Like most clubs, we are a mix of people with interests in different areas of our chosen interest. In our case, photography. Some club members with a real interest in the medium come along to see what others, and visiting lecturers, are doing. Others are out with their cameras regularly, expanding their skills and pursuing their particular interests.
The 19th century forebears of our present day Falkirk C.C. had important connections and, we have records of club members exhibiting internationally from 1939 onwards. At that time work by John P. Munn from Grangemouth featured in a Scottish Photographic Federation exhibition which toured the U.S.A. between 1939 and 1942, including at the World’s Fair in New York in 1940.
The International Salon and Exhibition of Photography circuit is now worldwide, with several events in the UK, and a group of F.C.C. members are regular participants. In fact, the 5 most successful F.C.C. photographers, ever, on that circuit are current club members. We also have a select few who have achieved recognition, either by the Royal Photographic Society ( R.P.S. ) or the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain ( P.A.G.B. ).
Last Thursday night, therefore, was all about celebrating success. Listening to, and looking at the work of, our photographers who have set out to stretch their technical expertise and develop their artistry.
Agnes Clark LRPS, Geof Longstaff CPAGB, Janet Hoggan, Nancy MacArthur CPAGB LRPS ARPS, and Derek Forrest are our 5 most successful International Exhibitors. David Ferguson LRPS and Agnes have each achieved a Distinction from the R.P.S., Geof and Nancy have both achieved Distinctions from the P.A.G.B. with Nancy achieving 2 Distinctions from the R.P.S. They have now been joined by Debra Duncan LRPS, who has only recently achieved her R.P.S. Distinction.
It was a joy to listen as they, in an understated way, explained the way in which they had each focused on their art and expanded their horizons. They spoke of how they had been inspired and helped by other club members, researched and experimented in their chosen fields of photography, and looked at different styles of photography from around the world.
Delivering a Vote of Thanks at the end of the night, Bob Black remarked on the knowledge base that each brought to our club.