These will be held as four separate rounds throughout the year. There will be 2 Open Rounds and 2 Themed Rounds for both the print and the PDI competitions. The subjects and dates for 2026 are:
2026 Print & PDI Competitions - Dates & Themes
| Round | Date | Critique by | PDI | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 5th | Maria Leekblade LRPS | Open | Weather | ||||
| 2 | May 7th | Gordon Brown ARPS | Night-time | Open | ||||
| 3 | July 2nd | Caroline Preece LRPS | Open | Macro/Close up | ||||
| 4 | November 5th | Pietro Rocchiccioli BA Photo | Still Life | Open |
Subject Definition:
Open: The subject content is unrestricted and may include creative images.
Weather: Capture the drama of shifting weather, from serene skies to fierce storms. Focus on meteorological patterns and artistic composition, using wind for motion blur or rain for moody imagery to enhance your photography.
Night-time: Capturing images taken outdoors between dusk and dawn, during which natural light is minimal.
It requires adjusting camera settings like aperture, shutter speed and ISO to compensate for low light. Used to photograph cityscapes, landscapes, and the night sky, often utilising artificial light sources and long exposure times.
Macro/Close-up: Macro photography is where a small subject appears life-size or larger in the final image, typically captured using a dedicated macro lens. The technique is used to reveal intricate details of subjects like insects, flowers, food or products such as watches or jewellery, often with a minimum magnification ratio of 1:1 (life-size).
Close-up photography is a tightly cropped image which reveals significant detail of the subject, making it appear larger than normal, often filling the frame. It can be achieved by moving the camera closer or using a longer lens for tight framing without being in close proximity. The purpose is to highlight details and evoke an emotional connection with the viewer by emphasising the subject’s textures, features, or expressions.
Still Life: A genre that depicts inanimate objects such as fruit, flowers or man-made items such as tools, arranged to create an artistic or commercial composition. Unlike genres with moving subjects, still-life photography gives the photographer complete control over the subject matter, lighting and the arrangement of key elements, allowing for precise control over details like form, texture and colour.