How to exhibit a Portfolio of
​Botanical or Horticultural Photographs
at an RHS Show
​

Portfolio
This category is for a compilation of six images in a series or on a common theme, and is judged for RHS Medals
The Photographic Advisory Panel selects and judges the Exhibition of Photography at the RHS Shows. 

Botanical Photography is now
  • subsumed into the RHS Photography competition
  • as Category 9 - the Portfolio
  • ONLY the Portfolio category has medals awarded.
​
Medals for category 9 (Portfolio) will be judged and awarded at an RHS Show and a ‘best in show’ will be awarded.
Terms and Conditions RHS Photographic Competition 2019
Photography has always been exhibited at the RHS London Shows in the Autumn - but there have been quite a few in recent years
  • In 2017, it changed to being an exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show (which made it inaccessible to a lot of people given the competition and expense of tickets for Chelsea)
  • ​In 2018, it was combined with the Botanical Illustration Show for a Joint Show (Plant and Art Fair 10-12 July 2018) - with photography held in the Lawrence Hall - with not a lot of visitors)
  • In 2019, the Portfolio category is part of the RHS Photography Competition and is held alongside the Botanical Illustration Show as part of the RHS London Art and Photography Show in the Lindley Hall

Exhibition of Photography: Regulations and Guidance
​

​Photographers must have a submission of work passed by the Photographic Advisory Panel before they may apply for space to exhibit and be judged for an RHS Photography Medal.

The RHS website provides information for photographers.  
Nothing specific provided at present - see RHS London Botanical Art and Photography Show / RHS Gardening.

ARCHIVE: See:
​All photographs must be of plants, flowers or gardens or some aspect of botany or horticulture, including fungi and lichens. This may include people in a horticultural environment. 
​​Guide for Entrants 2019
The Portfolio category is different because:
* Photographers send us an initial entry of a minimum of 6 images in a series or with a distinct common theme
* A shortlist is created from these initial entries
* Shortlisted photographers print and hang their entry at an RHS show
* Shortlisted entries are judged as a whole against a set of RHS criteria at the RHS show
* RHS Medals (Gold, Silver Gilt, Silver and Bronze) are awarded
* A ‘best in show’ with a cash prize is awarded to the most outstanding exhibit​
​Guide for Entrants 2019

Category 9 - Extract from Competition Rules for 2019 Botanical Photography Show

rhs-photographic-art-portfolio-2019-guide-for-entrants.pdf
File Size: 130 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Category 9, Portfolio, entry
  • This category is ​​open to both amateur and professional photographers and is judged for RHS medals.
  • Images must be submitted by 10am, 1 March 2019.
  • Entries which have been exhibited as printed photography at a previous RHS Show are not eligible.
  • Entry into Portfolio does not preclude the photographer entering other categories of the competition, however the same images must not be used.
  • To enter, send high-resolution digital files (minimum of 6MB) of your 6 images along with your name and email address using a file transfer tool such as WeTransfer to photoportfolio@rhs.org.uk. Scanned negatives/prints are accepted but should meet the file size requirement
  • All entries will be reviewed by the Photographic Art Portfolio Judging Panel to create a shortlist. Shortlisted entrants will be invited to print, frame and display their photography series.
  • Shortlisted entries will be exhibited and judged at an RHS Show in summer 2019.
  • Shortlisted entrants must be in attendance on the morning of the RHS Show to hang and display their photographs and must also be in attendance on the last evening of the show to take down their photographs. More details about the dates of the Show will be confirmed early in 2019.

Past RHS Photography Portfolio Exhibitions
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Picture
"Species Boundaries: Fritillaria affinis" - won a Gold Medal for RHS Veteran Photographer Laurence Hill in 2018. The photographs are superimposed on a map.
These are links to the webpage for the images of medal winners in the RHS Portfolio category

2018 - Portfolio Medal WinnersSee also blog posts about
2017 - Portfolio Medal Winners
2016 - no review because exhibition was part of the RHS Chelsea Show
Picture
Clay Perry at the RHS Autumn Shades Show 2012 with his RHS Gold Medal winning display of 'Heritage Fruits and Vegetables'.
I've also reviewed the Botanical photography shows - see the reviews on my other blog below

2014 - Botanical Photography Medal Winners 2012 - Botanical Photography Medal Winners
Banner Image is from a photo of Polina Plotnikova's exhibit of her British Tall Bearded Irises project - awarded Gold Medal at the RHS London Shades of Autumn Show 2015