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This Kent-based club has been going strong for 100 years
Dartford Photographic Society, which celebrates its centenary in 2019
When was the club founded?
Dartford Photographic Society celebrates its 100-year centenary in 2019. This was a decade or more before the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB) – the ‘parent’ organisation in the UK – came into existence. The society was founded after the end of World War One. In 2015 the first female president of the club was elected.
What does your club offer to new members?
New members are made very welcome. We are happy to allow several guest evenings so prospective new members can experience a variety of evenings before taking out membership. We have a rolling programme of fortnightly club evenings consisting of talks, lectures, competitions and practical sessions. We work hard to present a varied and interesting programme for all our members.
Describe a typical club evening.
Members arrive around 7.45pm and help set the room up with chairs for seating, tables, print stands, and a digital projector, depending on the evening programme. Tea and coffee refreshments are set up in the kitchen. Our guest speaker or judge is welcomed by members of the committee and settled in. We take our seats at 8pm, with a tea break around 8.50pm where people can chat, and a second half that ends by 10pm.
Do you invite guest speakers?
Yes, most being within Kent. The KCPA (Kent County Photographic Society) publishes a list of speakers and judges on ‘the circuit’ and we also invite others on recommendation. Many are return speakers, as some are excellent speakers with multiple talks offered.
Do members compete in regional or national competitions?
We hold an annual exhibition in Dartford Library. We have annual Inter Society and Inter Club competitions, and the KCPA arranges an annual county-wide competition (Ross Cup) and an annual exhibition for which a panel selects images from many clubs in the county. In addition, the PAGB offers distinctions and competitions.
How many members do you have?
A relatively steady membership of around 40 members. We have a growing number of members who have achieved photographic distinctions – FRPS, ARPS, LRPS, CPAGB and others. These achievements should inspire beginners to see that, with some experience and dedication to improve their photographic skills, anyone can achieve these levels of competence. Of course, not everyone is interested in achieving distinctions and the like, and that is how it should be. Photography is for enjoyment.
Are any residential trips or outings planned?
We have at least one annual club night outing. Other activities are arranged by smaller interest groups.
What are the club’s goals for the future?
We have members who have been active for 40 or more years. Even in that short time so many things have changed beyond recognition. We have members interested in various genres of photography that demonstrates a wide range of experience. The advent of affordable digital cameras in the past 20 years increased access to photography such that almost everyone now has a smartphone with a pretty decent camera – as can be seen by the growth of Instagram and the like. These handheld devices are more capable than the first consumer digital cameras were. The growth of video and drone technology has widened horizons, literally. The future of camera clubs in general, and Dartford Photographic Society in particular, will depend on keeping up with these technological advances as well as the resurgence in film cameras and processing. There is something for everyone in camera clubs – a place where people interested in more than just ‘a snapshot’ can meet with like-minded hobbyists.
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