NEWCASTLE AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHIC CLUB
FORMED 1909
22nd October 1909 Page 550 - The Australasian Photographic Review
NEWCASTLE AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHIC CLUB
Newcastle has been going strong on Photographic matters and recently a large number of the leading amateurs met together and decided that they would form a Club that should offer exceptional advantages to its members. Two large rooms were secured over the premises of Messrs. W.H. Soul and Co., together with the use of their daylight enlarging and dark rooms and a formation meeting was held on 7th October. Mr. J. Williams (of W.H. Soul and Co.), was elected President; Mr. T.F. Roden, Vice-President; B.C. Green, Hon.Secretary; J. Maudson, Treasurer.
It is on the tapis to form one room into a reading and social room, where the newspapers and photographic magazines, etc., may always be consulted, as well as standard works of reference, of which the club intends to form quite a library. Opening off this room is a wide balcony, which is being turned into a smoking and lounge room and is being fitted up with lights, deck chairs, game tables, etc. The demonstration room is to be fitted up with enlarging lantern, sinks, lockers and other obvious conveniences. It is hoped to go in for some advanced work and also some experimental work, perhaps original and also elaborating the ideas of others.
If any photographic friends are visiting Newcastle we give them a most cordial invitation to make our rooms at 43 Hunter-street their headquarters during their stay. Our feeling towards them is expressed in a clause of our bylaws, e.g., any member of a sister society shall be accorded all the privileges of this society (except voting) when visiting Newcastle for a period of fourteen days with out any fee whatsoever. We shall also be glad of any literary contributions from sister societies that will forward our objects.
B.C. GREEN
HON.SECRETARY
22nd November 1909 Page 601 - The Australasian Photographic Review
NEWCASTLE AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHIC CLUB
The rooms of the Newcastle Amateur Photographic Club were officially opened on Thursday 28th October, by Dr. J.L. Beeston M.L.C. There was a large number of members and visitors present.
The President, Mr. J.F. Williams, presided at the function. Dr. J.L. Beeston and Vice-President T.F. Boden on his left. The President, in his speech, said it had been found necessary to provide more accommodation for the members, so that they could meet for social intercourse. Photography was not only an art, but a science and the club proposed to study the chemistry of the higher branches. To do that effectively they had found it necessary to band themselves together. They wanted it to be a scientific club, but at the same time they did not want to lose the social side. Their presence that evening was largely due to the effects of Mr. B.C. Green, their ingenious Hon.Secretary.
Dr. J.L. Beeston, in his opening remarks, thanked the members for the honor conferred upon him. He felt it was an honor to preside at such a function. He did not know why he had been called upon, unless it was because he was one of the latest converts to the photographic art. It had always struck him that such a club as this where men could meet and talk over ideas was one that would tend to expand the ideas of members. The thought of forming a club was a good one and he predicted a great future for it. After looking round the rooms so comfortably fitted out and free from debt, he said they must all feel proud of such a Hon.Secretary and trusted that they would continue in that gratifying condition. He had much pleasure in declaring the club open and wished it every success.
The rooms are well furnished and indications point to a successful future for the club. In addition to the reading rooms, there are two dark rooms, enlarging and smoke and lounge rooms and all the latest photographic literature is provided.
Mr. B. Green, Hon.Secretary, submitted a statement showing that after paying for all the furnishing there was a small credit balance. There were 32 members on the roll and a substantial addition was expected in the near future. Arrange merits had been made for the Newcastle and District Photographic Society to use the rooms for demonstrations. The club would be open daily and members urged to use them. Mr. W.F. Gale afterwards delivered a lecture on Stellar Photography and recounted the early applications of photography, special reference being made to the first efforts put forward to photograph the heavens in the middle of last century. He proceeded to say that fairly good photographs of the moon were taken and exhibited in London in 1851 and it was after that that celestial photography was undertaken. The comets of 1851 and 1861 were also photographed, but they gave no impression on the plates. The results on brighter stars were encouraging as far back as 1858, but it was not until the dry plate was introduced that modern stellar photography had been successful. In 1882 the great comet in September of that year appeared and was photographed at the Cape of Good Hope, the lens being strapped on to the telescope of the Observatory. Some of the photographs did not turn out too well, but others that did were of good character. In the course of four years the whole southern sky had been photographed, and the work of compiling the star catalog had been enormous in character. It was the publication of this catalog that brought about the Congress in Paris in 1887. Sydney took part in the work, but the measurement would take six or seven years to complete. A century hence the good work that was now being done would be appreciated.
Mr. Gale then gave a practical illustration of stellar photography and some wonderful slides were shown by the lantern, which was in the capable hands of Mr. R Gow. Votes of thanks to Dr. Beeston and Mr. W. Gale were carried and they suitably responded. Four new members were proposed for membership and the future of the club will no doubt be prosperous in every sense.
23rd May 1910 Page 266 - The Australasian Photographic Review
NEWCASTLE AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHIC CLUB
The regular monthly meeting of the Newcastle Amateur Photographic Club was held on Tuesday evening, the President, Mr. J. Williams, in the chair. The following subjects were dealt with during the quarter; X Ray Photography, by B. Filmer, who gave one of the most interesting and instructive demonstrations the Club has had. The machine used was a powerful one and when connected the rays penetrated a 3-foot brick wall. 10 x l2 Plates were exposed on hands and various parts of the body and most satisfactory results were achieved. Carbon and Ozobrome Processes were also dealt with by R. Lamont and B. Green through the various stages and some very artistic results were shown.
A chemical lecture by J. Williams and E. Mackinnon proved instructive. The various chemical changes shown when contaminated with other chemicals in Photography showed many failures encountered by the amateur in the careless use of Hypo, etc., proved an object-lesson to many.
Flashlight Portraiture and Firelight Effects was also an interesting subject suitable for winter evenings at home. Mr. G. Dawkins exposed some 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 plates on single and group subjects, which on developing proved the excellence of this branch of indoor Photography.
The Club generally is in a prosperous condition. We are enrolling new members monthly and the work generally speaks for itself. The Club can congratulate themselves on the success achieved at the Newcastle and Maitland Shows, where the Club members secured the whole of the prizes and showed some of the finest work yet exhibited.
We intend to hold a Salon Exhibition of Work in the near future, when every member will be exhibiting his best work from an educational point of view. In all, we expect to be able to show at least 200 productions. Our new rooms are a boon to the members and visitors from the various States are constantly dropping in, which proves the convenience of such a Club as ours. During the quarter we have conferred honorary memberships on 17 visitors during their stay in Newcastle. The reading, enlarging and dark rooms are fully in demand and it is the intention of the Committee to purchase a half plate enlarging lantern in the near future.
Again we extend to all photographers a hearty welcome to our rooms.
B.C. GREEN
HON.SECRETARY
Saturday 14th December 1912 Page 7 - Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate (NSW)
The monthly meeting of the Newcastle and Northumberland Benevolent Society was held at the office, Parry-street, on Friday 13th December 1912.
Donation 30 shillings, was received from the Newcastle Photographic Society.