The History of Weymouth Camera Club
In the early 20th Century, professional and keen amateur photographers in the Weymouth area formed the Weymouth and District Photographic Society. Its aim was, and still is, to promote the art and science of photography through regular meetings, competitions and exhibitions of members' work.
The Society has always met on Tuesday evenings during the winter months from September through to May when an annual exhibition was held. Originally all work was in monochrome and meetings were held in various buildings in the town, but from the 1930s, routine use of the Arts Centre in Commercial Road were instituted. This continued until 2003 when the Society was forced to move to the Rugby Club HQ when the Town Council agreed to SureStart converting the building.
The 1950s and 1960s saw the emergence of colour printing and routine use of colour transparencies. In the last two decades and almost complete revolution has occurred, with the change to electronic or digital imaging from the previous chemically based photographic silver processes.
In the 1960s, the Weymouth and District Photographic Society had over 80 members and 16" by 20" black and white prints and monochrome slides were the norm. Membership fell to between 30 and 40 after the move from the central Arts Centre but it is now slowly recovering. Today most of the prints produced are in colour and from digital files.
The Annual Exhibition and competition continues to be a highlight and is always well-supported with a public display of work in Weymouth Library's Mulberry Gallery. In 2009 the Society changed its rather stilted title to Weymouth Camera Club and had yet another change of meeting venue, this time to the Centenary Club. From 2010 the public exhibition is to be held in October rather than at the end of the club's active season in May as this may be conducive to attracting new members.
Weymouth Camera Club is growing in strength and we always welcome new members.
Gerry Comley
Club President