Critique Evenings

At Taunton Photography Group we hold regular Internal Critique Evenings when everyone is invited to submit their images for peer assessment, as well as External Critique Evenings when we invite external professional and experienced Judges to offer their opinions. The feedback is always constructive and encourages learning and progression, with the photos awarded bronze, silver, gold, and occasionally platinum, indicating, in the Judge’s opinion, the standard achieved.

Our Critique Evenings are a highly effective way to improve your image taking… whether or not you agree with all the comments you receive!

Each month, the awarded images are showcased in our Critiques Gallery.

This season’s External Critique Evenings:

Please note: the deadline for entries into the External Critique Evenings is always the first evening of each module.

Entries to be sent by email to entries@tauntonphotographygroup.co.uk – see below for entry criteria.

Entry criteria for all External Critique Evenings

Each of the modules in our programme now includes an External Critique and members can, if they wish, enter images for review in line with the theme of the module or into the Open category, when any subject is acceptable. Unless advised otherwise, members can submit a maximum of four (or three*) images in total per critique (either all in one category 4,0 0,4 or split 2,2, 3,1, 1,3). Number your images 1 to 4 so that should there be too many images entered, image 4 from every entrant will be removed. Include your membership number and the titles of your images in your email.

*Sometimes the total number of entries may be limited to three (usually for print entries), and you will be advised by the competition secretary of the requirement by email before the entry date.

Critique evenings are sometimes for prints only, but the majority of review evenings are for digital entries. Your digital entry should be resized to a maximum of 1600 pixels wide by 1200 pixels tall and be at a minimum of 72dpi at that size in sRGB colour space. If that is gobbledegook to you, do not despair, there is plenty of help around… just ask, we would rather have your image than have it excluded on a technicality. Very importantly – keep your original image safe and resize only a copy of your original file.

Similarly, a print entered for review should be mounted in a cardboard mount measuring 500mm x 400mm, either landscape or portrait. Again help is at hand if you are unsure, just ask. Alongside of the print, a digital image, resized to the specs above for digital entries, is required to project to the rest of the club members whilst your print is being reviewed.

The closing date for entries into the External Critique Evenings is shown on the programme and is usually the first week of the following module to allow the Critiques Secretary to compile the entries and give the Judge time to assess the images before coming to the club with their verdict.

Entries to be sent by email to entries@tauntonphotographygroup.co.uk

Regarding our internal reviews, there is no limit to how much post production you can do, provided every element of your final image has been taken by you. As you will most probably understand, using generative AI is not permitted. Photographs of paintings, illustrations or pieces of art by other people are not accepted. Again, ask if unsure.

Entries can only be accepted from fully paid-up members and they must be the original work of the entrant. Once a photo has been reviewed and given an award, it cannot be entered for further review.

By entering images for review, members grant to the club the right to publish their photographs in the club programme, display them on the club website or social media accounts, and to enter them into external competitions in the name of the club. The copyright to the images remains with the photographer.

Triptych Entry Information

Last year we ran a Triptych competition based on criteria used in our previous Panel Competitions. This year we have simplified the requirements – no written statement, and no individual images. Now it’s just one picture showing your 3 images side-by-side in an arrangement of your choice.

New Rules for the Triptychs
Digital Only – An entry must comprise three distinct images of any size or shape either wholly separated or only partially overlapping and have a common theme to form a cohesive final image.

A background, if included, should complement the presentation of the three images but must not become a significant fourth image.

The final image should be in competition size of 1600 x 1200 pixels. No longer than 1600 pixels in landscape form and no longer than 1200 pixels in portrait form. If square maximum 1200 x 1200 pixels. Any side must not exceed the competition size and must be saved as jpg and sRGB colour mode.

The image must have a title.

You may submit up to 4 images (any changes to be notified)

The image could be abstract, pictorial, nature, anything goes as long as all images are the photographer’s own work.  They can also be colour or monochrome.

Please note that this year, one image cut into three will not be acceptable.

Hints
The best kind of images for a triptych are those that work as strong stand-alone images. When put together with their two counterparts, they become even stronger, making a great visual piece.

You can assemble your triptych from three separate images that have a similar style or colour theme, creating something striking and slightly more abstract than your typical design.

Be Creative – What you can present as a triptych is limited only by your imagination but the challenge will also test your editing skills too. There are loads of examples on the internet to encourage your creative juices to flow