subscribe 0330 333 1113I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.ukI 29 February 2020 17
1 Stayfocused.Decideonyouraimsand
objectives,andremember to keep them in
mindwhenshooting.
2 Don’trush.Don’tforcea submissionby
rushingtomeeta deadline.Bepatientand
applyonlywhenyou are 100% happy with
yourimages.
3 Keepit fresh.Trawlingthroughyour
archiveandselecting images for a panel is
unlikelytowork.
4 Seekadvice.GotoanRPSAdvisoryDayso
panelmemberscanseeyourprints. If this isn’t
possible,usetheadviceonline.
5 Believein yourself.If youdon’t,whyshould
anyoneelse?Whenyouhaveanideathat
reallygrabsyou,translatethatinto images and
the passion will be obvious.
thesubject.‘Blown-outhighlightswould
beunacceptablein,say,a naturalhistory
panel,’Peterwarns,‘butacceptableina
contemporarypanelif it wasdeliberate
andfittedthecontextofthework.’
WhilethefirstlevelofDistinction,
Licentiate,doesn’trequiretheimagesto
followa theme,theassessorsstillwantto
seea coherentsetofprints.‘It’spossibleto
havetenimagesshowingdifferentsubjects
butthewaytheyarepresentedneedstobe
thoughtthrough,’saysPeter.‘Any
distractions,suchasdifferent-coloured
mountsoranunevencolourpalette,can
taketheviewer’sattentionawayfromthe
content.’ If you’re applying for an Associate
(ARPS)orFellowship(FRPS)Distinction,
thenthewayyourworkis orderedand
presentedis evenmoreimportant.‘The
orderhelpsustoreadthework,’stresses
Peter.‘Achaoticorderthatinterruptsthe
narrativeis likelytoconfusethemessage
you’retryingtoconvey.Aboveall,the
assessorsarelookingforcohesion,nota
collectionofrandomimages.’Butit takes
morethantechnicalcompetenceand
thoughtfulpresentationtoearnyour
stripes.‘Communicationis vital,’says
Peter.‘Askyourselfif theworkconveysone
mainintentandaim.Doesit drawan
emotionalresponsefromtheviewer?Is
therea storywithineachimagethat’s
relevanttotheoverallmessage?’
Priortosubmittinga panel,many
photographersattenda Distinctions
AdvisoryDay,wheretheycanreceive
feedbackontheirwork.Justsittinginthe
audiencegivesyoua goodideaofthe
pitfalls.‘We’relookingforconsistency,’
saysPeter.‘Ifyouhaveoneimagethat’s
headandshouldersabovetherestthe
assessorsmightaskwhytheyaren’tall
likethat.Weedoutanythingthatdoesn’t
meetthecriteriaoraddtothenarrative.
If indoubt,seekadvice,butdon’tbe
swayedbypeoplewho don’t know the
RPS guidelines.’
Manyrejectionsarecausedbytechnical
faultssuchasover-sharpening,butoftenit’s
a lackofcommitmentthatdisappointsthe
assessors.‘Wesometimeshearassessorssay
thata bodyofworkis a greatidea,butthey
wantmore.Thismeansthephotographerhas
notachievedtheirfullpotential,eventhough
the subject matter might be powerful.’
Peter’s top tips
Plant Medicine, David Maitland, Finalist, Portfolio, International Photographer of the Year Competition 12
Seeinghowotherphotographersprepareand
present their panels is a great way to learn
© STEWART WALL
