Themes - Description & Scope
2025-26 Competition Set Themes with Descriptions and Scope
To see the full Competition rules and entry information .......click here
This is a list of the competition PDI and PRINT set themes for the September 2025 to May 2026 competition year.
For each of the monthly competitions (with the exception of the Monochrome and Open PRINT competitions, see below), members may enter one image in the set Theme for that competition and a maximum of two images in the OPEN section ie. three images in total.
The set Theme descriptions and scope are detailed below. The interpretation of how well a picture fits the set subject, and how to include this interpretation in the marking, must be left to the discretion of the judge for the evening. The judge will be told that the description and scope is the guidance (where applicable) that has been given to all members. It may go without saying, but just for the record, an OPEN competition may have any image subject entered. There are absolutely no restrictions on subject matter as long as it is in good taste.
16th September Competition 1 - British Seaside (PDI)
Judge: Sue Wilson DPAGB BPE3
Theme Description/Scope
This theme can cover a deserted beach to people packed like sardines as well as aspects of a seaside resort such as amusement arcades, ice cream vans, lidos, piers or natural coves. The sea can feature or not, as long as the image is within Britain and identifiable as being next to the sea.
21st October Competition 2 - Open (PRINT)
Judge: David Kissman CPAGB BPE3 AFIAP
Theme Description/Scope
Anything goes; 3 images of any sort you wish, as long as they haven’t been entered into a previous monthly competition.
18th November Competition 3 - Woods, Forests, Trees (PDI)
Judge: Roy Maddison
Theme Description/Scope
Your photos can show a woodland or forested landscape, a copse or any group of trees or even a single tree, just as long as you depict the splendour, beauty and/or presence of this natural phenomenon.
9th December Competition 4 - Landscape (PRINT)
Judge: Phil Newman ARPS AFIAP BPE4
Theme Description/Scope
Landscapes can be natural or man-made, and may feature elements like mountains, hills, coasts, bodies of water, or even urban areas. Classic landscapes are often but not exclusively taken in the golden hour of sunrise or sunset.
6th January - Annual PDI - OPEN competition
Judge: Derek Doar DPAGB
Theme Description/Scope
As this is an OPEN competition images may be a mixture of both colour and monochrome, there is no restriction on subject matter. Members may enter a maximum of three images. Images may be either new or have been entered into a previous monthly competition.
20th January Competition 5 - Urban Decay (PDI)
Judge: Steve Walters BPE3 EFIAP
Theme Description/Scope
There can be beauty in decay. Photos must capture decay and erosion in an urban setting. Show how time and the elements have transformed man-made structures or objects where, for example, people have often added art or graffiti.
17th February Competition 6 - Monochrome (PRINT)
Judge: David Gibbins APAGB EFIAP/b BPE5
Theme Description/Scope
3 entries need to be a grayscale image ranging from black to white of any subject. Your photo may be toned entirely in a single colour e.g. sepia. However, no partial toning or additional colour is permitted.
17th March Competition 7 - Macro (PDI)
Judge: Vin Scothern DPAGB EFIAP BPE5 PPSA
Theme Description/Scope
Macro lets us observe and marvel at a new, miniature universe of details and textures, one that's almost entirely invisible to the naked eye. It can be of absolutely anything, in colour, black and white, still life, flowers or insects. The choice is yours!
14th April Competition 8 - Nature (PRINT)
Judge: Steve Myall EFIAP/b BPE5
Theme Description/Scope
Images entered as Nature can have landscape, geologic formations, weather phenomena, and living organisms as the primary subject matter. This includes images taken with the subjects in controlled conditions, such as zoos, game farms, botanical gardens, aquariums and any enclosure where the subjects are totally dependent on man for food.
19th May - Annual PRINT - OPEN competition
Judge: David Gibbins APAGB EFIAP/b BPE5 (provisional)
Theme Description/Scope
As this is an OPEN competition images may be a mixture of both colour and monochrome, there is no restriction on subject matter. Members may enter a maximum of three images. Images may be either new or have been entered into a previous monthly competition.
To see the full Competition rules and entry information .......click here
This is a list of the competition PDI and PRINT set themes for the September 2025 to May 2026 competition year.
For each of the monthly competitions (with the exception of the Monochrome and Open PRINT competitions, see below), members may enter one image in the set Theme for that competition and a maximum of two images in the OPEN section ie. three images in total.
The set Theme descriptions and scope are detailed below. The interpretation of how well a picture fits the set subject, and how to include this interpretation in the marking, must be left to the discretion of the judge for the evening. The judge will be told that the description and scope is the guidance (where applicable) that has been given to all members. It may go without saying, but just for the record, an OPEN competition may have any image subject entered. There are absolutely no restrictions on subject matter as long as it is in good taste.
16th September Competition 1 - British Seaside (PDI)
Judge: Sue Wilson DPAGB BPE3
Theme Description/Scope
This theme can cover a deserted beach to people packed like sardines as well as aspects of a seaside resort such as amusement arcades, ice cream vans, lidos, piers or natural coves. The sea can feature or not, as long as the image is within Britain and identifiable as being next to the sea.
21st October Competition 2 - Open (PRINT)
Judge: David Kissman CPAGB BPE3 AFIAP
Theme Description/Scope
Anything goes; 3 images of any sort you wish, as long as they haven’t been entered into a previous monthly competition.
18th November Competition 3 - Woods, Forests, Trees (PDI)
Judge: Roy Maddison
Theme Description/Scope
Your photos can show a woodland or forested landscape, a copse or any group of trees or even a single tree, just as long as you depict the splendour, beauty and/or presence of this natural phenomenon.
9th December Competition 4 - Landscape (PRINT)
Judge: Phil Newman ARPS AFIAP BPE4
Theme Description/Scope
Landscapes can be natural or man-made, and may feature elements like mountains, hills, coasts, bodies of water, or even urban areas. Classic landscapes are often but not exclusively taken in the golden hour of sunrise or sunset.
6th January - Annual PDI - OPEN competition
Judge: Derek Doar DPAGB
Theme Description/Scope
As this is an OPEN competition images may be a mixture of both colour and monochrome, there is no restriction on subject matter. Members may enter a maximum of three images. Images may be either new or have been entered into a previous monthly competition.
20th January Competition 5 - Urban Decay (PDI)
Judge: Steve Walters BPE3 EFIAP
Theme Description/Scope
There can be beauty in decay. Photos must capture decay and erosion in an urban setting. Show how time and the elements have transformed man-made structures or objects where, for example, people have often added art or graffiti.
17th February Competition 6 - Monochrome (PRINT)
Judge: David Gibbins APAGB EFIAP/b BPE5
Theme Description/Scope
3 entries need to be a grayscale image ranging from black to white of any subject. Your photo may be toned entirely in a single colour e.g. sepia. However, no partial toning or additional colour is permitted.
17th March Competition 7 - Macro (PDI)
Judge: Vin Scothern DPAGB EFIAP BPE5 PPSA
Theme Description/Scope
Macro lets us observe and marvel at a new, miniature universe of details and textures, one that's almost entirely invisible to the naked eye. It can be of absolutely anything, in colour, black and white, still life, flowers or insects. The choice is yours!
14th April Competition 8 - Nature (PRINT)
Judge: Steve Myall EFIAP/b BPE5
Theme Description/Scope
Images entered as Nature can have landscape, geologic formations, weather phenomena, and living organisms as the primary subject matter. This includes images taken with the subjects in controlled conditions, such as zoos, game farms, botanical gardens, aquariums and any enclosure where the subjects are totally dependent on man for food.
19th May - Annual PRINT - OPEN competition
Judge: David Gibbins APAGB EFIAP/b BPE5 (provisional)
Theme Description/Scope
As this is an OPEN competition images may be a mixture of both colour and monochrome, there is no restriction on subject matter. Members may enter a maximum of three images. Images may be either new or have been entered into a previous monthly competition.
