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Godalming Photographic Club |
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We
meet every |
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Wednesday |
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at 7.45pm for 8pm |
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One
of our members |
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runs the UK's favourite |
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site
for the over50s |
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Affilliated to the Surrey
Photographic Association |
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Godalming
Photographic Club - A Short History by Ron Head & David Southern |
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The Godalming
Photographic Club was formed in March 1980, when a group of friends
got together, produced a draft constitution and called a public
meeting in the Borough Hall. They explained their hopes and intentions
and by the end of the evening 30 people had joined.
At the outset, meetings were once a month, but
this was soon increased to three a month and then weekly. The
new club joined the Surrey Photographic Federation, (later to
become the Surrey Photographic Association), and entered its
inter-club competitions.
Competitions, with a judge from outside the club
to comment, are seen as a way to increase skills, and several
trophies were soon provided as awards for the best work. The
premier trophy for the series of internal print competitions
is the Founders' Plate, paid for by the founding group. Each
year there is at least one exhibition at which members' work
is on show to the public, and while these are not primarily competitive,
a trophy for the best print at the exhibition was donated by
the Woolwich Building Society.
With a subscription income, the club was able
to have outside lecturers and judges for its competitions. Other
club meetings were devoted to 'The Portfolio', that is, members'
prints circulated for other members' comments and then discussed
in meeting: informed criticism from fellow photographers is more
help than adulation or derision from family and friends! Social
events included outings, a Christmas dinner and a summer party.
Hints and tips and other 'news' were sent to all in a quarterly
newsletter.
One major club project was the making of an audio-visual
slide show of the local history of Godalming over the years since
the invention of photography. Recently the show has been digitised
and continues to be presented at local clubs.
Over the years since its foundation, the club
has more than held its own among its peers in the Surrey Photographic
Association and has won both the print and slide sections of
the annual inter-club competition. The club has also represented
Surrey Photographic Association at the annual PAGB inter-club
print championships.
Photography has changed dramatically in the 30
years since the club was founded. Its thriving membership has
firmly embraced the digital age and Godalming Photographic Club
continues to go from strength to strength.
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