UNITED PHOTOGRAPHIC POSTFOLIOS
of Great Britain

The Circles

 
Each Circle is a semi-autonomous unit, with it's individual activities organised democratically for the benefit of it's members whilst abiding by the Rules and Constitution of the UPP as a whole.
An Hon. Secretary controls and administers each Circle, despatching a Portfolio (box of photographs) at regular monthly intervals, and announcing the results of all competitions. The Secretary also provides a Postal Rota of the order in which the box is circulated around the members.
As each member receives a box they enter a new print or slide, comment on all other entries, and remove any of their work from previously completed rounds. There is a voting system in most Circles, whereby marks are allotted to entries and the winning print or slide from each round is awarded a coveted "Gold Label".
You will find that some circles like to accept just monochrome prints, whilst others will accept mono, colour and digital as well. This gives a great variety to this Camera Club.The size of prints accepted varies amongst the Print Circles. Some only accept small prints - usually 7" x 5" - whilst others accept large prints - up to 16" x 12".
One circle keeps to a maximum print size of 12 sq. inches thereby maintaining links with UPP's origins when that was the standard size for all Circle's. Amongst the Slide Circle's the majority accept 'open' subjects and there is one for 'contemporey' workers. Two Circles specialise in Natural History subjects and one includes digital images alongside slides. All slide Circle's accept entries in 2" (35mm) mounts, whilst one is happy to accept mixed formats presented in 2" and 2.5" mounts. Of course, all slides can be masked as deemed appropriate for the individual subject.
In addition to print and slide circles, there are new digitally projected image and audio visual circles. These circles operate in the same way as other UPP circles but the sequences and digital images are circulated on USB sticks which reduces the cost of postage.
There is even one Circle which has members not only throughout the UK, but in Australia and New Zealand as well. And one Print Circle just has Australian members, with boxes circulating between members down-under.