In Pursuit of Perfection: The Yorkshire Photographic Union Competition

In Pursuit of Perfection closed on 27 June 2021. For details of our current exhibitions, take a look at our what’s on page.

With hundreds of photographs on display, the Yorkshire Photographic Union’s Annual Exhibition celebrates the artistic ability and technical skill of photographers belonging to clubs across Yorkshire.

What makes the perfect photograph? For the members of the Yorkshire Photographic Union, a federation of 67 photography clubs from across Yorkshire, it could mean many things. For some, it’s an image awarded top marks in the Union’s Annual Exhibition; for others, a photograph that achieves personal ambitions.

The 2020 Competition

Every year, members of the Yorkshire Photographic Union are encouraged to enter their photographs into competition. Not only is it a chance to have their skill and hard work recognised, it’s also an opportunity for members to see and learn from each other’s work, to get new ideas and tips on how to take an even better photo.

People walking in tunnel lit with multicoloured lights — ‘The Underpass’, Mike Blackman, Pontefract Camera Club

Bee eater (bird) sat on a branch, catching a bee in its beak — ‘Bee Eater Eating a Bee’, John Boyd, Pontefract Camera Club

Grid of 25 small portraits of boys with teddy bears — ‘Boys in a Box’, Judith Macbeth LRPS CPAGB AFIAP, Pontefract Camera Club

Modern bridge over a wide body of water — ‘Tranquillity’, Les Forrester BA Hons AFIAP DPAGB BPE3*, Ripon City Photographic Society

Man holding cup of tea — ‘Tea Break’, Raymond Brammall ARPS DPAGB APAGB EFIAP, Doncaster Camera Club

Two black grouse facing each other in snow — ‘Black Grouse Face Off’, Shelley Knight, Doncaster Camera Club

Painted wall on the exterior of a modernist building — ‘Congress Theatre’, Michael Carver BPE2* CPAGB AFIAP, New Image Camera Club

Bare trees in desert landscape — ‘Deadvlei Trees’, Richard Hall LRPS CPAGB BPE2*, Sheffield Photographic Society

Woman cleaning a group of small pigs with a bucket and brush — ‘Disinfecting Pigs’, Judith Macbeth LRPS CPAGB AFIAP, Pontefract Camera Club

Latticed ceiling and windows of York Minster, seen from below — ‘Looking Up in York Minster’, Robert Helliwell, Selby Camera Club

White woman in red dress standing en pointe — ‘En-pointe on Reflection’, Gill Batson, Dearne Valley Camera Club

Spiral staircase seen from above — ‘Andaz Void’, Miles Hand, Pontefract Camera Club

Platforms of London underground station with stationary trains — ‘Hainault Underground Station’, Miles Hand, Pontefract Camera Club

Woman wearing gold necklace, earrings and headpiece — ‘Woman in Gold’, John Rutherford CPAGB, Westfield Photographic Club

Empty train station — ‘Lines and Lights’, Miles Hand, Pontefract Camera Club

Boy wearing hat and holding walking stick — ‘Shy Boy’, Kerry Bedford, New Image Camera Club

Interior of Turkish baths — ‘Victorian Turkish Baths, Manchester’, Claire Marshall CPAGB BPE1*, Pudsey Camera Club

Illustration of woman on horse with headdress and weapons — ‘The Morrigan’, Andrea Hargreaves MPAGB EFIAP/b BPE3*, Pontefract Camera Club

Dog running away with toilet paper — ‘Oh Noooo’, Lorraine Spittle, Harrogate Photogrpahic Society

How does the competition work?

The competition is broken down into 11 categories, each with their own specific rules of entry. On judging day, photographs are awarded between 6 and 15 marks by three experienced judges. Awards are given—including a trophy for the best overall photographer—and a selection of the highest-scored images are chosen for the Annual Exhibition.

Being encouraged to present my own pictures for appraisal by judges has improved my photography enormously. It’s like playing bridge or chess with experts, it challenged me beyond my wildest expectations and their expertise rubbed off.

Monty Trent, Leeds Photographic Society

Objects from our collection

In the Union’s 122-year history, photographic equipment has changed dramatically. Huge, heavy wooden cameras have been replaced by by digital technology and automatic settings—yet photographers are still experimenting with the same ideas, from manipulating colour to creating surreal photo montages.

Hand coloured ferrotype portrait of woman wearing gold jewellery and holding book — Hand coloured ferrotype portrait, unknown photographer, about 1880
Science Museum Group Collection

Large wooden camera with folding (bellows) back — Folding plate field camera, R. & J. Beck, about 1889
Science Museum Group Collection

Bellows box camera with wood and brass front — 1910 ‘Universal’ portable plate camera, Gandolfi Bros., about 1900
Science Museum Group Collection

Quta ferrotype camera, 1900–10
Science Museum Group Collection

No 1 Brownie camera with original packaging — No. 1 Brownie Camera, Model B, Kodak, 1904
Science Museum Group Collection

Camera in shape of silver pocket watch — Ticka Watch Camera, Houghtons Ltd., about 1906
Science Museum Group Collection

Girl looking at small paper fairy — ‘Fairy Offering Flowers to Elsie’, Frances Griffiths, August 1920
Science Museum Group Collection

Photo collage of man's face with smaller figures in front — ‘Meha Bcex’, Alexander Rodchenko, 1924
Science Museum Group Collection

Black metal and leather camera — Tri-colour camera, Jos-Pe Ferbenphoto GmbH, about 1925
Science Museum Group Collection

Leica 1 35mm camera, Leica, 1925–31
Science Museum Group Collection

Plates of biscuits, drink in small glass and kingfisher ornament — Three-colour Carbro colour photograph of plates of biscuits, The Autotype Company Limited, about 1930
Science Museum Group Collection

Three boats passing under a bridge — ‘Three Boats’, Alexander Keighley, about 1931
Science Museum Group Collection

Silver metal and black leather camera with two lenses — Rolleicord twin lens reflex camera, Rolleicord, 1936–38
Science Museum Group Collection

Large black camera with small lens at front — Williamson Mk III Race Finish Camera, Williamson Manufacturing Co., 1946–58
Science Museum Group Collection

A photo finish in an athletics event — Photo finish of a race, 1950s
Science Museum Group Collection

Plastic digital camera — Logitech Fotoman digital camera, Logitech, 1992
Science Museum Group Collection

Find your local club

Do you want to take your photography to the next level? There are 67 photographic clubs that make up the Yorkshire Photographic Union, each one dedicated to encouraging and supporting their members. You can find their contact details using the YPU’s Club Finder map.

You can sit and learn about photography in isolation, whether it be from videos, books or magazines. But you learn the most when you have other people with whom to discuss your work, who can critique and offer ideas for improvement and growth.

Kevin Lloyd, Huddersfield Photo Imaging Club

The 2020 Competition

How does the competition work?

Objects from our collection

Find your local club

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