Awards and The Guild of Photographers
Awards (A slideshow of award-winning and exhibited images is at the top of the page).
The Guild of Photographers Image of the Year Finalist, Event, Sport and Action category 2021 x 3.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar x 3 September 2021
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar August 2021.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar May 2021.
Winner of The Guild of Photographers Image of the Year, Event, Sport and Action category 2020.
Awarded Top Ten International Photographer for 2020 in Open Category by The Guild of Photographers.
Awarded Silver Photographer's Bar for achieving Membership of the Photographer's bar five times.
Awarded Membership of The Photographer's Bar 2020 x 2 by The Guild of Photographers in Open and Natural World categories - awarded to photographers displaying an "exceptional level of professional skill and consistency".
The Guild of Photographers Image of the Year Finalist, Event, Sport and Action category 2020.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar x 4 August 2020.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar x 3 July 2020.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar June 2020.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar May 2020.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar x 3 February 2020.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar x 2 January 2020.
Awarded Top Ten International Photographer for 2019 in Open and Natural World Categories by The Guild of Photographers
Awarded Membership of The Photographer's Bar 2019 x 3 by The Guild of Photographers in Open, Natural World and Pets categories - awarded to photographers displaying an "exceptional level of professional skill and consistency".
Appointed Guild of Photographers Members' Ambassador January 2020
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar October 2019.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar x 2 September 2019.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar July 2019.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar x 2 May 2019.
Achieved Master Craftsman status with The Guild of Professional Photographers May 19. (Presented a Craftsman Panel and had it upgraded to Master Craftsman).
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar x 5 Apr 2019.
Asked by Features Editor of Amateur Photographer to appear in "Readers' Portfolio" May 2019
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar x 5 Mar 2019.
The Guild of Photographers Gold Bar, plus Silver Bar x 2 Feb 2019.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar x 2 Jan 2019.
Awarded International Top Twenty Photographer in the Open Category by The Guild of Photographers 2018.
Awarded Membership of The Photographer's Bar 2018 by The Guild of Photographers - awarded to photographers displaying an "exceptional level of professional skill and consistency".
The Guild of Photographers Image of the Year Finalist, Event, Sport and Action category x 2 2018.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar x 2 Sep 2018.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar Aug 2018.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar x 3 Jul 2018.
The Guild of Photographers Gold Bar (and in top four entries) and Silver Bar x 2 Jun 18
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar May 2018.
Photo used on front cover of Creative Light Magazine June 2018.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar April 2018.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar March 2018.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar February 2018.
The Guild of Photographers Silver Bar August 2017.
Winner "Nature's Foragers" category of the Scottish Seabird Centre Nature Photography Awards, 2015.
Three photos accepted to the 52nd Annual Exhibition of the Midland Counties Photographic Federation (MidPhot), 2015.
Shortlisted five times in the Scottish Seabird Centre Nature Photography Awards, 2015.
Shortlisted four times in the Scottish Seabird Centre Nature Photography Awards, 2014.
Runner Up, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Julian Gardner Awards, 2014.
Winner "World Flora" category, Scottish Seabird Centre Nature Photography Awards, 2013.
Commended "Scottish Wildlife" category, Scottish Seabird Centre Nature Photography Awards, 2013.
Shortlisted four times in Scottish Seabird Centre Nature Photography Awards, 2013.
Shortlisted twice in the British Wildlife Photography Awards, 2013.
Winner, "Creative Visions of Nature" category, Scottish Seabird Centre Nature Photography Awards, 2012.
Shortlisted three times in Scottish Seabird Centre Nature Photography Awards, 2012.
Category finalist BBC Countryfile Photographic Competition, 2011.
Double finalist and runner-up Wildlife Extra UK Wildlife Competition, 2011.
The Guild of Professional Photographers
The Guild of Photographers is a professional trade body of which I am proud to be a member. It has three levels of qualification, described thus:
"Our 'Qualified' status is aligned to standards of competence and understanding that reflect a level where the customer should be 'delighted with the results' of a tradesman (the photographer in our case). In other words 'Qualified' indicates professional 'competence' to a level where the Guild is willing to recognise the photographer as an ambassador of the association, so those who achieve that level should be proud of doing so.
Our 'Craftsman' status is, as one would imagine, aligned to the exacting standards of a true guild 'Craftsman'. Therefore, to attain this level, we add an increasing level of professional critique to evaluate our members work. In other words we get increasingly 'fussy' and look in detail at all the elements of photographic understanding. Those that achieve this accolade have demonstrated the finest technical skills and an exceptional creative and artistic 'eye'.
Finally, in the same way as when a 'Craftsman' was granted the highest accolade of 'Master Craftsman' having created something truly exceptional (their 'masterpiece'), a 'Craftsman' within the Guild of Photographers can only achieve the acknowledgement of being a 'Master Craftsman' by producing their own photographic masterpiece."
I am very proud to hold Master Craftsman status.
The Guild's qualifications are 'live' qualifications, meaning members are subject to dip-sample at any time and qualifications (even memberships) can be removed from members should they no longer deliver the required standards
No organisation offers greater reassurance than this when booking a photographer for a wedding or other important event. ALL Guild members that operate a business are pledged to the association's Code of Conduct. They must:
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Behave in such a manner befitting their professional status and the reputation of The Guild.
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Exercise professionalism, care and diligence in the discharge of duties for clients and an agreement to fulfil the obligations of any contracts agreed with them, other than subject to matters outside their control.
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Have Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance once they have achieved 'Qualified' status or higher.
Every month The Guild runs an "Image of the Month" competition which involves members submitting images into the sections of their choice. The entries are then assessed by a number of highly experienced judges who grade them in accordance with international judging criteria, and the higher scoring images are given Bronze, Silver or Gold Bars, or maybe even the highly sought after Platinum Bar (which has never yet been awarded).
A Gold Bar: Images of particular distinction (very rare).
A Silver Bar: Images that are very well crafted (difficult to achieve).
A Bronze Bar: Images of a strong standard at a national competition level (something to be proud of). (The many Bronze awards I have gained are not listed above as they take up too much space).