Being a member of the club allows you to enter any of several competitions (both individual or inter-club) run by the umberella organisations we are affiliated to.  Usually these competitions are divided into sections for digitally projected images (DPIs) and prints.  Often there are further sub-categories, generally colour, monochrome and nature / natural history.

We are sometimes notified of other competitions that are open to members.

Below is a detailed summary of all the major competitions and exhibiitions available to members interested in taking their photography further.  There are strict rules governing entries and submissions, and for both club and individual competitions, our entries are handled by our external competitions secretary Bill Senior.  Please speak to Bill at the club if you want to find out more.

Please note that Darwen Camera Club have put together this information in good faith but accept no responsibility for any inaccuracies detailed below.

 

Lancashire & Cheshire Photographic Alliance (L&CPU)

The Lancashire & Cheshire Photographic Union (L&CPU)(*) is the umbrella organisation for all photographic clubs in the old counties of Lancashire & Cheshire, and members of the club can automatically enter their competitions.  The L&CPU organise several competitions throughout the year for individuals and for clubs to enter.  Again, for club competitions we enter images from as many of our members as wish to, though not all clubs take a similar view.

 

L&CPU Club Annual Print & Projected Image competition

This competition is generally held over a weekend in early spring and the results are announced shortly afterwards.  There are awards and trophies for the winning clubs in each section, and a separate award for the overall winner in each format.

  • When: For 2021, the competition took place on 20th and 27th March virtually via Zoom.
  • Format: Digitally Projected Images must be in jpeg format, sized at 1600 x 1200 pixels and in sRGB colourspace.  Prints must be mounted on card sized at 500mm x 400mm, no thicker than 4mm
  • Sections: Colour, Mono and Nature* for both DPIs and prints
  • Club Entry:  The club entry consists of eight images, from at least 5 different photographers, with no more than 2 from any one worker.  The club score is the sum of scores for all eight images.  For the overall competition, a club must have entered each section in that format.

* Nature competitions have stricter rules on image manipulation

 

L&CPU Club PDI Knock-Out

This competition usually takes place each November.  It is judged on the night with every image from each club projected, and these are gradually eliminated in each round until a winner is produced.

  • When: The last competition took place on 10 October 2021.
  • Format: Digitally Projected Images in jpeg format, sized at 1600 x 1200 pixels and in sRGB colourspace.
  • Club Entry: To be confirmed

 

L&CPU Individual Competition

Entries for these competitions are usually sought in the spring and the results are announced shortly afterwards.  There are awards and trophies for the winning photographers in each section, and a separate award for the overall winner in each format.

  • When: The last competition took place on 13 November 2021.
  • Format: Digitally Projected Images must be in jpeg format, sized at 1600 x 1200 pixels and in sRGB colourspace.  Prints must be mounted on card sized at 500mm x 400mm, no thicker than 4mm.
  • Sections: Colour, Mono and Nature* for both DPIs and prints
  • Number of entries: Individuals can enter a maximum of 4 images in each category and section.  This allows a maximum of 24 images (12 DPIs and 12 prints) per photographer.

* Nature competitions have stricter rules on image manipulation

L&CPU Novice Cup (now renamed the Bob Robinson Trophy)

This is a fairly new competition for club entries, but only from individuals who currently do not have any photographic qualifications or accreditations (i.e. CPAGB etc).  It is designed to promote competitions and distinctions to club members who might not normally get involved in the Union’s annual competitions.

  • When: The last competition took place on 10 October 2021 and was won by Bebington PB.
  • Format: Unmounted A4 prints.
  • Sections: Colour, Open Monochrome
  • Entries: Six images, which must be from 6 different photographers, all of whom must have no photographic qualifications / accreditations.

 

Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB) Competitions

The PAGB organise a PDI competition for clubs, and we normally enter the Small Clubs section.  Further details of this year's competition will appear here once available.

 

 

Inter-Clubs Photographic Alliance (ICPA)
The Inter Club Photographic Allliance (ICPA) is a group of 17 local clubs.  The ICPA currently organise two competitions we can enter, both at club rather than individual level.  For these, Darwen Camera Club has an aspiration to enter images from as many members as wish to enter.  Not all clubs take the same view, which means we disadvantage ourselves by doing this.  However, we think it is important that anyone wanting to enter should be given the opportunity, which fits with our broader aims as a club.

ICPA Club Knock-Out competition

This competition takes place usually on a Saturday evening in spring or summer.  It is judged on the night with every image from each club projected, and these are gradually eliminated in each round until a winner is produced.

  • When: For 2021, the competition took place in March.
  • Format: Digitally Projected Images in jpeg format, sized at 1600 x 1200 pixels and in sRGB colourspace.
  • Club Entry:  The club entry consists of eleven images, with no more than 3 from any one worker.  Ten make up the entry for the club, with the final image used in the event of a tie on the night.  Images must not have been used in previous ICPA Knock-Outs.

ICPA Annual Club Competition

This competition is held later in the year and images are usually scored out of 20.  There are separate categories for prints and digitally projected images (DPIs) in both colour and mono sections. The best four scoring images in each section make up the total for the club.  Both prints and DPIs are circulated around all entering clubs for viewing on set dates throughout the winter.

  • When: Entries are normally sought in summer, and the competition takes place later in summer or autumn.  For 2021, entries closed in June.
  • Format: Digitally Projected Images must be in jpeg format, sized at 1600 x 1200 pixels and in sRGB colourspace.  Prints must be mounted on card sized at 500mm x 400mm.
  • Sections: Colour and Mono for both DPIs and prints.  
  • Club Entry:  The club entry consists of ten images, with no more than 3 from any one worker in each section.  The top four scoring images from four different workers for each section contribute towards the club's score.  Images must not have been used in previous ICPA Club Competition.

 

Other competitions

There are other competitions organised by specific clubs within the L&CPU federation.  Two prominent ones are the Leyland Invitation Competition (for individuals, up to 3 prints) and the Oldham Camera Club Annual Monochrome Print Competition (7 images, from at least 3 different workers, with no more than 3 images from any one worker).