Minor competition rule changes
These proposals are minor, and therefore do not need a formal vote. However, the Committee's intention is for these to be discussed at the AGM to gauge members' views. This may lead to revision of the proposals.
1. Rosalind Bramley expiry period
Proposal
This proposes a change to the existing rules for the Rosalind Bramley competition.
Change "... the images should have been taken in the last 12 months" to "... the images should have been taken in the last 24 months".
Reasoning
People need a certain amount of time between taking an image and submitting a high-quality specialised mounted print. Any image taken within this amount of time of a Rosalind Bramley competition will therefore be too late for the coming competition, but will be too old for the next competition. This change allows at least a year to produce a suitable mounted print from an image.
(Other periods have also been discussed).
2. Rename "Beginner / Intermediate Class"
This should be renamed "Intermediate Class".
(The high standard of work in this class in recent years makes "Beginner" an anomaly. Hardly anyone joining a photographic society is likely to be a true beginner. Technical issues are less of an obstacle, while artistic talent and opportunity may be available to relative newcomers).
Other names have been discussed, such as "newcomer", but a simple concise alternative hasn't yet been agreed.
3. Guidelines for board sizes of prints
It is desirable for members to adopt a maximum board size of 50 cm x 40 cm. (This is the PAGB and L&CPU maximum). This is a little smaller than the current maximum of 20 inches x 16 inches. The proposal is not (yet) to change the rules, but to add a note, (a guideline that isn't actually a rule and so isn't binding), into the published rules.
Last time we changed mount sizes there was lots of discussion and some disagreement at the AGM. The club itself doesn't need people to use 50 x 40, because our boxes hold 20 x 16. It is primarily individual members who benefit, although it also makes it easier for the selection committee to use those prints. (If members adopt the guideline, it will become easier in future to change the rules if we still want to).
The website already mentions this at the "Competitions" page.