Being awarded photographic distinctions is a way of gaining recognition for achievement and encouraging improvement of photographic skills. It’s great to have something to aim for and to increase motivation and it certainly concentrates the mind!
There are lots of ways of achieving awards and distinctions in both amateur and professional photography. Professional photographers often join trade associations, where they can work their way up the distinctions ladder by submitting bodies of work at the various levels.
In the amateur world, there are a number of well recognised routes to distinction, from different awarding bodies. In some cases a panel of work is assessed either collectively or individually by a group of acknowledged experts in the field. In other organisations, acceptance of work into qualifying exhibitions and the aggregation of points over a period of time is the route.
Candidates for any distinction are advised to seek help in selecting their submission from someone who has already achieved at least that level of award and preferably higher. Entering work for national and international exhibitions is also a good way of assessing the potential of a particular piece of work.
This section gives basic information about photographic distinctions from various awarding bodies:-
See the pages:
PHOTOGRAPHIC ALLIANCE OF GREAT BRITAIN (PAGB)
BRITISH PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITIONS (BPE)