2022 National Print Competition
The National Print Competition will be open from the 22nd of August 2022 through to the 11th of September.
The first round will be via our digital platform. The second round will be printed and judged at the Artistry House. In the second round, you will need to send in your 20”x16” prints that will be judged by 5 judges with scoring tablets, the highest scoring image in each category will be put forward to the third round, where the judges will find the “Image of the Year”.
The cost is £10 per image for BIPP members.
Before you enter your images, you will need to set up a member profile on the competition site (this is separate from your member’s area on the main website) Files should be submitted at least 4,000 px on the longest side (no borders, key-lines, watermarks or identifying information should be included).
All images need to have been taken after January the 1st 2019
Judging
The digital entries will be viewed and scored by five judges. If you achieve a score of 75 and above you will be invited to submit the printed images to the second round.
In the second round, a score of 80 to 84 will be awarded a bronze, a score of 85 to 90 is a silver and a score of 91 to 100 will achieve a gold award.
The highest-scoring image in each category will be the ‘Photographer of the Year’ in that category (minimum of 80 points to be awarded, category winner). After the second round, the category winners will be rescored to find the image and ‘Photographer of the Year 2022’. (Amended 26/11/22)
The judging will be carried out by five judges chosen by our Chair of Qualifications. All judges are of Fellowship accreditation. Judges are not eligible to enter.
Key Dates
- 22nd August digital platform opens
- 11th September digital platform closes
- 19th – 25th of September first round judging to take place
- 26th September second-round entries will be informed and invited to send images
- 24th October cut-off for prints to arrive at the Artistry House
- 1st & 2nd of November Print judging 2nd and 3rd round
- 24th November Awards Presentation
Return of prints.
If you wish for your prints to be returned, please send them in a print box with a prepaid courier sticker in the print box for them to be returned. If no return of postage and packaging is sent, images will be recycled.
Categories
We have reworked the categories this year to try and simplify the process. A full description of the categories can be seen below.
- Advertising and Commercial
- Architectural and Industrial
- Classical Wedding
- Digital Creation and Fine Art
- Domesticated Animals
- Documentary Wedding
- Environmental Portrait
- Fashion and Beauty
- Landscape
- Natural World
- Newborn
- Non Member
- Reportage/Photojournalism
- Scientific and Technical
- Sport
- Studio Portrait
- Student BIPP
We know the standard is going to be very high, we wish you the very best of luck, and we cannot wait to reveal the winners
2022 National Print Categories
If the Competition Chairman or a judge has any doubts as to the authorship of the constituent images, BIPP reserves the right to examine the original files used to create the final picture.
Judges decision is final and no discussion will be entered into.
Advertising and Commercial
This category is for commercial images used to sell, market, promote or advertise a product, brand, service, or person(s) and e-commerce.
Aerial, automotive, food, products, still life, self-promotion, music covers and corporate photography are all included in this category.
Composite, non-composite images and digitally manipulated images (Photoshop or similar) are allowed in this category. All image elements used to create the final picture should be taken by the photographer and not be stock images or fully digitally created images.
Images pertinent to advertising campaigns must not contain any text or graphic elements that were not part of the original exposure.
Commissioned images only
Architectural and Industrial
Architectural photography is often concerned with the accurate recording of structures. Architectural Images can also take a more stylised look, use unusual angles and even create ‘abstracts’ from the form of the building. It can also include buildings and structures such as bridges, telecommunication towers, windmills, staircases, and monuments.
Industrial Photography is focused on serving businesses within the industrial sector. This may include engineering companies, manufacturers, factories, high-tech start-ups etc.
Composite, non-composite images and digitally manipulated images (Photoshop or similar) are allowed in this category. All image elements used to create the final picture should be taken by the photographer and not be stock images or fully digitally created images
Commissioned & Non-commissioned images
Classical Wedding Day
Images must be taken on during the wedding celebration, either a single or multiple-day celebration. Reflecting the atmosphere of the event, the personality/personalities of the subject(s) as well as a personal style, illustrating the artistic and technical skill of the image-maker.
Entrants are permitted to carry out minor skin retouching, crop, rotate, brighten and darken the image locally, reduce noise, sharpen, adjust colour/black and white, use of grain and minor cleaning such as removing sensor dust and chromatic aberration and use of HDR for extended tonal range.
Composite images are allowed as long as the digital post-production is not significant. (e.g.allowing for head swaps in group shots)Photographic works where the image manipulation or post-production becomes a significant part of the final image must be entered into Digital Creation & Fine Art or Advertising/Commercial.
Commissioned Only
Digital Creation and Fine Art
Illustrations of an idea or concept. Creativity, originality and story-telling within the composites are important features of this category. They may be composites or multiple exposures. Photos prominently digitally post-processed are allowed.
Images must be presented as single-frame images. Use focus stacking and multi-exposures in the camera, which are taken simultaneously in the same place (as a continuous sequence, seconds or minutes apart) or use HDR for extended tonal range, 3D modelling/editing/CGI software should be entered into this category.
Commissioned & Non commissioned images
Domesticated Animals
Animals not in their natural habitat, tame animals, such as pets, farm animals or those kept in a zoo. Animal portraits can be taken in a studio or on location.
Composite images are allowed as long as the digital post-production is not a significant part of conveying the natural appearance of the animal(s). Photographic works where the image manipulation or post-production becomes a significant part of the final image must be entered into Digital Cration & Fine Art or Advertising/Commercial. Judges will consider the relevance of highly manipulated images.
The originally captured image (RAW or jpg) must be available if requested by the BIPP. Otherwise, the BIPP reserves the right to disqualify the submission.
Note: Animals photographed in their natural habitat must be submitted in the separate ‘Natural World’ category.
Commissioned & Non commissioned images
Documentary Wedding
The ability to capture unposed moments as they happen on a wedding day. These images must not be posed or staged and be actual moments. There has to be authenticity to the image.
Taken on the day of the wedding or during the celebration, including multiple-day ceremonies. But not taking the couple off to compose shots. Celebrating the magic of the day captured through the eyes of a photojournalist
Post-production must be kept to a minimum and not over-manipulated and be as the scene was at the time the image was taken. Entrants are permitted to carry out minor skin retouching, crop, rotate, brighten and darken the image locally, reduce noise, sharpen, adjust colour/black and white, use grain and minor cleaning such as removing sensor dust and chromatic aberration and use of HDR for extended tonal range.
Commissioned only
Environmental Portrait
This may include one or more people and must be taken outside of a studio environment. Images can be traditional or contemporary in nature.
Adults, youth, children, toddlers, families, self-portraits: artistic images specifically capturing the unique personalities and characteristics of a person or group of people as well as the personality, artistic and technical skills of the image-maker.
Post-production must be kept to a minimum and not over-manipulated and be as the scene was at the time the image was taken. Entrants are permitted to carry out minor skin retouching, crop, rotate, brighten and darken the image locally, reduce noise, sharpen, adjust colour/black and white, use grain and minor cleaning such as removing sensor dust and chromatic aberration and use of HDR for extended tonal range.
Commissioned Only
Fashion and Beauty
Fashion is about promoting a lifestyle and stimulating interest and/or purchasing appeal towards a product/business/fashion brand by the observer.
Images pertinent to advertising campaigns must not contain any text or graphic elements that were not part of the original exposure.
Composite, non-composite, and digitally manipulated images (Photoshop or similar) are allowed in this category. A large proportion of the images used to create the final picture should be taken by the photographer, not stock images or fully digitally created images. Images that have been largely created/generated via computer algorithms are NOT allowed and must be submitted in the Digitally Creation and Fine art category.
Commissioned & Non commissioned images
Landscape
Landscapes, natural as well as artificial landscapes, urban landscapes, cityscapes, sunsets, and astrophotography are allowed in this category.
Landscape photography is not a passive process it is the photographer’s control of natural light and composition and is above all, a creative process, an opportunity for the photographer to express themselves in the form of an individually crafted picture, utilising the creative elements of photography.
Images must be presented as single-frame images. It is also allowed to create panoramic images (photo stitching), use focus stacking, and multi-exposures in the camera, which are taken simultaneously in the same place (as a continuous sequence, seconds or minutes apart) or use HDR for extended tonal range.
Commissioned & Non Commissioned images
Natural World
This category is for photography displaying natural elements such as plants, flowers, trees and close-ups of natural scenes and textures. Macro are included in this category. Included in this category is the diversity of wildlife from all parts of the world.
Pictures of wildlife in a raw, natural habitat; underwater photography & macro photography.
NOTE: animals NOT in their natural habitat, such as pets or farm animals or those kept in a zoo, should be entered in the DOMESTICATED ANIMALS category.
The content of the image must not be altered. Entrants are permitted to crop, rotate, brighten and darken the image locally, reduce noise, sharpen, adjust colour/black and white, use grain and minor cleaning such as removing sensor dust and chromatic aberration. Images must be presented as possible single-frame images. Composite and multiple exposure images are unacceptable.
Commissioned & Non Commissioned images
Newborn
This is for baby/babies up to 8 weeks old (or up to 8 weeks corrected). Digital backgrounds can be included but must be photographed by the photographer and not downloaded. Parents/Carers are not allowed in the image unless used as a prop e.g. Arms, fingers, shoulders etc…
All aspects of the image should be the photographer’s own work.
For babies and children over this age, please enter into one of the other portrait categories.
Commissioned Only
Non Member
Open category for any image by a non-member
Commissioned & Non commissioned images
Reportage and Photojournalism
Images that illustrate an actual event, life, areas of human interest, public or private occasion or news that has high impact and/or a lasting emotional value, without the photographer’s interference. General news, contemporary issues, political, social, environmental, traditional and cultural events, wars and conflicts, feature stories, and photo essays.
NOTE: Wedding images: Images featuring people and activities relating to wedding or engagement ceremonies, celebrations or traditions must be entered in the separate Wedding category.
The content of the image must not be altered. Entrants are permitted to crop, rotate, brighten and darken the image locally, reduce noise, sharpen, adjust colour/black and white, use grain and minor cleanings such as removing sensor dust and chromatic aberration.
Commissioned & Non commissioned images
Scientific and Technical
This category is for images of a technical nature including CSI photography, Macro photography, and capturing details around us, that may otherwise go unseen.
Scientific illustration of the profession, bringing together the disciplines of clinical photography, and medical art, which can incorporate illustration and graphic design.
Note:
Please bear in mind, that patient confidentiality must be respected, and that images should be appropriate for display to the general public.
Commissioned Only
Sports
This category is for all sports-related photography, editorial or artistic, featuring any competitive or recreational sport.
Images that have been largely created/generated via computer algorithms are NOT allowed and must be submitted in the Digitally Creation and Fine art category.
Commissioned & Non commissioned images
Student
This is an open category for student members of the BIPP
Commissioned & Non commissioned images
Studio Portrait
This may include one or more people and must be taken in a studio environment. Images can be traditional or contemporary in nature.
Adults, youth, children, toddlers, families, self-portraits: artistic images specifically capturing the unique personalities and characteristics of a person or group of people as well as the personality, artistic and technical skills of the image-maker.
Post-production must be kept to a minimum and not over-manipulated and be as the scene was at the time the image was taken. Entrants are permitted to carry out minor skin retouching, crop, rotate, brighten and darken the image locally, reduce noise, sharpen, adjust colour/black and white, use grain and minor cleaning such as removing sensor dust and chromatic aberration and use of HDR for extended tonal range.
Commissioned Only
Copyright and Usage Rights
Copyright of the images remains with the photographer. By entering the competition both regionally and nationally, the photographer accepts and recognises that the BIPP can use the images submitted publicly for the use of publicity either printed in ‘The Photographer Magazine’, website or on other promotional material.
How to Enter
1) Check the requirements.
Specification of images:
- A minimum of 4,000 pixels on the longest side
- Format: maximum-quality JPEG, to be under 16 megabytes
- Embedded profile: sRGB, Adobe 98 or Greyscale
2) Register/Log in
You need to have an account on the awards site to enter.
log in here
register here
2) Begin your entry
To begin your entry process:
