Members compete in two classes – Class 2 and Class 1.

Members are classified according to their photographic experience and standard. The classification for a member is not necessarily the same for prints and digital.

A new member will automatically be placed in class 2 unless they submit a portfolio of current prints and/or digital images to the Selection Committee for consideration to class 1. The Selection Committee will advise where they feel the new member would competitively compete. If the individual requests to be in class 1 because that was their previous club category, then this can be permitted in the knowledge that there is no relegation opportunity.

Member classification is only applicable in the Class Open Competitions.

Class 2

• Members who do not qualify for Class 1.
• Members who have not previously entered competitions, subject to the discretion of the Selection Committee.

Class 1

• Members who have rejoined FEPS and have previously been in Class 1.
• Members whose current work is, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, of Class 1 standard.
• Winners of class 2.

At the end of each season the winners of Class 2 (Print and PDI) will automatically be promoted. The Selection Committee will also review classifications, and make recommendations to the Society’s Committee regarding any additional promotions.

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Only current members of the Society may enter the competitions.

All photographs entered, or elements within a composite image, must have been taken by the entrant. All manipulation must be the work of the author. The Committee reserve the right to ask to see the original/untouched/source image entered into competition.

All entries must be titled, and show the entrants’ name and class, where appropriate.

A certificated image is one which has been placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd or Highly Commended in any FEPS competition.

An image that has been certificated in a FEPS competition is not eligible for entry to subsequent competitions apart from:

• Print of the Year
• Projected Digital (PDI) of the Year
• As part of a Print Panel

However, if an image has been entered only once as part of a Panel, or Print or PDI/digital of the Year and was certificated, it can be entered only into one other open competition the following year. The image would not be eligible for the following year Print panel, Print of the Year or Digital of the Year competition.

If an image has not been placed/certificated in a competition then it can be used in any other Open competition.

Titles will be read out or displayed on Competition evenings.

There is no photographic age limit for Class Open Competitions.

The age of an image is calculated from the date that an image is first used in competition, irrespective of the format, whether print or digital. (This is relevant to external competitions).

If you are or have ever been a member of another club, then you must not allow an image which has been or might be used by another club to be selected by this club for use in an external competition. Ideally you should ensure that no such image is entered to internal competitions at this club because that would include them in the potential selection pool.

You must be able to provide the External Competition Secretary with the usage history for all your images shown within the club.

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There are five Open Print Competitions and four Open PDI Competitions in each season, which are held on separate evenings.

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There is no minimum size for prints, but prints must be mounted.

The entrant’s name, title and the competition entered should be shown on the back of the entry. Labels are provided.

Print titles are read out at the competition event.

Entry titles for print competitions must be submitted one week before the event, or as indicated in the programme. The prints must be submitted by 7.45 p.m. on the competition evening.

In class 1 a maximum of TWO print entries are permitted for each open competition.

In class 2 a maximum of THREE print entries are permitted for each open competition.

If there are a large number of entries, the number of prints to enter may be reduced from three to two. If this is the case, the first two images as shown by 01, 02 only will be shown. This is at the discretion of the Print Secretary.

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PDI competitions have Open and Set Subject categories. Entries must be submitted to the Competition Secretary at least 1 week prior to the competition evening, on memory stick or by e-mail. No entries can be accepted on the night. (digital@fieldendps.co.uk).

Portrait format is still limited to 1200 pixels tall; square format is limited to 1200 × 1200 pixels.

File naming

The file name must have the following parts, with a space between each:

1. NUMBER of the entry in order of preference followed by a space.
2. TITLE (in CAPITALS – spaces, numbers and hyphens permitted) followed by a space.
3. The word “by” (must be in lower case letters) followed by a space.
4. The author’s name (in lower case letters, although initial capitals are permitted) followed by a space.
5. Either “class1” or “class2” (no space before the number).

01 MY FIRST PICTURE by John Smith class2.jpg

The file extension .jpg is normally automatically assigned by your computer. Information is also available in the Programme booklet.

A maximum of three entries are permitted for open PDI competitions. If there are a large number of entries, the number of entries may be reduced from three to two. If this is the case, the first two images as shown by 01, 02 only will be shown. This is at the discretion of the Digital Secretary.

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There are four Set Subject PDI Competitions during the season, including the Norma Bateman Rosebowl. Set Subjects are suggested by members, reduced to eight choices by the Committee and voted on by the members (online vote). The four themes with the most votes become the set themes. In the event of a tie, the Chair has a final vote. The four themes are notified to members via the website and announced at the next club meet.

Images are scored out of 20 for set subjects except for the Norma Bateman Rosebowl where there is only commentary from the judge.

There will be placings for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and up to three HC in all four themed competitions.

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For Open PDI Competitions and the three themed PDI competitions, in the event of a large number of entries, the judge may only give a detailed critique of image number 1. The second and third images will be marked but may not be discussed if there is insufficient time.

The competition will be scored out of 20, at least one image will receive a score of 20 in all scored competitions.

The judge will be instructed to give three highly commended certificates however, this is at the discretion of the judge.

Certificates will be awarded to those members placed First, Second, Third, and Highly Commended.

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A new member who joins the Society, and misses the first Open Competition of the season and enters all other open competitions, can have their results averaged. The average is then added to the points accrued from the other competitions; the result is then listed with all the final results.

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Annual awards may be given jointly. Trophies are held by the recipients after presentation, but must be returned the following season for presentation at the appropriate competition, or a fortnight prior to the Awards evening in June.

Each members’ marks are recorded throughout the season. His/her best mark in each of the Class Open Competitions is totalled. The highest totals decide the winners of the following trophies:

• Prints – Class 1: The McLellan Trophy – Overall print winner
• Prints – Class 2: The Martin Trophy – Overall print winner
• Digital PDI – Class 1: The Jefferson Trophy – Overall PDI winner
• Digital PDI – Class 2: The Ann Temple Cup – Overall PDI winner

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Regardless of classification, the highest TWO marks for each member in each of the Class Open Competitions are totalled. The highest totals decide the winners of the following trophies:

• Prints: The Friendship Cup
• PDI: The Field End Digital Aggregate Trophy

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Entry Criteria

Entrants may enter up to THREE images in each of the set-subject PDI competitions. The marking system and all other criteria for date of entry, size and colour space are exactly the same as for Open competitions. Certificates will be awarded to those members placed First, Second, Third, and Highly Commended.

The Wright Trophy is linked to the three set subject PDI competitions (not the Norma Bateman Rosebowl which has its own trophy) that occur over the year.

Each member’s marks are recorded throughout the season. His/her best mark in each of the Set Subject Competitions is totalled. The member with the highest total shall receive The Wright Trophy.

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This is a separate themed PDI competition held each season.

The theme for the Competition is announced at the previous season’s Annual General Meeting. For the Norma Bateman Rosebowl, any image can be entered as long as it has not been certificated in any previous FEPS competition.

Each member may enter up to FOUR images, which must be numbered in order of preference. If the total entry is considered too large it may be reduced at the discretion of the Competition Secretary, removing entries in reverse order i.e. number 04 first.

Entries must be submitted at least a week before the competition. The judge will not score the entries, but select a First, Second and Third place, and up to three Highly Commended.

The winner will receive The Norma Bateman Rosebowl.

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This is a separate annual competition held each season. There is no automatic promotion to class 1.

No set categories are specified, thereby allowing the widest possible choice of subjects and techniques. Each member can enter THREE panels of prints. The entry must consist of three prints, on separate mounts, which are linked by a common theme or consistency of style. Prints should be numbered in the order in which they are to be presented.

There is no minimum size for prints but they must be mounted. The maximum mount size is 50cm × 40cm.

Entries, including the appropriate entry form, must be submitted in advance in accordance with the programme.

Assessment

The judge may receive the entries prior to the competition evening for assessment and allocate marks as follows:

One panel score out of 20 after a discussion about the merits of each individual image. With consideration given to composition, appropriateness of lighting, techniques used as well as the quality of the print.

The entrant with the highest total for their panel will receive The Edith King Memorial Trophy.

There will be Certificates for 2nd and 3rd places.

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There are separate competitions held to determine the Monochrome Print of the Year, the Colour Print of the Year, and the PDI Image of the Year.

Monochrome prints are defined as using black and white with any shades of grey in between or an image toned entirely in a single colour.

Monochrome work modified by a partial toning or by the addition of one colour (e.g. colour popping) becomes colour work (polychrome) and cannot be entered for this competition.

Entries

The same image cannot be entered into more than one of the Annual Competitions in the same year. It must not have been certificated in any previous Print of the Year or PDI Image of the Year.

Titles for the Print of the Year competitions must be provided to the Print Secretary one week in advance of the competition.

Each member may submit up to TWO entries in the Colour, and TWO in the Monochrome Print of the Year competitions.

A maximum of THREE PDI entries are allowed for the PDI of the Year and numbered in order of preference. In the event of a large entry the Competition Secretary may reduce the number of entries per person.

The winning image is usually printed on the FEPS programme booklet for the following season subject to the image being suitable. The Programme Secretary will make the final decision.

The judge will not be required to mark the entries, but to select a First, Second and Third place, and is requested to award up to three Highly Commended Certificates in each competition.

Trophies awarded

• PDI of the Year: The Povey Trophy
• Monochrome Print of the Year: The Jewell Cup
• Colour Print of the Year: The Bison Shield

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A trophy is awarded to the public vote winner of the Annual FEPS Exhibition. The visiting public is invited to vote for up to two prints of their choice. The member who exhibits the print receiving the most votes receives The BPD Phototech Trophy.

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This trophy is awarded as a cross-format trophy and is only open to members who are in class 2 for at least one category (print, PDI or both).

The scores will be calculated by taking the top 2 results from any of the three categories. (Open print, open PDI and themed competitions – excluding Norma Bateman Rosebowl). The person with the highest score is the winner.

The Katharine Herring Trophy was previously known as the Ladies competition trophy, changed in the 2017/18 season.

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At the end of each competition season the Selection Committee will look at the progress of members in class 2. The Selection Committee will recommend a member from each of the class 2 PDI and Print categories who they deem to have made good progress over the season. The recommendations will be shared with the full committee who will discuss and ratify this recommendation.

The recipients then receive:

• Prints: The Shepherd Tankard
• Digital: FEPS Progress in Digital Trophy

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