THE BEYOND GROUP 13TH ANNUAL EXHIBITION 2020
Due to the restrictions on social gatherings, the Beyond Group held holding their exhibition of accepted images online via Zoom.
The virtual Zoom presentation of awards was followed by an exhibition slideshow of all the accepted images.
Thank you to everyone for your support in entering the exhibition, and congratulations to those that achieved acceptances and awards.
We hope to see you again next year under more normal conditions.
Meet the Beyond Group Members and Guest Judges
The 2020 Exhibition Team.
Top left to right: Rusty Lindsay, Peter Benson, Rob Howarth
Centre: Ian Blake, Chrissie Westgate, Barbie Lyndsay
Bottom: Brian, Paul Smith, Marcia Mellor, Peter Norris
Top left to right: Rusty Lindsay, Peter Benson, Rob Howarth
Centre: Ian Blake, Chrissie Westgate, Barbie Lyndsay
Bottom: Brian, Paul Smith, Marcia Mellor, Peter Norris
Our Judges for the 13th Beyond Group Exhibition 2020
Christine Widddall, MPAGB, EFIAP, FBPE, APAGB, Hon LCPU
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Chris Netton DPAGB
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Ralph Duckett, MPAGB, EFIAP, BPE4, APAGB
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Judges Reports
CHRISTINE WIDDALL, MPAGB, EFIAP, FBPE, APAGB, Hon LCPU
"Selecting the Beyond Group Exhibition went off without a hitch and I must congratulate the organising team, who did a fantastic job throughout. It was strange and a little disappointing not to be able to have the usual socialising over meals and breaks..instead, each judge scurrying off to our own kitchens to put the kettle on and find our favourite snacks.
We judges viewed the images simultaneously on high-end monitors and our internet connections kept up extremely well. The Zoom process also coped well with the images and very few compression artefacts were noticeable. Marking was done by holding up paddles "Strictly Come Dancing style"...which was very quick, though after 5200+ images my wrists were feeling a little tired.
However, the great variety and quality of the images entered kept the attention throughout. The best images were absolutely stunning and we had plenty that scored 13 and above from which to choose our awards. For those entrants who were unsuccessful, in many cases it was the quality of the processing or lack of impact that kept them from reaching the acceptance level, though I am sure that another exhibition could be chosen from those images that nearly made it.
If remote judging needs to take place in the future, candidates should have no concerns. In the end it wasn't so different to judging in a hall. I can't wait to see the catalogue!"
Christine Widdall
"Selecting the Beyond Group Exhibition went off without a hitch and I must congratulate the organising team, who did a fantastic job throughout. It was strange and a little disappointing not to be able to have the usual socialising over meals and breaks..instead, each judge scurrying off to our own kitchens to put the kettle on and find our favourite snacks.
We judges viewed the images simultaneously on high-end monitors and our internet connections kept up extremely well. The Zoom process also coped well with the images and very few compression artefacts were noticeable. Marking was done by holding up paddles "Strictly Come Dancing style"...which was very quick, though after 5200+ images my wrists were feeling a little tired.
However, the great variety and quality of the images entered kept the attention throughout. The best images were absolutely stunning and we had plenty that scored 13 and above from which to choose our awards. For those entrants who were unsuccessful, in many cases it was the quality of the processing or lack of impact that kept them from reaching the acceptance level, though I am sure that another exhibition could be chosen from those images that nearly made it.
If remote judging needs to take place in the future, candidates should have no concerns. In the end it wasn't so different to judging in a hall. I can't wait to see the catalogue!"
Christine Widdall
CHRIS NETTON DPAGB
“I am grateful for the opportunity to judge the 13th Beyond Group Exhibition. Unlucky for some but overall and against the odds, an incredibly successful selection weekend.
My thanks go out to my fellow judges and the Beyond Group Exhibition Team in making the remote judging work. Without the automation of the software its success was down to keeping the process simple, a lot of patience and teamwork. For any other clubs thinking of putting on a remote selection weekend, best you allow a good 25% more time.
There continues to be a noticeable increase in studio portraiture, but some tended to lack meaning behind the image and so the title was ever more important.
Animals are also still a favourite in the open competition with a noticeable increase in equine images which made a welcome change to Dogs, Sheep and Kingfishers.
Overall, the technical standard of work remains high and there was many just one point below the acceptance mark. Key to the success of many accepted images was the ability to convey emotion or tell a story.
Congratulations to the award winners, some of whom are well known to many on the circuit but for very different work. It was a pleasant surprise.”
Chris Netton
“I am grateful for the opportunity to judge the 13th Beyond Group Exhibition. Unlucky for some but overall and against the odds, an incredibly successful selection weekend.
My thanks go out to my fellow judges and the Beyond Group Exhibition Team in making the remote judging work. Without the automation of the software its success was down to keeping the process simple, a lot of patience and teamwork. For any other clubs thinking of putting on a remote selection weekend, best you allow a good 25% more time.
There continues to be a noticeable increase in studio portraiture, but some tended to lack meaning behind the image and so the title was ever more important.
Animals are also still a favourite in the open competition with a noticeable increase in equine images which made a welcome change to Dogs, Sheep and Kingfishers.
Overall, the technical standard of work remains high and there was many just one point below the acceptance mark. Key to the success of many accepted images was the ability to convey emotion or tell a story.
Congratulations to the award winners, some of whom are well known to many on the circuit but for very different work. It was a pleasant surprise.”
Chris Netton
RALPH DUCKETT, MPAGB, EFIAP, BPE4, APAGB
"Many thanks to Barbie and Rusty and all the Beyond team for asking me to be one of the selectors this year. It’s a great honour when one is asked, being able to travel to different parts of the country, to see so many great images and to meet and form friendships with other fellow selectors and organising teams. So I have to say I was very disappointed when I learnt that because of Covid 19, we would be remotely judging this year’s exhibition.
Our two full-on days of judging went like clockwork with no major problems occurring, and with plenty of good banter thrown in, which made for a very relaxed atmosphere so our sincere praise and thanks to all the Beyond team.
I hope everybody enjoys our efforts and hope you think we selected a well-balanced exhibition, the standard of the award winners was superb. As with all exhibitions, the level and standard vary from the newer entrants to the very experienced ones, there were a few problems with some of the images being far too over-processed which distracts from what was a well-seen photo in the first place. In the nature section, the use of cutesy titles does detract from many good images. In the mono section, many images were poorly converted which meant they only consisted of grey tones. A correctly converted mono showing the full range from white to a true black will give your images more impact and make them stand out more.
When you look at the results and realise that the acceptance rate is around 16 % this means that great care is needed in the presentation of your entries to have any chance of success.
My thanks to my fellow selectors, I enjoyed our virtual weekend working together, but I do hope it will not be too long before we can all meet up in person again."
Ralph Duckett
"Many thanks to Barbie and Rusty and all the Beyond team for asking me to be one of the selectors this year. It’s a great honour when one is asked, being able to travel to different parts of the country, to see so many great images and to meet and form friendships with other fellow selectors and organising teams. So I have to say I was very disappointed when I learnt that because of Covid 19, we would be remotely judging this year’s exhibition.
Our two full-on days of judging went like clockwork with no major problems occurring, and with plenty of good banter thrown in, which made for a very relaxed atmosphere so our sincere praise and thanks to all the Beyond team.
I hope everybody enjoys our efforts and hope you think we selected a well-balanced exhibition, the standard of the award winners was superb. As with all exhibitions, the level and standard vary from the newer entrants to the very experienced ones, there were a few problems with some of the images being far too over-processed which distracts from what was a well-seen photo in the first place. In the nature section, the use of cutesy titles does detract from many good images. In the mono section, many images were poorly converted which meant they only consisted of grey tones. A correctly converted mono showing the full range from white to a true black will give your images more impact and make them stand out more.
When you look at the results and realise that the acceptance rate is around 16 % this means that great care is needed in the presentation of your entries to have any chance of success.
My thanks to my fellow selectors, I enjoyed our virtual weekend working together, but I do hope it will not be too long before we can all meet up in person again."
Ralph Duckett
Exhibition Chairmans Report -
MARCIA MELLOR, ABPE, DPAGB
I would like to thank and congratulate the Beyond Group Team for running the 13th Open National Exhibition of Photography in a year which has proved to be an unprecedented one due to the widespread pandemic. Thanks are also due to the judges who worked tirelessly on the selection process.
Luckily, early on we came to realise that we would not be able to meet up and run the selection weekend in the normal manner. After some discussion it was agreed that the best way forward would be to utilise technology and carry out the selection process remotely using Zoom.
Paul Smith was at the helm running the Exhibition software from his home, with team members assisting by reading the image titles and totalling up the scores. As the judges would be in different locations, Rob Howarth came up with the innovative idea of creating “Strictly“ style scoring paddles and sending them to the judges, which proved to work very well. It really was a team effort.
For this year a new award has been introduced, the “Chairpersons Award”, for one image in each of the four categories. As the Chairperson I decided to award images that were selected for the exhibition but were not short listed for consideration of other awards.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported us this year by entering a record amount of images, thus enabling us to present an Exhibition of a very high standard.
Marcia Mellor,
Beyond Group Exhibition Chairman
Luckily, early on we came to realise that we would not be able to meet up and run the selection weekend in the normal manner. After some discussion it was agreed that the best way forward would be to utilise technology and carry out the selection process remotely using Zoom.
Paul Smith was at the helm running the Exhibition software from his home, with team members assisting by reading the image titles and totalling up the scores. As the judges would be in different locations, Rob Howarth came up with the innovative idea of creating “Strictly“ style scoring paddles and sending them to the judges, which proved to work very well. It really was a team effort.
For this year a new award has been introduced, the “Chairpersons Award”, for one image in each of the four categories. As the Chairperson I decided to award images that were selected for the exhibition but were not short listed for consideration of other awards.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported us this year by entering a record amount of images, thus enabling us to present an Exhibition of a very high standard.
Marcia Mellor,
Beyond Group Exhibition Chairman
Exhibition Rules 2020
Conditions of Entry
1. The Beyond Group National Open Exhibition of Photography 2020 is open to all photographers resident in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man
2. Closing date for entries is 26th July 2020
3. Entries accepted in previous Beyond Group Exhibitions, or similar images, are not eligible for re-submission in any section
4. The image and all elements within must be the sole work of the author, who must own the copyright. Images made completely by computer software and having no photographic content will not be accepted
5. There are four digital sections - General Colour, General Monochrome, Scapes and Nature
6. You may enter a maximum of 4 images in each section
7. Gold Medals will be chosen from the top scoring images
8. Copyright of the image remains with the author and he/she must accept that his/her work could be downloaded from the site. The organisers will do their best to protect the copyright of the image when viewed on the website by making them as small as possible
9. Whilst copyright remains with the authors, the Beyond Group reserves the right to use any entry, without fee, for publication and/or display in any media related to the Exhibition. This includes the DVD of all accepted entries, which may be shown at other clubs
10. Entrants details will be kept on file for future mailing of exhibition
11. Entry for this Exhibition is on-line only
Online Digital Entry
1. Images must be submitted in JPEG file format only
2. There is no naming criteria for online entry
3. Images will be projected at 1600 pixels x 1200 pixels. Images projected in Portrait mode must be no more that 1200 pixels high
4. Images will be projected on a black background and in sRGB colour space
5. Images not entered exactly as above will not be presented to the judges correctly
6. Images eligible for the special themes must be indicated by selecting the tick box when entering: Best Time in colour, Best Portrait in mono, Best UK Nature in nature and Best Solitude in scapes
7. Entries will not be accepted after 26th July 2020
8. All entries are accepted in good faith. The entrant agrees to indemnify the Judges, Exhibition, Organisers and other related parties against any litigation that may arise if entered images do not have the necessary permissions, licenses and/or contracts to be used and/or published in exhibition-related documents, DVD or on any website associated with the Exhibition
9. The decisions of the judges and organisers are final and no correspondence of any description will be entered into
10. Entry fees: £1.50 per image with minimum £6.00 entry
FIAP/PSA/RPS Common Nature Definition (2015): Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict all branches of natural history, except anthropology and archaeology, in such a fashion that a well-informed person will be able to identify the subject material and certify its honest presentation. The story telling value of a photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality while maintaining high technical quality. Human elements shall not be present, except where those human elements are integral parts of the nature story such as nature subjects, like barn owls or storks, adapted to an environment modified by humans, or where those human elements are in situations depicting natural forces, like hurricanes or tidal waves. Scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals are permissible. Photographs of human created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domestic animals, or mounted specimens are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement.
No techniques that add, relocate, replace, or remove pictorial elements except by cropping are permitted. Techniques that enhance the presentation of the photograph without changing the nature story or the pictorial content, or without altering the content
of the original scene, are permitted including HDR, focus stacking and dodging/burning. Techniques that remove elements added by the camera, such as dust spots, digital noise, and film scratches, are allowed. Stitched images are not permitted. All allowed adjustments must appear natural.
Monochrome Definition: A black and white image is one with tones from very dark grey (Black) to very clear grey (white). A black and white image toned entirely in a single colour will be able to stand in the black and white category and can be reproduced in black & white in the catalogue. On the other hand a black and white image modified by partial toning or by the addition of one colour to a part of the image becomes a colour image and should be entered in the colour category. This type of image will be reproduced in the colour pages of the catalogue.
Colour images can be converted to greyscale monochrome. Infrared images, either direct-captures or derivations, are allowed.
Scapes: This is a broad interpretation of landscape; any image depicting our physical environment - land, sea, urban, rural, city are all acceptable.
People and animals may be included in the scene as long as they are ancillary to and or supportive of the main subject.
Entries to this class can be from a 'single image': this means the image should be from a single exposure, or from multiple exposures taken at the same time and merged to work round camera limitations. Specifically, HDR, focus stacking, and stitched panorama techniques are allowed, and entries to this class can be ‘creative images’.
Awards
Each section will be awarded the following:
· Gold medal
· Selector’s medal (3 selectors)
· Chairperson’s award
· Highly Commended ribbons
· Commended ribbons
· Best Beyond Group member
No image can win more than one award
Beyond Group Members are not eligible for any Awards except the Best Beyond Group Member
Within each section there are also Special Awards which are sponsored by Beyond Group Members:
· Best ‘Time’ in Colour – Sponsored by Barbie Lindsay
· Best Portrait in Monochrome – Sponsored by Robert Howarth
· Best ‘Authentic UK Wildlife’ in Nature – Sponsored by Paul Smith
· Best ‘Solitude’ in Scapes – Sponsored by Chrissie Westgate
There is also an award for the photographer with best result overall
1. The Beyond Group National Open Exhibition of Photography 2020 is open to all photographers resident in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man
2. Closing date for entries is 26th July 2020
3. Entries accepted in previous Beyond Group Exhibitions, or similar images, are not eligible for re-submission in any section
4. The image and all elements within must be the sole work of the author, who must own the copyright. Images made completely by computer software and having no photographic content will not be accepted
5. There are four digital sections - General Colour, General Monochrome, Scapes and Nature
6. You may enter a maximum of 4 images in each section
7. Gold Medals will be chosen from the top scoring images
8. Copyright of the image remains with the author and he/she must accept that his/her work could be downloaded from the site. The organisers will do their best to protect the copyright of the image when viewed on the website by making them as small as possible
9. Whilst copyright remains with the authors, the Beyond Group reserves the right to use any entry, without fee, for publication and/or display in any media related to the Exhibition. This includes the DVD of all accepted entries, which may be shown at other clubs
10. Entrants details will be kept on file for future mailing of exhibition
11. Entry for this Exhibition is on-line only
Online Digital Entry
1. Images must be submitted in JPEG file format only
2. There is no naming criteria for online entry
3. Images will be projected at 1600 pixels x 1200 pixels. Images projected in Portrait mode must be no more that 1200 pixels high
4. Images will be projected on a black background and in sRGB colour space
5. Images not entered exactly as above will not be presented to the judges correctly
6. Images eligible for the special themes must be indicated by selecting the tick box when entering: Best Time in colour, Best Portrait in mono, Best UK Nature in nature and Best Solitude in scapes
7. Entries will not be accepted after 26th July 2020
8. All entries are accepted in good faith. The entrant agrees to indemnify the Judges, Exhibition, Organisers and other related parties against any litigation that may arise if entered images do not have the necessary permissions, licenses and/or contracts to be used and/or published in exhibition-related documents, DVD or on any website associated with the Exhibition
9. The decisions of the judges and organisers are final and no correspondence of any description will be entered into
10. Entry fees: £1.50 per image with minimum £6.00 entry
FIAP/PSA/RPS Common Nature Definition (2015): Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict all branches of natural history, except anthropology and archaeology, in such a fashion that a well-informed person will be able to identify the subject material and certify its honest presentation. The story telling value of a photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality while maintaining high technical quality. Human elements shall not be present, except where those human elements are integral parts of the nature story such as nature subjects, like barn owls or storks, adapted to an environment modified by humans, or where those human elements are in situations depicting natural forces, like hurricanes or tidal waves. Scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals are permissible. Photographs of human created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domestic animals, or mounted specimens are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement.
No techniques that add, relocate, replace, or remove pictorial elements except by cropping are permitted. Techniques that enhance the presentation of the photograph without changing the nature story or the pictorial content, or without altering the content
of the original scene, are permitted including HDR, focus stacking and dodging/burning. Techniques that remove elements added by the camera, such as dust spots, digital noise, and film scratches, are allowed. Stitched images are not permitted. All allowed adjustments must appear natural.
Monochrome Definition: A black and white image is one with tones from very dark grey (Black) to very clear grey (white). A black and white image toned entirely in a single colour will be able to stand in the black and white category and can be reproduced in black & white in the catalogue. On the other hand a black and white image modified by partial toning or by the addition of one colour to a part of the image becomes a colour image and should be entered in the colour category. This type of image will be reproduced in the colour pages of the catalogue.
Colour images can be converted to greyscale monochrome. Infrared images, either direct-captures or derivations, are allowed.
Scapes: This is a broad interpretation of landscape; any image depicting our physical environment - land, sea, urban, rural, city are all acceptable.
People and animals may be included in the scene as long as they are ancillary to and or supportive of the main subject.
Entries to this class can be from a 'single image': this means the image should be from a single exposure, or from multiple exposures taken at the same time and merged to work round camera limitations. Specifically, HDR, focus stacking, and stitched panorama techniques are allowed, and entries to this class can be ‘creative images’.
Awards
Each section will be awarded the following:
· Gold medal
· Selector’s medal (3 selectors)
· Chairperson’s award
· Highly Commended ribbons
· Commended ribbons
· Best Beyond Group member
No image can win more than one award
Beyond Group Members are not eligible for any Awards except the Best Beyond Group Member
Within each section there are also Special Awards which are sponsored by Beyond Group Members:
· Best ‘Time’ in Colour – Sponsored by Barbie Lindsay
· Best Portrait in Monochrome – Sponsored by Robert Howarth
· Best ‘Authentic UK Wildlife’ in Nature – Sponsored by Paul Smith
· Best ‘Solitude’ in Scapes – Sponsored by Chrissie Westgate
There is also an award for the photographer with best result overall