
other than sport. - Z – Night Photography Images taken between sunset and sunrise but not including either.
J. B. LANCASTER COMPETITION
- A competition for six digital images forming a portfolio on one particular theme or topic chosen by the competitor. Only One portfolio may be entered.
- Images must be numbered in the order in which they are to be projected in the filename Eg ‘1 – Billy’, ‘2 – Man on Horse’ etc.
- An overall portfolio title, description of the theme, or explanation of the purpose of the entry may be provided (No more than 20 words). This should be emailed to the competition secretary after uploading the jpgs to the Pixoroo system.
NATURE & LANDSCAPE COMPETITIONS
- Two competitions for prints and digital images held annually, judged as separate competitions on the same night.
- The subject for digital images is “Nature”. Definition is given in Appendix ‘A’. Up to 4 digital images may be entered.
- The subject for prints will be “Landscape”. Up to 4 prints may be entered.
MONO URBAN PDI COMPETITION
- A competition for Mono digital images ONLY
- The subject for digital images is one of “Urban, People, Architecture or Street’.
- Up to 4 digital images may be entered
ANNUAL COMPETITIONS
These competitions are held annually towards the end of the normal season. Entries may be of any subject.
All of these competitions may contain any images – any subject – even if previously used during the last year. Images CAN be put into more than 1 of these, as long as not judged on the same night. So basically, you can have the same image put into the Colour PDI, and the Mono PDI and EITHER the Colour or Mono Print competitions.
- The Mono Print and DPI Competitions will include black & white images, toned black & white images with or without different shades, irrespective of the process used, up to 4 images each
- The Colour Print and Colour DPI Competitions will include up to 4 entries.
Appendix ‘A’
DEFINITION OF NATURE TO BE USED IN BPS COMPETITIONS
Note that images already meeting the separate FIAP Definition of Nature will satisfy this less restrictive definition.
Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict all branches of natural history, except anthropology and archaeology, in such a fashion that a well-informed person will be able to identify the subject material and certify its honest presentation.
The story telling value of a Nature photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality while maintaining high technical quality.
Scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals are permissible. Photographs of human created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domestic animals, or mounted specimens are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement.
Processing of the captured image, by cropping, exposure adjustment, colour correction, noise minimisation, dodging/burning, HDR, focus stacking and sharpening, is allowed. Cloning of image defects and minor distractions, including overlapping elements, are permitted when these do not distort the truth of the photographic statement.
Images entered as Nature can have landscape, geologic formations, weather phenomena, and extant organisms as the primary subject matter. This includes images taken with the subjects in controlled conditions, such as zoos, game farms, botanical gardens, aquariums and any enclosure where the subjects are totally dependent on man for food.
Access to biological subjects may be restricted. By entering a BPS event, Photographers warrant that they have followed relevant codes of practices and hold any necessary licences.
Trophy Awards
Bebington Trophies
- These Trophies are awarded to the Society Members who have gained the most points in all qualifying competitions during the season, in their respective category – Advanced or Intermediate
- Any Member entering any of the qualifying competitions will score points towards the trophies as follows:
- Two separate leagues will be maintained, one for Advance and one for Intermediate
- A league table of the points in each trophy will be distributed after each competition.
- All competitions are considered as qualifying except the Summer fun competition
- Only the highest award for each entrant from each qualifying competition will receive the following points, regardless of how many entries. 1st Place – 6 Points
2nd Place – 5 Points
3rd Place – 4 Points
Highly Commended – 3 Points
Commended – 2 Points
Entering Competition but No award – 1 Point
Print Merit Trophy
- This Trophy is awarded to the Society Member with the highest number of points in print competitions only. A Trophy will be awarded to the winner in each division (Advanced & Intermediate).
Digital Merit Trophy
- This Trophy is awarded to the Society Member with the highest number of points in digital image competitions only. A Trophy will be awarded to the winner in each division (Advanced & Intermediate).
Progress Trophy
- This Trophy is awarded to the Society Member who has gained the most points in qualifying competitions during the season, but has not won any other Society trophy prior to that season