BCC

Chairman's Challenge

Held on the first night of the new season, with images taken over the summer break.

For 2026....

Shadows

The main hero of the image is/are shadow(s). Look for scenes with strong contrast between the light and shadows. Look for interesting shadows created by buildings, trees, or people, and play with the angle and direction of the light.

Digital images only – no prints. Submit 2 new images (taken between the dates of 2nd June 2026 - 23rd August 2026).

The intention is for this to be a “just for fun” competition run along the lines of a salon with 3 judges (Jenny Hibbert, Paul James & Dai Knight) who will not see the images until the actual judging.

Annual Mono Competition

This competition is held towards the end of the programme year. Members may enter up to two monochrome prints and two monochrome digital images with the definition of monochrome being that of the WPF at the time. Each piece of work will be commented on in a constructive manner. No theme is intended nor should any marks be awarded for any theme.

Note: You may enter images that have been entered in a regular monthly competition during the same competition year (either exactly as previously entered, or modified after comments from a previous judging).

Three on a Theme Competition

This competition is held annually. More information can be found here.

Note: As part of your set of images you may include images that have been entered in a regular monthly competition during the previous 12 months (either exactly as previously entered, or modified after comments from a previous judging).

The Mike Stokes Trophy

The Mike Stokes Trophy is a landscape and seascape competition held in memory of Mike Stokes. Mike served the club as a committee member holding several posts over many years. He also inspired and entertained members in equal amounts over those years. The competition is in print and digital projected image sections with an overall winner from the two sections.

Note: You may enter images that have been entered in a regular monthly competition during the previous 12 months (either exactly as previously entered, or modified after comments from a previous judging).

Image of the Year - The Terry Gardner Trophies

At the end of the season members may submit their favourite previously submitted images for an Image of the Year competition. Entries are scored by members or an external judge. The top scoring print and projected image are named as the "Image of the Year" for that season. The winning photographers are awarded the Terry Gardner Trophy, named in memory of a well respected former committee member.

Note: Images must have been entered in a monthly competition during the season and can be any image you may have entered previously, regardless of the score awarded in the monthly competition.

Review of Summer Evening Outings

During June and July club members meet on a Monday evening in the local area to take photographs. One evening in the programme for the following season, usually around October, is devoted to a review of images taken during these evenings with a winning image selected from those submitted.

Other Internal Competitions

Whilst planning that seasons programme the committee may decide on one or two more competitions, whose format will vary. The idea will be to provide a fresh and interesting challenge to club members. As much advance warning on the competitions rules as possible will be given, typically around the time of the previous years AGM.

There are currently fourteen competition winners announced at the end of the season (end of May / start of June):

• Open - Print
• Open - Digital
• Themed - Print
• Themed - Digital
• Mono - Print
• Mono - Digital
• Three on a Theme - Print
• Three on a Theme - Digital
• Mike Stokes Landscape - Print
• Mike Stokes Landscape - Digital
• Mike Stokes Landscape - Shield
• Terry Gardiner Memorial Trophy - Print
• Terry Gardiner Memorial Trophy - Digital
• Novice of the Year

The Open winners, print and digital, will be decided by taking the highest seven scores over all five Open competitions.

The Themed winners, print and digital, will be the members with the highest four scores in the two Themed competitions.

All trophies are held for one year and are to be returned to the club at the end of that period for engraving and passing to the next winner.

Results from previous season can be found by scrolling through the News page.