SUMMER PROGRAMME REVIEW / INTRODUCTION OF BUDDY SCHEME

A review of all the summer events with awards for the Best Summer Images.

An introduction to the new Buddy Scheme.  Those who wish to will be paired with a “Buddy” to work on a photographic project together for presentation to the club at a later meeting (3rd February 2026).   The project will involve composing an image, and processing it for presentation.  The subject matter is “Just Two”.     We will try to make sure that inexperienced photographers are paired with someone with more experience.

If you would like to be a part of the Buddy scheme, you can sign up before the first meeting by contacting Nicky – programme@stives-photoclub.org.uk

ANNUAL PRINT COMPETITION AND MONOCHROME COMPETITION – JUDGE NAOMI SAUL

DPI and Prints.
Images should be entered in 4 out of 6 categories of the entrant’s choice.

The 2025-2026 season categories are:

Creative – defined as Altered Reality. There must be a change to an original image, although the main content should still be identifiable. Artwork or computer graphics generated by the entrant may be included as part of the image. The image cannot have been constructed by computer.

Landscape – Images of inland, coastal or maritime scenes.

Natural History – Images conforming to the PAGB definition of Nature, which is as follows:
▪ May depict landscape, geologic formations, weather phenomena, and extant
organisms as the main subject matter.
▪ This includes subjects in controlled conditions, such as zoos, game farms, botanical
gardens, aquariums or enclosures.
▪ Scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals are permissible.
▪ 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.
▪ Photographs of anthropology or archaeology, 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.

Architecture – An Architectural image must have the primary emphasis on either the interior or exterior of a building or architectural structure.

Macro – A macro image must portray either a small subject (such as an insect) or a small part of a larger object (such as a leaf on a tree) in great detail. The subject is not limited to the natural world.

Street – Informal, candid portraits of people and incidents in public places.

Monochrome Competition

Any monochrome image entered in either class of the monthly competitions or in either class of the annual competitions, scoring 9 or over, shall also be eligible for the monochrome trophy.

ANNUAL DPI COMPETITION – JUDGE NAOMI SAUL

DPI and Prints.
Images should be entered in 4 out of 6 categories of the entrant’s choice.

The 2025-2026 season categories are:

Creative – defined as Altered Reality. There must be a change to an original image, although the main content should still be identifiable. Artwork or computer graphics generated by the entrant may be included as part of the image. The image cannot have been constructed by computer.

Landscape – Images of inland, coastal or maritime scenes.

Natural History – Images conforming to the PAGB definition of Nature, which is as follows:
▪ May depict landscape, geologic formations, weather phenomena, and extant
organisms as the main subject matter.
▪ This includes subjects in controlled conditions, such as zoos, game farms, botanical
gardens, aquariums or enclosures.
▪ Scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals are permissible.
▪ 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.
▪ Photographs of anthropology or archaeology, 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.

Architecture – An Architectural image must have the primary emphasis on either the interior or exterior of a building or architectural structure.

Macro – A macro image must portray either a small subject (such as an insect) or a small part of a larger object (such as a leaf on a tree) in great detail. The subject is not limited to the natural world.

Street – Informal, candid portraits of people and incidents in public places.

Month 6 Competition – Judge – Jonathan Vaines

The last of our 6 Open- Themed Competitions.  Entries close one week before the competition.  We have two sections – a Print section and a Digital section.  All entries to be submitted using PhotoEntry.

M.E. Myself and Eye – Jonathan Vaines

We were incredibly lucky that Jonathan was able to fit St Ives into his very busy schedule to deliver this talk.

A member of the London Salon of Photography, Jonathan is a multiple exposure (M.E.) specialist. Most of his work involves in-camera techniques along with final image adjustments in Photoshop. Based in Bedford, he works as a photographic educator for many organisations including the RPS. He is known for teaching Photoshop from the basics to advanced techniques. He works with individuals and professional photographers at all levels as well as assisting them to discover and develop their creativity. He also leads residential workshops throughout Europe in conjunction with Travelling Lens Photo Tours. He is a Permajet Envoy, affiliated to Q-Image, Jessops, Cartridge Monkey, WEX Photo and Video and DxO Labs, teaching the NIK collection on their behalf. He is an A panel National Judge and a member of Beyond Group