SPF Annual Portfolios

The SPF Annual Portfolios is a club and individual competition open to Monochrome Prints, Colour Prints and Digital Images (PDIs). Entries are submitted annually. The event is judged in-camera, by three judges. After Judging, the highest scoring entries (Approx. 25% to 33% of total entry) form the Annual Portfolio of accepted Prints and Projected Images for the year.

Portfolio shows of the accepted entries are made up on disc for clubs to show on a clubnight, and a copy is placed in the SPF's archive. All clubs who book a copy, are sent a disc to keep, in the November following the judging - Participating clubs get this for free. There is a nominal charge for non-participating clubs. See below for details of how to book your Club's copy.

Additional individual awards are again being presented - Best Nature, Best Creative, Best Portrait and Best Landscape will join the Judge's Choices and Best Overall.

Entry is by Online Entry - All entries uploaded by Club Organiser, by author, then the Club Entry is chosen from those entries. Digital Images of all Prints submitted are also required to be uploaded to give the best possible quality in the Portfolio Shows, which are supplied to the Clubs for viewing during next season.

When making your online entry, please indicate if you wish to receive a free copy of the Portfolio Shows of acceptances for viewing as part of your next season’s Club syllabus; Tick the DVD option although it will be MP4 shows that will be sent out via wetransfer unless you email to request a DVD be sent. The shows will be supplied first week in Nov to the email address of your competition secretary or other as supplied. (only 1 copy per Club)

Maximum file size accepted for upload is now 1600x1200, 2mb filesize max (Quality 10) jpeg; 96ppi preferred. (Smaller sizes such as 1400x1050 will still be accepted) 

*2024 Details Now Available Below*

2024 Event Rules and How to Enter

Your members are invited to enter the 2024 SPF Annual Portfolio Competitions 

  • Online Closing Date 28th April 2024 - Print Closing Date 1st May 2024
  • Three Sections - Mono Print - Colour Print - Digital File

Please see Full Rules available below, and changes back to our normal Annual Portfolios format, with mounted prints being required for the print sections. Additionally you require to enter Digital copies for the two print sections entered which will be used only for making up the Portfolios shows, not for the Judging. All documentation is available for download below . 

Club Secretaries/Competition Secretaries are asked to collate their Club's entries and complete the website Online Entry for this Competition together. We ask for the person collating the entries to supply their contact details, and address in case of any queries during processing. 

There are again three competitions (sections) - Monochrome Print, Colour Print and Digital Image (PDI); You can enter as many sections as you wish. Max 4 entries per author per Section - Authors do not have to have 4 entries, they can enter only one if they wish. 

The Club requires to select it's Club entry from the member's entries that have been uploaded - A Club entry consists of 4 Mono Prints (max 2 per author); 4 Colour Prints (max 2 per author); 6 Digital Images (PDI) (max 2 per author)

The fee for this year is 70p per photo plus £2 per Club per section entered (i.e. if you enter 3 sections as a Club you pay the number of photos x 70p PLUS £6). Please send your Prints, Entry Form and Payment to Libby Smith to be received by 1st May 2024 - Please do not send to John McVie.

Eligibility of Entries - Please ensure that all entries submitted comply with the SPF document - ‘What Is Allowed or Not Allowed in SPF Competitions’ (click here)Please see the SPF Nature Definition (click here) for what is eligible for the Nature Award, and mark only images that comply with this definition on our websitePLEASE NOTE - Photos that only comply with the PAGB Definition 'Looks Like Nature' are not eligible for this Nature Award and should NOT be marked N when uploading your entry i.e. any photos with cloning etc., are not eligible for the Nature Award. Please also check the Monochrome Definition (click here). The others do not have a definition and will be defined by the Judges.

Eligibility of Entries - Please ensure that all entries submitted comply with the SPF document - ‘What Is Allowed or Not Allowed in SPF Competitions’

RULES 2024

  • Mounted Prints are required for all Print Sections in 2024
  • All entries must be submitted using Online Entry via this website
  • Three Sections - Mono Print - Colour Print - Digital File
  • Online Closing Date 28th April 2024 - Print Closing Date 1st May 2024
  • Only one person must collate and submit all entries from a club.
  • Maximum 4 Mono Prints, 4 Colour Prints, 4 Digital Files per author
  • 70p per photo plus £2 per Club per section entered (irrespective of whether there is a full club entry or not)
  • The Club requires to select it's Club entry from the member's entries that have been uploaded 
  • A Club entry consists of 4 Mono Prints (max 2 per author); 4 Colour Prints (max 2 per author); 6 Digital Images (PDI) (max 2 per author) 
  • Maximum file size accepted for upload is now 1600x1200, 2mb filesize max (Quality 10) jpeg; 96ppi preferred. (Smaller sizes such as 1400x 1050 will still be accepted) 
  • Prints must be mounted and must be no larger than 500mm x 400mm, and must show Club, Author and Title on the back. There is no minimum size.
  • Digital Images of all Print sections entered will also be required to be uploaded 
  • Entry Form, Entry Fee and Prints must be received by 1st May, by Libby Smith, either by post or hand delivery. If you wish to drop-off please contact me at least a few days in advance to ensure we will be in to receive your prints.
  • Return postage and packaging must be included for return of prints, unless you are willing to collect from the SPF Executive Member nearest to you after the event is complete (from the day after our SPF Sept Executive Meeting).
  • Eligibility of Entries - Please ensure that all entries submitted comply with the SPF document - ‘What Is Allowed or Not Allowed in SPF Competitions’ available from the downloads area below together with the Nature and Monochrome Definitions.

When making your online entry, please indicate if you wish to receive a free copy of the Portfolios shows available as either DVD or electronic file of the acceptances for viewing as part of your next season’s Club syllabus; All WeTransfers will be made first week in Nov to the email address of the competition secretary. If you require a DVD copy please complete your postal address and email us to confirm (only 1 copy per Club).

You can Log in and out as often as you like, saving your entry as you go (same as Print Championship) prior to 'submitting' your entry. No Filenaming required for any of the digital files - the website will do the filenaming for you, simply enter the title and author name, and the website will do the rest including numbering and adding the Club's code. Any problems with your Online Entry please contact Libby

Full Rules are available to download below. We have also supplied entry Collation Forms which Club Organisers can supply to their Club Members, to complete their print and image details on, and hand back to the Club Organisers with their entries. This will give the Club Organiser all the details required to complete their Club's entry Online. 

Who can Enter

The competition is open to all members of SPF Clubs, but all the entries from one Club must be collected, collated and submitted by one person from the Club, usually the competition secretary. There is however no minimum number of authors required from a club so if only two of you are interested in entering then that is fine – just arrange for one of you to act as the contact, and upload and organise delivery of both entries.

2023 SPF Annual Portfolios Results

The 2023 SPF Annual Portfolios went ahead in their pre-covid format of three sections - a Colour Print section, Mono Print section and a Projected Digital Section. The two Print sections were judges as prints, and not as digital copies. 

This year's Judges were Jack Bamford (NCPF), Robert Millin (LCPU) and John Williams (NCPF), who travelled to Scotland for the Judging on the 19th August. Thank you to our Judges for taking on this task.

A total of 1047 Prints and Projected Images were received from 27 Clubs; made up of 533 PDI, 297 Colour Print PDIs and 217 Mono Prints PDIs. The print entries were down this year, but there was still a very respectable number for our Judges to score. All sections were scored out of a maximum of 15, and minimum of 6. The Judges then selected their Individual Awards from the higher scoring photos in each section. 

After Judging, the highest scoring entries (Approx. 30% of total entry) forms the Annual Portfolio Shows of accepted Prints and Projected Images for the year which are available to view during the 2023-24 season as P2exe or MP4 shows supplied on DVD or via WeTransfer, from November. See details below about how your Club can book a copy, or check if you've already done so below.

The Acceptance Mark for being Accepted into the 2023 Portfolio shows was 13 in all sections. All Individual scores for the photographs entered this year are in the process of being emailed directly to the Club Competition Secretary who completed their Club's entry. Club Competition Secretaries can also log in to the Online system and see their Club's scores or email another copy after the upload process has been completed.

The scores of the photos selected by the Clubs to form their Club entries, for each of the sections, were then calculated to give the overall Club placings for this year. The following were the 2023 winning Clubs in each of the sections -

Best Colour Club - The Henry Coates Trophy - Dumfries Camera Club

Best Monochrome Club - The Salon Trophy - Carluke Camera Club

Best Digital (PDI) Club - The McLachlan Shield - Carluke CC, Dumfries CC, Kirkcaldy PS and Paisley Colour PC

You can download a list of all of the final Club Placings in all three sections together with a list of all of those photos Accepted into this year's Portfolio shows from the downloads area below.

Results of all of the Individual Awards are also given below. A Gallery of all of these Individual Award Winners is available to view in our Gallery section (click here)

Booking forms 'SPF Portfolio ‘Request to View’ Booking Form 2023' are available from the Portfolio Shows downloads area below. The DVD (or WeTransfer of MP4 file) is free to participating Clubs if requested before the 15th Oct, or for a small fee after that date. Non-participating Clubs can also obtain a copy for a small fee using the supplied Booking Form.

SPF Portfolio Shows 2024-25 on MP4 or DVD

*Please Note the 2024-25 season 'Request to View' forms will appear below after the 2024 Annual Portfolo Competition has been Judge. *Shows will then be available to book as MP4 files suitable for running on MAC or PC. P2exe files are also available. It will also be possible to get a DVD if you prefer.

Details of how to book a copy of the SPF Annual Portfolios Show DVD or by Electronic File (WeTransfer) are shown below *Relevant only for 2023-24 Season at this time*

All of the 2023-24 SPF Annual Portfolios Acceptances will be available for Clubs to view in two self-running shows, supplied on DVD OR BY ELECTRONIC FILE (WETRANSFER) from November. You do not have to have entered the Competition to obtain a copy see details below. 

If you wish to receive a copy of this year’s SPF Portfolios DVD, you must book a copy, either at the time of entry, or by completing and return the Booking Form available below. 

NB - These shows are only available to our member Clubs (one copy per Club) not to individuals.

Every club who completes the below form, or requested a copy at time of entry, will receive a copy of the DVD containing both the Print and Projected Portfolio Shows. We do not require a date from you for viewing. Participating clubs will have no viewing fee to pay provided they have booked a copy by the 15th Oct deadline, after that time a viewing fee of £10 will be payable.

Clubs who have not entered the 2023 Annual Portfolio Competitions will have a viewing fee of £10 to pay, irrespective of when the Booking Form is received.

Payment by Cheque only please made payable to ‘SPF’

The Portfolio Booking Secretary receiving these forms is George Taylor. His details are supplied on the Booking Form. You can contact him by email with any enquires here George but it is not possible to send Booking Forms by this method.

You can book a copy of many previous year's Portfolio Shows on DVD for your Club to fill an evening, from the SPF Recorded Lecture Secretary.

2022 SPF Annual Portfolios Results

We went ahead again this year with the SPF Annual Portfolios competitions as three digital sections i.e. the usual two Print sections were again Judged from the digital copies uploaded to the SPF website. We are conscious that a number of our SPF Clubs rely on the DVD shows for their syllabuses, and this three digital section approach enabled us to be able to make the varied Portfolio shows that Clubs rely on showing in the coming season.

A total of 1447 Prints and Projected Images were received from 30 Clubs; made up of 556 PDI, 475 Colour Print PDIs and 416 Mono Prints PDIs. Numbers were down slightly on last year but were the same as pre-covid levels, so a big thank you to all of the Clubs who entered.

This year's Judges were Richard Speirs (NCPF), Christine Widdall (LCPU) and Roger Parry (MCPF).

We again sent the PDIs to the Judges for scoring and the Awards selection was done by the Judges collectively remotely via Zoom from the shortlist of 74 highest scoring images. The results were announced at a Results and Awards Presentation Event on Sunday 25th Sept held on Zoom. To see all of the 74 top scoring shortlisted images and all of this year's Individual Awards (click here). 

You can also download a list of all of the final Club Placings in all three sections together with a list of all of the Individual Award Winners below, together with the list of those Accepted into this year's DVD shows.

To see all of the accepted images in the SPF Annual Portfolios 2022 - The highest scoring entries, approx. 30% of the total entry, together with all of the Individual Award Winners forming this year's SPF Annual Portfolios Shows for the season 2022-23 which will be available to view on DVD from November. Make sure your Club has booked it's copy.

Booking Forms available from the downloads area below. The DVD is free to participating Clubs if requested before the 15th Oct, or for a small fee after that date. Non-participating Clubs can also obtain a copy for a small fee using the Booking Form below.

A list of the photographs accepted into this year's Portfolios shows is available from the below downloads area.

2021 Results

Given the difficulties Clubs faced during the 2020-21 to run Print Competitions and the fact that we required to delay the closing of our SPF Print Championship, we required to review our SPF Annual Portfolios competitions in light of this.

We therefore went ahead with the SPF Annual Portfolios competitions as three digital sections i.e. the usual two Print sections were again Judged from the digital copies uploaded to the SPF website. We are conscious that a number of our SPF Clubs rely on the DVD shows for their syllabuses, and this three digital section approach enabled us to be able to make the varied Portfolio shows that Clubs rely on showing in the coming season.

Given the delay to the SPF Print Championship this year, with it only closing 30th April, this necessitated a delay to the opening of the SPF Annual Portfolios Competition to avoid unnecessary confusion, and spread the workload for Clubs and SPF alike. The SPF Website online entry opened for entries on 11th May and closed for entries on 15th July 2021.

A total of 1806 Prints and Projected Images were received from 33 Clubs; made up of 759 PDI, 575 Colour Print PDIs and 472 Mono Prints PDIs. Numbers were down slightly on last year’s incredible 600 image increase on the previous year but only by less than 200 across the sections, so a massive thank you to all of the Clubs who entered.

The Judges were Mike Sharples (MCPF), Barry Mead (WCPF) and Dave Butler (L&CPU)

We again sent the PDIs to the Judges for scoring and the Awards selection was done by the Judges collectively remotely via Zoom from the shortlist of 95 highest scoring images. The results were announced at a Results and Awards Presentation Event on Sunday 26th Sept held on Zoom. To see all of the 95 top scoring shortlisted images and all of this year's Individual Awards (click here)

You can also download a list of all of the final Club Placings in all three sections together with a list of all of the Individual Award Winners below, together with the list of those Accepted into this year's DVD shows.

To see all of the accepted images in the SPF Annual Portfolios 2021 - The highest scoring entries, approx. 30% of the total entry, together with all of the Individual Award Winners forming this year's SPF Annual Portfolios Shows for the season 2021-22 which will be available to view on DVD from November. Make sure your Club has booked it's copy.

Booking Forms available from the downloads area below. The DVD is free to participating Clubs if requested before the 15th Oct, or for a small fee after that date. Non-participating Clubs can also obtaina copy for a small fee using the Booking Form below.

2020 Results

On 5th March all Clubs received an email outlining all the details they required to compete in this year's competitions. But shortly after opening the event there was an upsurge in Coronavirus and a number of Clubs closed their season early. We therefore reviewed our SPF Annual Portfolios competitions in light of this.

It would have been easy perhaps to cancel the SPF Annual Portfolios, but a number of Clubs had already either completed their entry online, or had organised a significant part of their entry ready for online completion, from your emails. We therefore went ahead with the SPF Annual Portfolios competitions in a safer format for everyone. Instead of Clubs sending us their actual prints we arranged for the Projected Digital Images of the Prints (as uploaded to the SPF website) to be Judged instead of the actual Prints. 

A total of 2033 Prints and Projected Images were received from 33 Clubs; made up of 898 PDI, 661 Colour Print PDIs and 474 Mono Prints PDIs. Numbers were up by an incredible 600 on last year, so a massive thank you to all of the Clubs who entered.

The SPF Portfolio Competitions 2020 have now been Judged, by two Judges this year, Jane and Adrian Lines from Chorley, in the L&CPU. They were independently sent the images, which they each scored between 5 and 10. Their individual scores were then combined to give a maximum possible score of 20 and minimum score of 10.

The Judges were then asked to select their Individual Award winners from their highest combined scoring images.

The Judge's combined scores were also used to calculate the final Club placings who's results came as normal from the total combined scores of the Club's selections in each category.

After Judging, the highest scoring entries (Approx. 30% of total entry) forms the Annual Portfolios of accepted Print Projected Image Sections and Projected Digital Images for the year which will be available to view on DVD. Details are available below on how your Club can book a copy, or check if you've already done so.

All Individual scores for the photographs entered this year have now been emailed directly to the Club Competition Secretary who completed their Club's entry. We would ask that those Clubs who entered, who have not yet paid, refer to the results email and send cheque payment now as directed to Libby, thank you. Club Competition Secretaries can also log in to the Online system and see their Club's scores or payment amount etc. 

The following were the 2020 winning Clubs in each of the sections -

Best Colour Club - The Henry Coates Trophy - Carluke Camera Club and Eastwood Photographic Society

Best Monochrome Club - The Salon Trophy - Paisley Colour Photographic Club

Best Digital (PDI) Club - The McLachlan Shield - Ayr Photographic Society

Results of all of the Individual Awards is given below.

The Final Club Placings 2020 and details of the Individual Award Winners 2020, together with the lists of the 2020 Portfolio Acceptances can be downloaded below in PDF form.

A Gallery of all of these Individual Award Winners is available to view in our Gallery section (click here).

2019 Results

During March all Clubs received an email outlining all the details they required to compete in the year's competitions. Entries were submitted by the Clubs, by the closing date of 1st May. The SPF Portfolio Competitions 2019 have now been Judged.

The three Judges for 2019 were - Christine Widdall from L&CPU, Richard Speirs from NCPF and Dave Symonds from SPF. A total of 1432 Prints and Projected Images were received; made up of 668 PDI, 446 Colour Prints and 318 Mono Prints. Numbers were almost the same as last years, with less than a drop of 50 overall.

After Judging, the highest scoring entries (Approx. 30% of total entry) forms the Annual Portfolios of accepted Prints and Projected Images for the year which are available to view on DVD. See details above about how your Club can book a copy, or check if you've already done so.

All Individual scores for the photographs entered this year are in the process of being emailed directly to the Club Competition Secretary who completed their Club's entry. Club Competition Secretaries can also log in to the Online system and see their Club's scores or email another copy after the upload process has been completed.

The lists of the 2019 Portfolio Acceptances along with the Final Club Placings and details of the Individual Award Winners can be downloaded below in PDF form.

The following were the 2019 winning Clubs in each of the sections -

Best Colour Club - The Henry Coates Trophy - St Andrews Photographic Society

Best Monochrome Club - The Salon Trophy - Dumfries Camera Club

Best Digital (PDI) Club - The McLachlan Shield - Carluke Camera Club and Paisley Colour Photograhic Club

Results of all of the Individual Awards is given below. A Gallery of all of these Individual Award Winners is available to view in our Gallery section (click here).

2018 Results

During March all Clubs received an email outlining all the details they required to compete in the year's competitions. Entries were submitted by the Clubs, by the closing date of 1st May. The SPF Portfolio Competitions 2018 have now been Judged.

The three Judges for 2018 were - Keith Snell, David Stout and Tony Potter all from Northern Counties PF. A total of 1486 Prints and Projected Images were received; made up of 657 PDI, 492 Colour Prints and 337 Mono Prints. All sections were up on number of entries, with both print sections up significantly.

After Judging, the highest scoring entries (Approx. 30% of total entry) forms the Annual Portfolios of accepted Prints and Projected Images for the year which are available to view on DVD. See details above about how your Club can book a copy, or check if you've already done so.

All Individual scores for the photographs entered this year were emailed directly to the Club Competition Secretary who completed their Club's entry. 

The lists of the 2018 Portfolio Acceptances along with the Final Club Placings and details of the Individual Award Winners can be downloaded below in PDF form.

The following were the 2018 winning Clubs in each of the sections -

Best Monochrome Club - The Salon Trophy - Greenock Camera Club

Best Colour Club - The Henry Coates Trophy - Carluke Camera Club

Best Digital (PDI) Club - The McLachlan Shield - Mearns Camera Club

Results of all of the Individual Awards is given below. A Gallery of all of these Individual Award Winners is available to view in our Gallery section (click here).

More 2018 Winning Photos
2017 Winning Photos
2017 Results

During March all Clubs received an email outlining all the details they required to compete in the year's competitions. Entries were submitted by the Clubs, by the closing date of 1st May. 

The SPF Portfolio Competitions 2017 have now been Judged. The three Judges for 2017 were - Dianne Owen and Gordon Jenkins from Chorley (L&CPU) and Jack Bamford from Northern Counties PF. A total of 1308 Prints and Projected Images were received; Made up of 648 PDI, 381 Colour Prints and 279 Mono Prints.

After Judging, the highest scoring entries (Approx. 33% of total entry) forms the Annual Portfolios of accepted Prints and Projected Images for the year which are available to view on DVD from Nov 2017. See details above about how your Club can book a copy if you've not already done so.

The lists of the 2017 Portfolio Acceptances along with the Final Club Placings and details of the Individual Award Winners can be downloaded below.

All Individual scores for the photographs entered this year have now been emailed directly to the Club Competition Secretary who completed their Club's entry. Club Competition Secretaries can also log in to the Online system and see their Club's scores or email another copy.

Best Monochrome Club - The Salon Trophy - Dumfries Camera Club

Best Colour Club - The Henry Coates Trophy - Dumfries Camera Club

Best Digital (PDI) Club - The McLachlan Shield - Dumfries Camera Club

A Gallery of all of the Award Winning Individual Prints and Images are available to view in our Gallery section (click here).

Winning Photos 2016
2016 Results

The SPF Portfolio Competitions 2016 have now been Judged. The three Judges for 2016 were - Alan McCormick from Hexham, Alan Walker from Keswick and Pax Garabedian from Carlisle, all from Northern Counties PF.

During March all Clubs received an email outlining all the details they required to compete in the year's competitions. Entries were submitted by the Clubs, by the closing date of 1st May. There were several changes to the 2016 Portfolios, not least was the NEW website Online Entry system.

After Judging, the highest scoring entries (Approx. 25% to 33% of total entry) form the Annual Portfolio of accepted Prints and Projected Images for the year. The lists of the 2016 Portfolio Acceptances along with the Final Club Placings and details of the Individual Award Winners can be downloaded below.

All Individual scores for the photographs entered this year will be emailed directly to the Club Competition Secretary who completed their Club's entry shortly. Club Competition Secretaries will also be able to log in to the Online system very soon and see their Club's scores.

A Gallery of more of the Award Winning Individual Images will be available in our Gallery section soon (click here)

Best Monochrome Club - The Salon Trophy - Bon Accord Camera Club and Dumfries Camera Club

Best Colour Club - The Henry Coates Trophy - Carluke Camera Club and Dumfries Camera Club

Best Digital (PDI) Club - The McLauchlan Shield - Paisley Colour Photographic Club


Award Winners 2015
2015 Results

Best Monochrome Club - The Salon Trophy - Dumfries Camera Club

Best Colour Club - The Henry Coates Trophy - Dundee Photographic Society

Best Digital (PDI) Club - The McLachlan Shield - Carluke Camera Club and Eastwood Photographic Society

A Gallery of more of the Award Winning Individual Images is available in our Gallery section (click here) .

Delivery or Posting of Prints - Not an option for 2020

All prints for the competition have to be submitted to the drop-off points by the earlier date shown (where applicable), in order that we receive the prints by the competition closing date of 1st May.

Please phone (not email) the person to whom you intend to deliver your entry and arrange a suitable time for this well in advance of when you hope to deliver. The drop-off points are listed on the timetable sheet, as are delivery deadlines - please see this for full details. Please note this closing date is to allow entries to be passed on from outlying areas so please ensure your entry reaches your local drop off point in time.

If you miss the drop-off date then you will have to arrange with John McVie to get entries direct to him, if possible. All postal entries must be sent to John McVie, to arrive no later than 1st May. Entries can also be handed in to John by prior arrangement.