The Nature Distinctions Panel


The Nature Distinctions Panel
by Robert Hawkesworth FRPS

Over the years in which I have been closely associated with the Nature Group, both as Secretary and Chairman, it has become clear to me that many members have somewhat vague ideas about the Nature Distinctions Panel and the manner in which it conducts its business. There seems to be a widely held view that the Panel is an adjunct of the Nature Group and some of you even think that it is a sub-Committee of the Nature Group Committee! Such views are quite simply erroneous and it is felt that some explanation might be helpful.

At the outset it is very important to state that the Nature Distinctions Panel is an entirely separate body from the Nature Group and has no connection with it whatsoever. The members of the Panel are all experienced nature photographers who hold Fellowships of the Society, in many cases they may also be Nature Group members but it is in no way a necessary requirement. 

The current panel Chairman is Tony Wharton FRPS and the members are Roger Hance FRPS, David Osborn FRPS, Richard Revels FRPS, Andy Callow FRPS, George McCarthy FRPS and myself, Robert Hawkesworth FRPS. The panel meets twice a year, in the Spring and in the Autumn, to assess applications for Associateship and Fellowship. Applications for Associateship are assessed in public and if successful are passed on to the Council for ratification. Fellowship applications are assessed in camera (without an audience). Those applications deemed of the required standard are then referred to the Fellowship Review Board, which is made up of the Chairmen of the various subject panels as well as members of the Distinctions Advisory Board. This acts as a moderating process and ensures that, as far as possible, Fellowship standards are consistent across the subject areas. Successful applications at this level are then passed on for ratification to the Council.

In the case of unsuccessful applications, at both Associateship and Fellowship level, every effort is made to inform the applicant of the reasons for failure and to try to indicate a course of action for improvement. In the nature category there has always been a happy tradition of this. Wherever possible, arrangements will be made for the applicant to meet with a panel member so that the matter can be discussed in greater detail. Obviously things do occasionally go wrong and if anyone reading this feels that they have not received satisfactory help at this stage then they really should contact the Distinctions Manager at Bath, Carol Agar.

If you are working towards a distinction in nature then it is always helpful to receive guidance. A few years ago, a number of now past-members of the Nature Distinctions Panel put together an inter-active CD-ROM guide to obtaining an Associateship, which was produced and distributed by the Nature Group. It has been updated regularly and is available from the Nature Group priced at £10. Another highly recommended course of action is to attend a Distinctions Workshop/Advisory Meeting.  If you have a friend who is a Fellow, then his or her guidance may be sought, but remember that photography moves on and unless they are still ‘at the cutting edge’ so to speak then they may not necessarily be aware of current standards. It is also possible to seek advice from a panel member and this should be done by approaching the Distinctions Manager, Carol Agar. A panel member will certainly be able to say whether your work is generally of an appropriate standard, but that does not imply that you will be successful. They will not help you to make a final selection from your work for that is part of ‘the examination paper’. General help with things to look for in putting a panel of work together, for example the balance of the content, the flow of colours, composition, the interplay of vertical and horizontal images and so on is always useful to receive. Make sure that you have read very carefully the Nature Section in the booklet ‘Distinctions & Qualifications Criteria’ so that your work is appropriate to Nature Photography.

Gaining an Associateship or Fellowship is never going to be easy, it takes everyone a great deal of time and effort to achieve the required standard, and that is as it should be. It is also quite expensive, for not only do you have your application fee, but if you are a print worker there is the added cost of printing and mounting, which is certainly no small matter. Transparencies should be re-mounted in new mounts, masking them where necessary and returning the transparency to the centre of the mount. Again very time consuming. If you are making a digital entry, which at the moment is only allowable for an Associateship, then please follow the instructions given very carefully.

In conclusion I am sure that I speak for my fellow panel members when I say that we all wish to help you gain your distinction, but at the same time we will always maintain the very high standards required, for that of course is our responsibility.

 

Extracts from the RPS ‘Distinctions & Qualifications Criteria’

2.4.4 Nature

  • Any subject within the various branches of natural history, including zoology, botany, physics, chemistry, meteorology, astronomy, palaeontology and anthropology, is permitted. 
  • The images should be arranged in a harmonious manner and display a thematic approach towards the chosen subject(s) rather than appear as a haphazard collection of individual images.
  • It is expected that the subjects will be wild, live and free and in a natural or adopted habitat of the subject’s choice. It may be permissible, in some circumstances, for subjects to be presented which have been photographed under controlled conditions.
  • No kind of manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement is allowed. Only minor distractions or blemishes may be removed from the images.
  • Prints should be tastefully presented so they can be viewed as a cohesive body of work.
  • Fellowship submissions, especially, should show a theme and individual style with the evidence of the development of an original idea where possible.
  • Repetition of subjects should be avoided unless the resultant images show a different aspect in the life of the subject and are necessary to promote the chosen theme.

As well as the Statement of Intent, a list of subject names, both common and scientific, is required.

Specific Assessment Criteria
Clear evidence of a genuine interest and involvement in this area of photography is required. Each subject should be shown in an illustrative or informative way so that its relevance to the portfolio as a whole can be seen. Accurate depiction of the subject is required. All images in a portfolio should contribute to an informative and cohesive presentation and each image should be individually interesting to the naturalist.