A Look at the Judging Process
2022 brought some changes to the BWPA competition system, making it faster and easier to submit your images. This also affected the judging process too, alongside some changes in how we operate the different rounds.
Want to know what happens once you’ve submitted your images? Let’s take a look at how the BWPA competition is judged.
“The Crop Thief” by Steven Allcock - Habitat Runner Up BWPA 2024
It’s all anonymous
One of the most important parts of the judging process is that it is strictly anonymous. This is maintained throughout the entire judging process until the winners have been confirmed. There is no way that a judge can find out the names of photographers from BWPA before the winners are decided.
With this in mind, there are a number of rounds that images will have to pass through:
Round 1
The first round of judging will take place soon after the competition has closed to entries. In this round, we do a first pass through all the entries to ensure things like rule compliance and ethical considerations have been adhered to.
Round 2
In the second round, the judging panel looks at the images submitted into each category, and they choose which images they would like to see high resolution files of. This is where we will request original RAW files alongside the high resolution JPEGs, in order to prove the authenticity of an image. We will also ask you to provide an extended caption.
It is at this stage where you may be asked to provide further evidence of the circumstances around your image, should we have questions as to its authenticity or method of shooting. Should an original RAW file show that an image does not adhere to the rules, then that entry will be disqualified at this stage.
Round 3
This is the final round of judging. So if your image has been requested for high resolution files, then you are officially a BWPA finalist!
In this round, each judge will choose their favourite images from each category, and they will be scored accordingly.
“Roosting Dragons” by Daniel Trim - Hidden Britain Winner BWPA 2025
Confirming the winners
Before we confirm the winning images, we will take a final look at the prospective winners to ensure that all guidelines and rules are adhered to. It is at this stage that we might contact experts in relevant industries to verify behaviours, ethics, or other things which we may query.
Once all these stages are complete, the winners are officially announced! The next competition also opens for entries, and prizes and certificates are then sent out to the winners shortly after.