Exhibition of photography at RHS London Flower Shows - Guidelines
1. Photographs at RHS Shows will be assessed for their botanical and horticultural content and for their photographic quality. Judges take account of the overall impression of an exhibit, including details of presentation such as mounting, labelling and framing.
2. Exhibitors should note the following points:
- The subject matter of all photographs must be of plants or gardens or some aspect of botany or horticulture.
- A minimum of eight photographs is required. There is no upper limit, but the display must fit into the allotted space, which will be a maximum of six metres of display panel.
- Only photographic prints will be considered, not transparencies. These may be up to a maximum of A2 size (42x60cm; 17x24in). Different sizes within the same exhibit will be accepted.
- It is recommended that each exhibit of photographs should cover a distinct theme. This might be as general as ‘Winter’, or as specific as ‘The genus Dahlia’.
- There should be a stylistic integrity throughout the exhibit.
- Judges will not favour any one photographic style over any other. However, they will expect exhibitors to use their chosen techniques (‘shallow focus’, ‘deep focus’, etc.) with awareness and sensitivity.
- All exhibitors must provide written information, which will also be judged for its accuracy and presentation. All plant names should be in Latin.
- Photographs taken digitally, and prints that have been enhanced digitally, will be permitted, but exhibitors must indicate that these techniques have been used.
- Submissions may be by individuals or groups.
3. Staging
- The display boards are dark blue in colour and arranged in a zigzag fashion.
- Exhibitors must make their own arrangements for transporting and hanging their pictures.
- Exhibitors are expected to provide their own materials for hanging pictures. It is recommended that ‘S’ hook picture hooks and picture wire is used to hang framed pictures from the tops of the boards. Mounted, unframed pictures can be secured to the boards using sticky-back Velcro. Exhibitors should ensure that unframed pictures are protected with transparent, non-reflective acetate sheets. Pictures must NOT be nailed to the boards.
4. Medal winners may be asked by the RHS if individual prints for the Lindley Library can be purchased at cost. The copyright in these prints will be retained by the photographer, but reproduction rights for internal RHS publications will be required.