External Competitions

The IPF National Shield is a national club competition intended for non-advanced workers. Each club presents a panel of eight prints in monochrome and colour print.

For the purposes of this competition, the term advanced applies to photographers who have been awarded an IPF Associateship or Fellowship distinction, an equivalent distinction from other photographic organizations such as FIAP, PSA and the RPS, or anyone who has won more than one medal at national or international competitions.

Additionally, the club may deem the work of some photographers, that do not fall under the above criteria, to be advanced, and if so, they will not be eligible for entry into the shield.

Each club has to ensure that one person has no more than two images on each panel ensuring so that a fair distribution of photographers’ work is represented on their panel. The club selection committee selects images for the National Shield competition from images that have been entered in club competitions by eligible members. Images may also be gathered in other ways at the discretion of the selection committee.

Members from every IPF club travel to the venue to enjoy the competition and associated talks, lectures etc.

Note that the rules governing the National Shield competition may change from time to time, so the IPF rules will take precedence over what is written here.

This competition sees all the IPF affiliated clubs compete for the position of best club. Celbridge has a long tradition of participation in this event, has won the event once in 1996 and regularly features among the top clubs.
The competition usually takes the form of two print panels of ten images each in Monochrome and Colour Print.
Unlike the National Shield, images can be selected from any grade of photographer within the club, although typically images are selected from Advanced workers.
The club selection committee selects images for the National Club competition from the those images that have been entered in internal club competitions. Images may also be gathered in other ways at the discretion of the selection committee.
Members from every IPF club travel to the venue to enjoy the competition and associated talks, lectures etc. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to see some of Ireland’s best photographers in action.