Competition Glossary

Description of each competition and what is allowed as an entry. STILL LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY: Still life photography owes much to the tradition of painting. The beautifully crafted still life paintings found in museums are records of an intense experience of light, form and colour. Still life photography concentrates on these formal properties and has attracted some of the most influential photographers of all time. The images of early masters of the art such as Edward Steichen, Edward Weston, Andre Kertesz and Minor White still look 'modern'. In the commercial sphere the lavish attention to detail in the work of some food photographers, for example, continues this tradition. By crafting something that is more than a picture 'of' something, a good still life can evoke emotion, playfulness and reflection. The abstract quality which sometimes enables the viewer to experience form and space before seeing 'objects' can challenge the usual associations of the camera and the tangible world.

SPORT & PHOTOJOURNALISM: Shall be any photograph that could be used as an informative picture in a journal publication and sports being any photograph connected with sport.

PICTORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY: This competition is always one of the most popular and a great one to start the season off. The subject can be just about anything. Our current definition of pictorial is "Shall be any photograph which the author would place on a wall for public viewing"

NATURAL HISTORY PHOTOGRAPHY: Natural History photography depicts untamed animals and uncultivated plants in a natural habitat. The accurate record of the subject and natural environment is the prime factor. Evidence of man and his manipulation of his environment in any part of the picture is undesirable and should be avoided. After satisfying the above requirements every effort should be made to use the highest level of artistic skill in all nature photographs. Photographs of cultivated plants, floral arrangements, domestic and caged animals, mounted specimens, museum groups or man and his specialised environment are NOT acceptable. Entries should be accurately titled.

RECORD PHOTOGRAPHY: Shall be for any building or part of a building ancient or modern, and/or allied objects or furnishings belonging to or associated with the subject. This class includes archaeological or other inanimate objects.

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY: Portrait (People and figure studies) shall include figure studies, groups of a portrait nature and animal portraits.

CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY: The Oxford English Dictionary defines creative as simply "Inventive and Imaginative". Need we say more? So what does that mean to the photographer? A photographic creation by the author that stimulates the mind of the viewer though the creative use of light, form, colour, monochrome, cropping, developing, printing, image manipulation etc. It can include creative use of traditional film techniques or using digital techniques. The entries must have been created using a camera or another light recording device such as a scanner. Non photographic images generated wholly by a computer will not be permitted.

Open Competition (RESTRICTED): As a club we want to encourage new members and photographers at all levels of photography so we have a new competition. The subject matter is your choice. This competition is open to new members and anyone who has NOT finished in the top 3 during the previous season