All OPS Fellowship applications must include a concise statement of the photographer's objectives. This is an opportunity to explain to those who assess the work the context and purpose of the images, and the particular meaning, atmosphere and feeling the photographer sought to capture.

In general it is best to keep the statement brief and to the point, and to use plain and simple English language that is readily understood by everyone. Stated objectives should refer to the panel or sequence of images as a whole rather than to individual images. Technical explanations of how images were created are not required.

The statement may be up to 250 words in length although shorter submissions are preferred. In many cases, two or three sentences should suffice. It should be submitted via the appropriate field on the Distinctions Application Form.