Awards & Recognition (video)

From Hobbyist to Award-Winning Photographer: My Inspiring Journey with a video of my image successes. Explore the accolades and recognition received by Martin Duffy in the field of photography through a compelling video presentation. This page highlights his achievements, showcasing award-winning work across various photography disciplines. Discover the journey of a photographer who consistently pushes the boundaries of creativity and excellence.

I have been successful in local camera club photography, regional NEMPF exhibitions and have gained many acceptances within the British Photography Exhibition (BPE) circuit. 
After precisely 4 years, I finally attained my British Photographic Exhibitions (BPE) Level 5 in April 2024. 
This comprised of 300+ acceptances in fiercely competitive photography exhibitions of 000's of images throughout the UK. Among them, 37 of my submissions received awards, including 1 Best In Exhibition, 3 Gold Medals, 5 Selectors Awards, 1 Silver, 5 Ribbons, 11 Highly Commended, and 11 Commended.
Throughout this remarkable journey, I have gained valuable insights into my photography - understanding what constitutes a great image, recognising the variability in judges' scoring, and above all, appreciating the significance of persistence and organisation.​​​​​​

My BPE Journey to BPE 5 Video

A certificate from the British Photographic Exhibitions (BPE) titled "This Five Crown Award Certificate." The certificate is awarded to Martin Duffy in recognition of success in member exhibitions. It is dated 8th April 2024 and signed by the BPE Award Officer. The certificate includes five crown icons and states that Martin Duffy may now add BPE5 to his photographic qualifications. On the right side of the certificate, there's a list of "Current Active Members" which includes various camera clubs and photographic exhibitions across the UK. A red ribbon with silver text and crown icons is attached on the left side of the certificate, reading "British Photographic Exhibitions."

BPE 5 Award

A collection of awards and recognitions displayed on a speckled surface. The items include: A white box labeled "Gold" with a logo of The Photographic Alliance of Great Britain. Two medal cases: one with a blue and white emblem and the text "The Photographic Alliance of Great Britain" and another with a gold medal and the text "The Scottish Photographic Federation." Two green ribbons with gold text and emblems, stating "The Photographic Alliance of Great Britain." A certificate from Dingwall Camera Club featuring a photo of two boxers in a match, titled "Top Image in Exhibition - 'Heavy Hand of Starkey' By Martin Duffy BPE4, Rolls Royce Derby Photographic." A small paper note from Dingwall Camera Club listing awards: Martin Duffy BPE4 for "Heavy Hand of Starkey" - Overall Exhibition Winner, PAGB Gold Medal, Top Open Colour Award, SPF Gold Medal. "Right Spinning Hook Kick" - Highly Commended PAGB Ribbon. The note ends with "With Compliments."

The awards achieved at the highly prestigious Dingwall Exhibition 2023

EXHIBITION GOLD MEDALS
- PAGB Gold Medal Mono (Spinning Hook Kick) - South Birmingham 2023
- NPS Gold Medal Colour (Amongst Giants) - Neath 2023
- Best In Exhibition & Gold Medal Open Colour Winner (Heavy Hand of Starkey) - Dingwall 2023
SELECTORS AWARD & MERITS
- BPE Certificate of Merit (Baker Street Mono) - Winchester 2021
- BPE Selectors Award PAGB Ribbon (Baker Street Mono) - Neath 2020
- BPE Selectors Award & PAGB Ribbon (Hitting The Halfpipe) - Frome 2022
- BPE Selectors Award Ribbon (Flowered Torso) - Neath 2023
- BPE Ribbon (Surprise Punch) - Rushden 2023 
- Certificate of Merit (Battle of the Heavy Weights) - Winchester 2023
- BPE Selectors Award (Spinning Hook Kick) - Beyond 2023
- PAGB Ribbon (Battle of the Heavy Weights) - South Birmingham 2024
- PAGB Ribbon (Heavy Hand of Starkey) - South Birmingham 2024
- PAGB Silver (Battle of the Heavy Weights) - Evesham 2024
- BPE Selectors Award (The Sea Fisherman) - Clay Cross 2024
HIGHY COMMENDED
- BPE Highly Commended (The Storm) - Rushden 2021 
- BPE Highly Commended (Holding The Racing Line) - Evesham 2022
- BPE Highly Commended (The Final Blow) - Basingstoke 2022
- BPE Highly Commended (The Right Hook) & PAGB Ribbon - Rushden 2022
- BPE Highly Commended (The Final Blow) - Dingwall 2022
- BPE Highly Commended (Red Deer on the Moors) - Neath 2022
- BPE Highly Commended (Double Punch) - Rushden 2023
- BPE Highly Commended (Manhattan Bridge) - Rushden 2023
- BPE Highly Commended (Spinning Hook Kick) - Rushden 2023
- BPE Highly Commended (The Right Hook) - Dingwall 2023
- BPE Highly Commended (Spinning Hook Kick) - Dingwall 2023
- BPE Highly Commended (Spinning Hook Kick) - Shrewsbury 2023
- BPE Highly Commended (Egg & Spoon Race) - Basingstoke 2024
OTHER AWARDS
....plus BPE 11 x Commends To Date
- BPE - 8 x Club Awards at Clay Cross
Club Photography
- Clay Cross Photographic Society Annual Club Awards (since 2015) 
              Top Images (8 x top print winner, 7 x top projected digital image winner)
               3 x Image Of The Year Winner and 
               Summer competition winner 3 times (2019, 20 and 21).
- Rolls Royce Mono PDI Image Runner Up 2023
I also compete through online photography competitions thanks to Photocrowd.com. Through this format I have been fortunate enough to be recognised continually within the top 50 photographers (of 1000’s) and won numerous prizes including lenses, lighting and photography experience days.
Published Work
January 2025 - Winner and published in issue 287 of the Digital Photographer Magazine for 'Magical Hue's' competition. Image title 'Amongst Giants' (image below).
July 2024 - Cotswold's & Vale Magazine Issue 285 featured my 'Battle of the Heavy Weights' image following my Runner Up Mono in the Evesham VECC BPE Exhibition 2024. (image below). 
November 2023 - Winner and published in issue 273 of the Digital Photographer Magazine for 'Candid Moments' competition. Image title 'Vacant Thoughts' (image below).
https://www.photocrowd.com/photo-competitions/candid-moments-portraiture-photo-contest-18299/overview/ ​​​​​​​
An open magazine spread showcasing the winners of a photography competition by Photocrowd titled "The Best of Candid Moments." The left page features the 1st Place Winner, titled "Vacant Thoughts" by Martin Duffy Photography, depicting a woman in a red coat and hat sitting on a bench against a plain background. The right page highlights the 2nd Place photo, "Girl and Dog in Cromer" by Nick Clayton, showing a black and white scene of a girl walking a dog by the sea, and the 3rd Place image, "Little Rain for Happy" by Alex Kasparian, capturing a joyful moment of people dancing in the rain at a festival. The spread includes comments on the winning photos and a promotion for Affinity photo software.

Digital Photographer Magazine Winner 'Candid Moments' November 2023

An open magazine spread showcasing the winners of a photography competition by Photocrowd titled "The Best of Winter Wildlife." The left page features the 1st Place Winner, "Penguins in the Snow Storm" by Martin Duffy, depicting a touching moment between two penguins amidst falling snow. The right page highlights the 2nd Place photo, "The Fight" by Knut M Selmer, capturing two hares in a dynamic pose during a fight in the snow, and the 3rd Place image, "Polar Bear Reflection" by Dagfrid Ugletveit, showing a polar bear walking on ice with its reflection visible in the water. The spread includes comments on the winning photos and a promotion for Affinity photo software.

Digital Photographer Magazine Winner 'Winter Wildlife' March 2023

March 2023 - Winner and published in issue 264 of the Digital Photographer Magazine for Winter Wildlife photographer. Image title 'Penguins in the Snow Storm' (image above).
https://www.photocrowd.com/photo-competitions/winter-wildlife-5-wildlife-photo-contest-17291/expert-choices/ 
May 2022 - Cotswold's & Vale Magazine Issue 261 featured my 'Holding the Racing Line' image following my Highly Commended in the Evesham VECC BPE Exhibition 2022. (image below)​​​​​​​
A magazine spread featuring the winners of a photography competition by Photocrowd titled "The Best of Wedding and Events Contest." The left page showcases the 1st Place Winner, "We le Fran" by Edison Lucas Caetano de Souza, depicting a dynamic and energetic wedding scene with a couple dancing in front of a carousel. The right page highlights the 2nd Place photo, "Like in a Fairy Tale" by JZ77, featuring an infrared wedding portrait of a couple kissing under large, dreamlike trees. The 3rd Place image, "The Newly Weds" by Martin Duffy Photography, shows a serene moment of a couple on a bridge with St. Paul’s Cathedral in the background. The spread includes comments on the winning photos and a promotion for Affinity photo software.

Digital Photographer Magazine 3rd Place 'Wedding & Events' Jan 2022

A magazine spread from Vale Magazine titled "VECC's National Open Exhibition: A Picture of Success." The left page features an article detailing the success of the Vale of Evesham Camera Club's (VECC) membership and national exhibition during the pandemic, highlighting the return to in-person events for the 33rd Annual Exhibition. The article mentions a standout image, "The Pastor of Brick Lane" by Paul Jay ARPS DPAGB EFIAP, and emphasizes the club's growth and achievements. The right page showcases a selection of award-winning images in color from the exhibition, including "Little Librarian" by Michele Campbell (Best Colour Image), "Fluid Movement" by Mike Cramp (Runner-Up Colour Image), "The Falconer" by Richard Omerod (Selector’s Medal), "Bewildered" by Andrew Dobbin (Highly Commended Colour Image), and "Holding the Racing Line" by Martin Duffy BPE4 (Commended).

Cotswold's & Vale Magazine 'Holding the Racing Line' May 2022

January 2022 - Selected in 3rd place and published in issue 249 of the Digital Photographer Magazine for Wedding and Events photographer. Image title 'The Newly Weds' (image above).
July 2021 - Thank you to Verte Magazine my image 'Plastic Oceans' was featured in their most recent 'The Problem with Plastic', superbly written by intern Rebecca Herr.
July 2019 - I was also happy to have won a competition with 'That Wild Idea' photography, winning a days street photography tuition in London and portfolio review with Kav.
August 2019 - I have been featured in the August 2019 Digital Camera Magazine Issue 218, with a 2 page spread covering my photography work and winner of a Sigma lens competition. Image title 'Human Interactions' (image below).
A magazine spread from Digital Camera featuring the "Sigma 'Pro Trio' competition winner revealed." The left page showcases the winning entry by Martin Duffy, a series of three photographs taken at the Baker Street underground station, highlighting the contrast between the stillness of the empty platform and the motion of a passing train. The article praises Duffy's technical skills and creative approach, noting his ability to capture the city's hustle and bustle while emphasizing engagement and isolation. The winner receives an incredible prize of three f/2.8 zoom lenses, including the Sigma Pro Trio 24-70mm, 70-200mm, and 14-24mm.

Digital Camera Magazine & Sigma Winner 'Three Shot Story' Aug 2019

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