News from the RPS – Digital LRPS

There’s news this week from the RPS about changes to the LRPS submission process, and a proposal that after March 2024 you will only be able to submit digital images for assessment.

It’s worth noting that this is driven, along with some other difficult changes under consideration, by the Society’s rather serious financial situation, not as a response to any inadequacy in the current system, and will happen along side a new online process that will introduce a new assessment system as well. Members of the RPS will find further details in the October newsletter sent to members by email.

That there will be no more print entries for LRPS after March next year is sad news, and we will of course continue to support everyone to work towards their distiction submissions. We will answer – as best we can – any practical questions about the new process (which is still be evaluated) but any views about the changes or questions about the policy should be made directly to the RPS please, not to Janey Devine or to me, as we are RPS assessors and cannot engage in a debate about the rights or the wrongs of this, and we ask that you respect that.

Most importantly however is what this means for the Club’s RPS Special Interest Group, which meets next on Tuesday 17th October. Given the importance we attach, beyond the acquisition of the distinction, to the development of your understanding and skills in printing and presentation, the value of panelling for exhibitions, making books, simply how you put images on your own walls, personal projects and – of course – the Club’s Print Panel Competition, we will continue to work in prints until a portfolio is ready for submission when we will assist in the digital presentation. By this we hope that Club members can continue to gain the benefits of a print LRPS while still able to gain the accreditation digitally.

Lorna Brown

The featured image is from Paul Adam’s successful LRPS panel