New club President, Dave Ferguson LRPS, welcomed everyone to the first night of the season last Thursday. This is our first full season in Trinity Church with the first notable change being that everyone is invited to gather in the café from 7pm onwards before moving into a larger setting for the night’s meeting at 7:30pm.
Dave introduced the club’s Management Team then delivered a fulsome vote of thanks to Immediate Past President, Bob Black. Following a period as Internal Competition Secretary and Vice President Bob moved into the President’s role in the summer of 2019. 7 months into the 2019 – 2020 season the pandemic changed all of our lives. Most F.C.C. Presidents complete a two year term but, largely because of the impact of the pandemic, Bob remained in the role for 5 seasons. Dave pointed out that during the pandemic and like all community organisations we had faced serious challenges. Bob had guided the club through that period, providing much support to other post holders, and protecting our values. Falkirk C.C. is indebted to Bob for his commitment and dedication to the club. Fortunately for the club, he remains on the club’s Management Team in the role of Internal Competition Secretary. This will be a particularly important role as we shortly begin a review process on how best to deliver photographic learning and workshop experiences to our club members.
Dave then explained the structure in which we operate. Our club has membership of 7 Representative or Regulatory associations and they are: Falkirk Arts Network ( F.A.N. ); the Glasgow & District Photographic Union ( G.D.P.U. ); the Scottish Photographic Federation ( S.P.F. ); the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain ( P.A.G.B. ); the Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique ( F.I.A.P. ); the Council for Voluntary Services Scotland ( C.V.S. ) and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator ( O.S.C.R. ). Displaying their websites Dave also showed the You Tube channel operated by F.I.A.P. which looks at many facets of photography from a global perspective.
Next Dave introduced the club’s Web Controller, Stuart Pearson, who has designed and is initiating another of this seasons new activities, The Film Challenge. While photography is now largely a Digital activity the use of wet process photographic film is still with us. Digital cameras incorporate an LCD screen so the the photographer can view the image immediately after taking and make adjustments for the next image. That is not possible with film which has to be developed and printed before the images can be seen. In The Film Challenge club members will be given a single use Black & White Camera, and a single use Colour Camera. Each club member can only take one image on each camera within a 7 day period before passing them on to someone else. When each photographer has taken part the films will be developed and the images reviewed.
That was followed by a particularly special presentation. We can trace our lineage back to 1889 and the formation of the Falkirk Amateur Photographic Association. Activities ceased during two World Wars and the club has had various incarnations but in 1958 the East Stirlingshire Camera Club merged with the photographic section of the Falkirk Art & Photographic Club to form Falkirk Camera Club. One new club member that year was Peter Easton, still a club member and practicing photographer today. Dave spoke about how Peter had contributed to the life of our club by sharing his considerable knowledge, by participating in club events, and by promoting Falkirk and Falkirk C.C. by widely exhibiting his work. Peter was presented with a commemorative Quaich.
After a break for tea & coffee, club members projected some of the images they had been working on during the summer. We often see the finished photograph, however on this occasion it was interesting to see images which were still a ‘ work in progress ‘ accompanied by the photographer’s explanation of where they were heading.
Next week we welcome award winning Macro-photographer & Buglife Ambassador, Paul Fraser. During 2023, Paul won the WeNaturalists ‘Photographer of the Year award. His photography has been featured by the BBC, the Glasgow Times, and he has published articles about his passion for insect-photography. Paul currently works as an outdoor educator delivering an educational conservation-based programme titled ‘Nurture Nature’. During the last year, Paul has taken his passion for all things great and small to a new level. His presentation about the roles of insects and how to photograph them, entitled ‘Fantastic Beasties and Where to Find Them’ has been delivered across numerous camera clubs in Scotland.
We meet at Falkirk Trinity Church, Manse Pl., Falkirk. Thursday 19th September. 7pm for 7:30pm.
Hope to see you there.