Probably when multiple shots are combined or photoshop is used excessively, neither of which could be described as photographs in the original sense.

I feel the same about camera clubs obsessed with competitions.

A great set Gareth, looks like a spot with loads of potential you can mix with a family day out. Does that water slide hit water - if so did you get any shots with a nice splash? The facial expressions are great too, how about some zoomed in shots to focus on those?

Gareth, it is helpful to attend such a session to get a measure of requirements, you can also watch assessments by Zoom and when ready you can book a Zoom 1-2-1 session with one of the assessors.

Why put yourself through this? A measure of recognition perhaps, vanity, hard to say. I certainly don’t need any qualification or certification as I don’t intend to turn professional. I will say though that the process definitely helps develop your technical and aesthetic skills and most importantly become objective and detached in evaluating your own work. Many of those who succeed call it a journey which although a bit trite is as good a description as any.

Part of my professional training involved regularly presenting my work to an audience of tutors and colleagues for which you very quickly grow a thick skin, which has proved useful for these RHS submissions. The advisors and assessors all give their time freely and see their role as encouraging others to develop but also to maintain standards so not everyone succeeds.

Actually that might not be a bad idea!

Thanks all, an Associate assessment has to be in one of several categories with a written statement about the particular topic - mine is the physical and mental health benefits of allotments particularly during the pandemic, as highlighted by a recent scientific study. This has to be supported by 15 high quality images in a display panel, the layout of which is also judged for cohesiveness, often described as the sixteenth image. You can opt for digital display or mounted prints which are typically about A4 size.

My problem is that now I no longer have the free access to the local site which I enjoyed previously, so I will need to get those winning shots on just one or two occasions; however as you know it is those unplanned-for serendipitous moments that come up trumps, it is much harder to come up with something unique to order. Rankin did it all in one day on an allotment visit but then he had rather awed subjects whom he directed like models and a team who carried lights, edited on the spot, printed the results and displayed them in the evening!

Since applying last December for an assessment with the RPS at Associate level it finally happened today, but disappointingly I was not successful. It all started off swimmingly with very positive comments on my 15 print panel and the prints themselves judged technically fine, but in conclusion it was decided I should resubmit with a couple of photos changed to give more variety. The next assessment is in November (and another 110 quid) so another long wait, the trouble is I am finding it difficult to move on and do other things photographically whilst this is still going on, as I thought the project was done and dusted. Oh well.

Usually if I am walking around with a single lens, or using a tripod, then a wrist strap. When carrying a bag then a neck strap leaves both hands free to change lenses without putting the camera on the ground. For an extra heavy lens then I use a heavy duty strap attached to the lens and body. Seeing so-called pros carelessly carrying a camera just by the grip seems needlessly reckless.

When I worked in a local authority architects’ department we had available an office bike (no sniggers please!) for site visits; imagine how well that went down when the builder turned up in his Jag. Anyhow for a short while we had a very glamorous lady architect who was always dressed like a fashion model so when she arrived on site in her Alfa Romeo I remember the whole site came to a standstill!

I enjoyed it far more than the Sky Arts Photography challenge with its arrogant and rude judges, Rankin set out here to encourage and find positives and much better than the tired old knock-out format. I could understand the confusion when the first assignment was "beach" and Rankin was disappointed to see photos of - a beach! it looked like his studio assistants helped out on the fashion shoot as they were using remote flash triggers but given only 15 minutes I thought they did really well.