THE BEYOND GROUP 18TH ANNUAL EXHIBITION 2025
Thank you to everyone for your support in entering the exhibition, and congratulations to those that achieved acceptances and awards.
(From L to R) - Jane Barrett, Nick Alston, Rusty Lindsay & Foxy the dog
Jonathan Vaines, Chris Netton, Claire Milsom, Brian Goad, Sue Vaines, Marcia Mellor, Paul Smith, Peter Milsom
Barbie Lindsay, Wayne Davey (S), Gianpiero Ferrari (S), Aleks Gjika (S), Scott Coe
Our Judges for the 18th Beyond Group Exhibition 2025
Gianpiero Ferrari
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Wayne Davey AWPF DPAGB BPE5
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Alexs Gjika EFIAP DPAGB
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Beyond Group National Exhibition 2025
Selectors
Gianpiero Ferrari
Wayne Davey AWPF DPAGB BPE5
Alexs Gjika EFIAP DPAGB
Calendar
Entry Opens – 00.01 Saturday 31st May 2025
Closing date – 23.59 Sunday 3rd August 2025
Selection dates - 15th, 16th and 17th August 2025
Results sent out by 18th September 2025
Exhibition Date - 20th September
Selectors
Gianpiero Ferrari
Wayne Davey AWPF DPAGB BPE5
Alexs Gjika EFIAP DPAGB
Calendar
Entry Opens – 00.01 Saturday 31st May 2025
Closing date – 23.59 Sunday 3rd August 2025
Selection dates - 15th, 16th and 17th August 2025
Results sent out by 18th September 2025
Exhibition Date - 20th September
Judges Reports
Beyond Group National Exhibition 2025
Gianpiero Ferrari FRPS FBPE EFIAP DPAGB
The Beyond Group exhibition is a very important event on the BPE calendar and also for me personally. It was a great honour to be part of the selection team for their 18th National Exhibition. There were numerous entries, and the standard was very high. The newly introduced Visual Art print section was well supported with a substantial number of prints to select from. The weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, both seeing and judging some top photography especially the mono, nature and Scapes sections. Congratulations to everyone that has acceptances. Choosing the winners was not an easy task with so many top entries. Many congratulations if you have won a well-deserved award. All the events ran very smoothly under this well organised and very friendly group, a big thank you to everyone for their great hospitality and caring, making us feel part of the family. Grazie mille.
The Beyond Group exhibition is a very important event on the BPE calendar and also for me personally. It was a great honour to be part of the selection team for their 18th National Exhibition. There were numerous entries, and the standard was very high. The newly introduced Visual Art print section was well supported with a substantial number of prints to select from. The weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, both seeing and judging some top photography especially the mono, nature and Scapes sections. Congratulations to everyone that has acceptances. Choosing the winners was not an easy task with so many top entries. Many congratulations if you have won a well-deserved award. All the events ran very smoothly under this well organised and very friendly group, a big thank you to everyone for their great hospitality and caring, making us feel part of the family. Grazie mille.
Wayne Davey AWPF BPE4 DPAGB
I was honoured to be asked to select for the Beyond Group Exhibition 2025. It was a highly enjoyable three days although very challenging considering there was just over 5,100 images across the five sections, but throughout the three judging days we were expertly guided by the organising team on how the results were shaping up to meet the acceptance rates. It helped to be reminded that they were looking for a ‘balanced’ Exhibition. Sometimes when results come out this is not always understood by some who failed to get acceptances. The standard of photography was extremely high, in particular the Nature section had some very impressive images, many congratulations to all entrants who were successful with acceptances and awards. I think all three judges worked well together and in unison, there was much discussion amongst us in the choosing of the awards and I feel confident the right choices were made. My thanks to all at the Beyond Group for the wonderful hospitality shown to myself and fellow selectors, there is an incredible amount of work that goes on behind the scenes in running a successful exhibition and everyone concerned rose to the challenge magnificently.
I was honoured to be asked to select for the Beyond Group Exhibition 2025. It was a highly enjoyable three days although very challenging considering there was just over 5,100 images across the five sections, but throughout the three judging days we were expertly guided by the organising team on how the results were shaping up to meet the acceptance rates. It helped to be reminded that they were looking for a ‘balanced’ Exhibition. Sometimes when results come out this is not always understood by some who failed to get acceptances. The standard of photography was extremely high, in particular the Nature section had some very impressive images, many congratulations to all entrants who were successful with acceptances and awards. I think all three judges worked well together and in unison, there was much discussion amongst us in the choosing of the awards and I feel confident the right choices were made. My thanks to all at the Beyond Group for the wonderful hospitality shown to myself and fellow selectors, there is an incredible amount of work that goes on behind the scenes in running a successful exhibition and everyone concerned rose to the challenge magnificently.
Aleks Gjika EFIAP/b DPAGB BPE1
I was delighted to be invited to judge at the prestigious Beyond Group BPE Exhibition 2025 and I was right to be too. We saw some truly outstanding images in all sections making the job really difficult but also a joy. For me, one of the key aspects that led to some really great quality images to not be accepted, was lack of originality. With the technical standards rising fast, partly as a result of better equipment, originality is becoming more important than ever. Originality is a contentious word, but there are always images that present something a little bit different, a bit rarer, a bit more unique. I really enjoyed judging next to Gianpiero Ferrari and Wayne Davey. It was so easy to discuss and agree with them the merits of the images we decided to award. I believe we did a good job in picking the best out of a seriously large number of superb images. I would also like to thank the Beyond Group Members for their impeccable organisation, dedication and hard work turning this exhibition into a magnificent festival of photography.
I was delighted to be invited to judge at the prestigious Beyond Group BPE Exhibition 2025 and I was right to be too. We saw some truly outstanding images in all sections making the job really difficult but also a joy. For me, one of the key aspects that led to some really great quality images to not be accepted, was lack of originality. With the technical standards rising fast, partly as a result of better equipment, originality is becoming more important than ever. Originality is a contentious word, but there are always images that present something a little bit different, a bit rarer, a bit more unique. I really enjoyed judging next to Gianpiero Ferrari and Wayne Davey. It was so easy to discuss and agree with them the merits of the images we decided to award. I believe we did a good job in picking the best out of a seriously large number of superb images. I would also like to thank the Beyond Group Members for their impeccable organisation, dedication and hard work turning this exhibition into a magnificent festival of photography.
Exhibition Chairmans Report -
Johnathan Vaines
Jane Barrett - Exhibition Chairperson
ARPS AWPF ABPE DPAGB
As you view this year’s catalogue, I am sure you will agree we have a wide variety of fantastic images throughout the five categories. The new Visual Arts print section was well supported with over 160 entries and gives a voice to the authors who may not normally get a look in with their incredibly creative and ‘out of the box’ view of photography. Thank you to you all for submitting your work enabling us to present an exhibition of excellence, and congratulations to all who had images selected, it was nice to see some new names in the awards list. To run a BPE exhibition is by no means an easy task, especially as we are a small club, however I am always impressed with the way everyone rallies together with enthusiasm, commitment and efficiency to successfully host the event. I would like to thank each and every Beyond member for their hard work and dedication. We were of course assisted by our three wonderful judges who gave their time and knowledge ensuring the best images reached this printed record of the event. Many thanks to Gianpiero Ferrari FRPS FBPE EFIAP DPAGB, Wayne Davey AWPF BPE4 DPAGB and finally Aleks Gjika EFIAP/b DPAGB BPE1 whose software ‘Pixoroo’ we were using to organise and run the exhibition.
Exhibition Chairman
ARPS AWPF ABPE DPAGB
As you view this year’s catalogue, I am sure you will agree we have a wide variety of fantastic images throughout the five categories. The new Visual Arts print section was well supported with over 160 entries and gives a voice to the authors who may not normally get a look in with their incredibly creative and ‘out of the box’ view of photography. Thank you to you all for submitting your work enabling us to present an exhibition of excellence, and congratulations to all who had images selected, it was nice to see some new names in the awards list. To run a BPE exhibition is by no means an easy task, especially as we are a small club, however I am always impressed with the way everyone rallies together with enthusiasm, commitment and efficiency to successfully host the event. I would like to thank each and every Beyond member for their hard work and dedication. We were of course assisted by our three wonderful judges who gave their time and knowledge ensuring the best images reached this printed record of the event. Many thanks to Gianpiero Ferrari FRPS FBPE EFIAP DPAGB, Wayne Davey AWPF BPE4 DPAGB and finally Aleks Gjika EFIAP/b DPAGB BPE1 whose software ‘Pixoroo’ we were using to organise and run the exhibition.
Exhibition Chairman
Behind the Scenes of the 2025 Selection Weekend
Kath Aggiss ABPE Winner of the Beyond Group Hexagonal Award
Awarded to the most successful entrant in this year’s exhibition achieving 12 acceptances across all five sections.
“Born post war in the East End of London, I made my first grown-up trip abroad at the age of sixteen armed with a borrowed Kodak camera packed amongst my meagre belongings. It was then that both the travel and photography bugs bit. Move on sixty years and that bug still burns bright even if the body does protest somewhat at long haul flights. I am passionate about all things in the natural world which I hope is reflected in my photography and it’s where my true love lies. Where this passion comes from I do not know as there was precious little wildlife in post war London and the nearest I ever came to an actual animal was the milkman’s horse which he would let me pet! I have been privileged to travel to amazing places and seeing wildlife that I could only dream of as that scruffy kid from the East End of London. I’ve so enjoyed my BPE journey albeit sometimes extremely frustrating, and now, as I am slowly crawling towards my FBPE, the awards are painfully slow in coming. Now in my late seventies I am just hoping I live long enough to eventually get there”
Well done and congratulations Kath!
Awarded to the most successful entrant in this year’s exhibition achieving 12 acceptances across all five sections.
“Born post war in the East End of London, I made my first grown-up trip abroad at the age of sixteen armed with a borrowed Kodak camera packed amongst my meagre belongings. It was then that both the travel and photography bugs bit. Move on sixty years and that bug still burns bright even if the body does protest somewhat at long haul flights. I am passionate about all things in the natural world which I hope is reflected in my photography and it’s where my true love lies. Where this passion comes from I do not know as there was precious little wildlife in post war London and the nearest I ever came to an actual animal was the milkman’s horse which he would let me pet! I have been privileged to travel to amazing places and seeing wildlife that I could only dream of as that scruffy kid from the East End of London. I’ve so enjoyed my BPE journey albeit sometimes extremely frustrating, and now, as I am slowly crawling towards my FBPE, the awards are painfully slow in coming. Now in my late seventies I am just hoping I live long enough to eventually get there”
Well done and congratulations Kath!
Exhibition Rules 2025
1. The Beyond Group National Open Exhibition of Photography 2025 is open to all photographers resident in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man
2. Closing date for entries is 3rd August 2025. 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 have taken the images(s) by way of using a light capturing device (camera) and own the copyright. Images made either partly or completely by computer software (AI) and having no photographic content will not be accepted
5. There are four PDI sections - Open Colour, Open Monochrome, Scapes and Nature, and one print section, Visual Art
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 sharing of all accepted entries, which may be shown at other clubs using DVD, CD, USB memory stick, etc
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 are 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 than 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: see below for theme detail
7. 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, media sharing devices or on any website associated with the Exhibition
8. The decisions of the judges and organisers are final and no correspondence of any description will be entered into
9. Entry fees: £1.50 per image with minimum £10.00 entry
Print Entry
1. All prints must also have a digital entry. See Online Digital Entry above for details
2. Physical prints should be up to A3 in size and unmounted
3. Each print should have a label on the back that can be printed from the online entry system
4. Prints should be sent to: -
Beyond Group BPE 2025
49 Sandpiper Road
Ipswich
IP2 9HU
5. Prints will not be returned. They will be destroyed after the exhibition
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.
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’.
Visual Art (print entry only): Photography which communicates a creative vision. Photography created in line with the vision of the photographer as an artist, using the camera as a medium for creative expression.
The aim is to depict a sense of design, emotion, mood or meaning which encourages the viewer to look beyond the subject.
Images may be inspired by a particular art movement or style such as Surrealism, Abstract, Realism, Modernism, Impressionism, Minimalism etc.
Images may be produced either solely in camera or be subsequently creatively altered by the photographer but not with the use of any Generative AI.
Each image may be based on one or more original photographic images i.e. a composite or the use of textures etc.
There are no restrictions on the subject matter or techniques used. Strong evidence of a personal artistic style or interpretation is desirable.
We discourage the submission of stereotypical images produced at workshops, courses or tours. The selectors will be looking for originality.
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 (except for Visual Art prints) there are also Special Awards which are sponsored by Beyond Group Members:
Best Street Photography in Colour – Sponsored by Rusty Lindsay
Best Peoples of the World in Monochrome – Sponsored by Chrissie Westgate
Best Urban in Scapes – Sponsored by Wayne Davey
Best Authentic UK Wildlife in Nature – Sponsored by Paul Smith
Best Fungi – Sponsored by Brian Goad
There is also an award for the photographer with best result overall
2. Closing date for entries is 3rd August 2025. 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 have taken the images(s) by way of using a light capturing device (camera) and own the copyright. Images made either partly or completely by computer software (AI) and having no photographic content will not be accepted
5. There are four PDI sections - Open Colour, Open Monochrome, Scapes and Nature, and one print section, Visual Art
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 sharing of all accepted entries, which may be shown at other clubs using DVD, CD, USB memory stick, etc
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 are 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 than 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: see below for theme detail
7. 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, media sharing devices or on any website associated with the Exhibition
8. The decisions of the judges and organisers are final and no correspondence of any description will be entered into
9. Entry fees: £1.50 per image with minimum £10.00 entry
Print Entry
1. All prints must also have a digital entry. See Online Digital Entry above for details
2. Physical prints should be up to A3 in size and unmounted
3. Each print should have a label on the back that can be printed from the online entry system
4. Prints should be sent to: -
Beyond Group BPE 2025
49 Sandpiper Road
Ipswich
IP2 9HU
5. Prints will not be returned. They will be destroyed after the exhibition
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.
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’.
Visual Art (print entry only): Photography which communicates a creative vision. Photography created in line with the vision of the photographer as an artist, using the camera as a medium for creative expression.
The aim is to depict a sense of design, emotion, mood or meaning which encourages the viewer to look beyond the subject.
Images may be inspired by a particular art movement or style such as Surrealism, Abstract, Realism, Modernism, Impressionism, Minimalism etc.
Images may be produced either solely in camera or be subsequently creatively altered by the photographer but not with the use of any Generative AI.
Each image may be based on one or more original photographic images i.e. a composite or the use of textures etc.
There are no restrictions on the subject matter or techniques used. Strong evidence of a personal artistic style or interpretation is desirable.
We discourage the submission of stereotypical images produced at workshops, courses or tours. The selectors will be looking for originality.
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 (except for Visual Art prints) there are also Special Awards which are sponsored by Beyond Group Members:
Best Street Photography in Colour – Sponsored by Rusty Lindsay
Best Peoples of the World in Monochrome – Sponsored by Chrissie Westgate
Best Urban in Scapes – Sponsored by Wayne Davey
Best Authentic UK Wildlife in Nature – Sponsored by Paul Smith
Best Fungi – Sponsored by Brian Goad
There is also an award for the photographer with best result overall