competition abbreviations

Life beyond Dumfries Camera Club

Dumfries produces some of the best work in Britain and you will often hear reports of external success. This article tries to make sense of the alphabet jungle of photo organisations beyond our club. Scroll down for more information than you probably need. (Click on "External Competitions" for more specific details)

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SPF (Scottish Photographic Federation)
Most Scottish clubs, including ours, are affiliated to the SPF and currently we have three members on the SPF Executive, including four past Presidents: Eustace Senior, Rod Wheelans, John McVie and Gordon Rae The SPF recognises service to Scottish clubs by election to its Roll of Honour and organises the following competitions;

SPF Print Championship
This is an annual inter-club event and Scottish Print Champions is probably our most sought after title! The top two clubs represent Scotland in the UK Print Championship run by the PAGB in North Wales.

SPF PDI Championship
Another annual inter-club event which we have won a couple of times. The top two clubs represent Scotland in the UK PDI Championship run by the PAGB in Warwick.

SPF Annual Portfolios - Prints and PDI
Awards are made to the best club and to individuals and about half the photos are chosen to form an exhibition which we have as an AV show on CD in the following year.

Scottish Salon
This has been the largest exhibition of its kind in Britain and the third oldest in the world. Exhibitions like the Salon are usually entered as individuals but we often organise entries from club members at a cheaper rate. The Salon has not run in the last few years but will return in 2012.

(We often forward Prints directly from the Salon to the Edinburgh International Exhibition which runs during the Festival and which is the oldest photo exhibition in the world).

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NCPF (Northern Counties Photographic Federation)
Although we are obviously a Scottish Club we are also active in the Western Area of the NCPF, in particularThe  Western Area Battle, a slide and print competition with the clubs in Cumbria.

Distinctions for Service
Elected to the SPF Roll of Honour

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PAGB (Photographic Alliance of Great Britain)

The PAGB co-ordinate national activities and competitions for its 15 Member Federation which includes the Scottish Photographic Federation.  Two members from Dumfries C.C. have had the honour of serving as President of the PAGB; Eustace Senior 1967-1969 and Rod Wheelans 2005-2007.  Rod is now a Life Vice President of the PAGB.  Dumfries C.C. is affiliated through the SPF to the PAGB comprising 15 Federations covering the whole of the UK. They organise the following events; 

Inter-Federation Annual Print & PDI Exhibitions
The Scottish entry is chosen from our own Portfolio competitions. 

Inter-Club Print Championship
We have been heavily involved with this event since its inception and we are one of onlya very few clubs  to have won it, which we have done three times. 

Inter-Club Club Slide Championship
Our best has been a third place.

The Masters of Print

possibly the most prestigious exhibition of amateur photography in the UK.  We have always had more than one acceptance which is a claim that few Clubs can make.

Photographic Distinctions
CPAGB - Credit - Photographic Alliance of Great Britain
DPAGB - Distinction - Photographic Alliance of Great Britain
MPAGB - Master - Photographic Alliance of Great Britain

Distinctions for Service

APAGB - Sig The GB Trophy (Prints)nifies meritorious service over many years

HonPAGB - Signifies a holder of the J S Lancaster Medal, the PAGB's top award for service.

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RPS (Royal Photographic Society) & PSA (Photographic Society of America)
The PSA and the RPS are international organisations, open to individual membership, who also foster exhibitions and offer photographic distinctions.

Photographic Distinctions
LRPS - Licentiate - Royal Photographic Society
ARPS - Associate - Royal Photographic Society
FRPS - Fellow - Royal Photographic Society

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FIAP (Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique)
The SPF is affiliated to FIAP who make awards for consistent success in International Exhibitions like the Scottish Salon. 

Photographic Distinctions
AFIAP - Artiste - Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique
EFIAP - Excellence - Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique
MFIAP - Master - Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique

Distinctions for Service
Hon EFIAP - Signifies meritorious service over many years
ESFIAP - FIAP's top award for service.

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Celtic Challenge
We were instrumental with Ireland in the creation of the Celtic Challenge, an annual print & slide competition between the Celtic 'nations'. The SPF select our entry and take a turn with the other nations to host the event.  The Celtic Challenge hasn't run since Covid and may be beyond recovery now.