The panel is presented to the judges in a hanging plan. This plan is commonly referred to as the '11th image', as it is scrutinised at the same level as each individual image. The judges not only consider the technical standard of the photos, but also their aesthetic flow and originality.

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In 2019, photographers could attend in person an RPS Assessment Day to receive advice about the standard of their images and potential for a cohesive panel. Assessment days were conducted in a public 'master class' format which provided feedback on 20 or so images that could then be reduced into a panel of 10.

 

I attended an RPS Assessment Day three months prior to my submission, which was instrumental in helping me determine the 10 images that ultimately comprised my print submission. The judges encouraged me to use the exact same aperture for all 10 images to increase the cohesion of the panel. 

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The end result was an eclectic cross-section of my portfolio, with images chosen on the basis of their colour and shape. For me it's all about the palette, so I selected photos with complimentary colours (blue and orange) and a strong graphic quality.

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It was a proud moment for me when the judges assessed my panel with adjectives that included  'stunning' 'artistic' and 'accomplished'. The judges also complimented me on how subjects as diverse as my iceberg and seal balanced each other on each end of the hanging plan. In the end, the RPS asked if they could keep my panel so that they could use it as an example of a highly successful panel on future assessment days.