P&DCC Competitions
Explore the stunning entries from our photographers across diverse genres, showcasing their creativity and skill in our latest competitions.
Competitions are a vital activity of the club. It gives you a chance to view the work of other members, gain constructive criticism from a judge and assess how your work compares to others in the club. We encourage entries from members of all standards. The judging nights are enjoyable and usually thought provoking.
Season 2026-27 Competitions - Subject and Genres
Summer Challenge subject: Abstract
Millennium Trophy: Triptych -
3 Printed Images of up to A4 in size, mounted together or separately.
Ladder Genres:
- Portrait
- Creative
- Mono
The full list of competitions below under Internal Competitions.
We plan to hold the following internal competitions every year:
- 3 Projected Digital Image (PDI) Competitions.
- 3 Print Competitions.
- Summer Challenge.
- Millennium Trophy.
- PDI of the year.
- Print of the year.
- Best Image taken on a club outing
Dates for submission and judging are published in the program. Additionally, members will be reminded of forthcoming submission dates.
Internal Competition Rules
See Internal competition Rules
Ladder
Points are awarded for the 3 PDI and 3 Print internal competitions. These points are accumulated over the year and presented in a ladder format. Trophy will be awarded for the 1st place in the ladder.
See below for current ladder positions and competition scores
Trophies
The PDCC has 14 trophies which are awarded annually. For details of each of the club trophies see the Competitions Presentation - link at the top of this page
As a club we compete against other clubs in two competitions
- Three Way Battle. PDCC competes against Keswick and Carlisle Photographic Clubs. Hosting rotates annually between the three clubs. The Host Club provides a venue and arranges an external judge. The rules of the competition are not always under our control, but we are normally required to submit 15 PDIs.
- Western Area Battle. In this competition we compete with Prints and PDIs against 8 other camera clubs in our region.
It is our club policy to select each image from a different member. Further details of requirements and how images will be selected by the club will be advertised prior to the competition entry
PDCC is affiliated to the Northern Counties Photographic Federation. There is an annual competition which is free and open to our members. It normally includes prints and PDIs. Further details of requirements will be advertised prior to the competition entry.
We also award 3 trophies for the highest points in nominated genres. See Competition Notices for details on this years Nominated Genres
Genre points can be accumulated with entries to any of the internal competitions listed above, except the AV Competition. Further details of how PDIs/Prints can be submitted for Genre points can be found in Internal competition Rules
2025-26 Season Overview
355 images counting towards ladder scores, 31 of our photographers participated during the season.
Ladder Standings 2025-26 - Top 3
Final Positions
Ladder & Genre Top 3 25-26
| Marks | Position | |
| Ladder Total | ||
| Mark Hetherington | 333 | 1 |
| David Price | 325 | 2 |
| John Willliams | 317 | 3 |
| Creative | ||
| Bas Montgomery | 220 | 1 |
| Steve McLellan | 75 | 2 |
| John Tillotson | 55 | 3 |
| Mono | ||
| Nicky Robley | 312 | 1 |
| Phil Newport | 310 | 2 |
| Les Ayres | 300 | 3 |
| Portrait | ||
| Nicky Robley | 312 | 1 |
| Stuart Edgar | 259 | 2 |
| Les Ayres | 167 | 3 |
A glimpse of our members work
Top Photographs from the Competitions
Fell Racers
by Nick Tippey
Golden Grange Fell
by Mark Hetherington
Two worlds
by Phil Newport
Malin Head Majesty
by Mark Hetherington
Victorian Portrait
by Ian Cassely
Early Mist
by Nick Tippey
Horn and Violin
by Bas Montgomery
Take 2
by Phil Newport
Welcome To Penrith
by Mark Hetherington
Afloat on the Brathay
by Mark Hetherington
Tight Turn
by Ken Rennie
St.John_s Wort
by Ken Rennie
Figures ascending The Dodds
by John Williams
Windows
by Stuart Edgar
Results Posts
Competition Images: PDI 3 2025-26
A catch up post to remind you of the top marked images, and John Tillotson’s winning Walkie Talkie:
Competition Images: PDI 2 2025-26
Second PDI of 25-26
A catch up post to remind you of the top marked images:
Competition Ladder 2025-26
Final ladder positions for the 2025-26 season
Celebrating our Past Winners
2023-24
Photographer of the Year
The Florence Joseph Rosebowl went to John Tillotson. Top scoring in the season's ladder with a total of 445 points. Above is John's top scoring "Window Cleaners Cradle"
2023-24
Summer Challenge
That season's theme was "Bags". Our own judge John Williams, chose Kath Brown's "I'm sure I had four bags" as the winner of the Summer Challenge Trophy. Images have to be taken in our off-season between that last meeting in April and the first in September. Often a difficult theme to work to, Kath captured the essence here.
2023-24
Image of the Year - Print
Voted by the club, the Hannah Shield went to Nicky Robley for her "Glencoe Lone Tree in Winter". Members chose their own entry for this competition.
Join Our Photography Community
Ready to take your photography skills to the next level? Join PDCC and participate in our exciting future competitions. Connect with fellow enthusiasts and showcase your talent across various genres. Join us and be part of our friendly community!