PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
FORMED 1954
1st November 1954
Volume 61 Number 11 - Page 653
The Australasian Photographic Review
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
The procedure adopted in South Africa is somewhat unusual from the local point of view. The Photographic Society of Southern Africa, approved by Congress at a meeting in Durban on July 26, 1954, takes the form of a Registered Company for the purpose of “fostering and assisting in the advancement of photography and cinematography in Southern Africa”.
The inauguration of the Society coincided with the largest and most representative International Salon ever to be seen in South Africa. Over the two weeks previous to the Congress, a postal ballot was held throughout the country, resulting in the appointment of an Executive Council headed by Dr. A.D. Bensusan FRPS, FPSA, of Johannesburg, as President.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS 1954 |
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| PRESIDENT Dr. A.D. Bensusan FRPS, FPSA |
Vice President: Dr. J.K. du Toit |
Vice President: Mr. Robert Bell |
Hon. Secretary: B. Penny |
Hon. Treasurer: M. Margetts |
Highlights of the Congress were messages from the Royal Photographic Society and many individual photographers, a series of lectures by prominent men in the world of photography, a banquet, and a visit by some two hundred photographers to the picturesque native village of Shembi, where the annual religious dancing festival was taking place.
The Society will publish from January 1955, a monthly journal with an Annual Pictorial Issue which will incorporate the present "South African Photogems of the Year".
Membership of the new Society is open to all photographers and photographic societies, both South African and overseas. Fees are £l/1/ per annum. Details regarding organizational and trade membership can be obtained from the Membership Committee, Johannesburg, South Africa.
APRIL 1955
CAMERA NEWS OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
Last July a group of Photographers from all parts of Southern Africa met at Durban and before returning to their homes founded the Photographic Society of South Africa and so for the first time since the formation of the first Photographic Society in 1890 Photographers had a central body to which they could look for guidance and help.
To link together more closely the members of this new body we present you with this publication-a journal that will bring you news of Societies from other centers scattered over this vast country and separated by thousands of miles, of views of fellow Photographers and of items of interest to all. In particular it will be of use to the many lone workers who have no fellow Photographers to turn to for that little chat which all camera owners love so dearly.
Still camera users, cine and color workers, whether English or Afrikaans speaking, will all find their places in these pages, for our journal is flexible. It is a sincere wish that those persons still beyond the Photographic Society of South Africa will sense the sincerity of the movement and even in its infancy give their support-it is now that this support is required for tomorrow the movement will be such that it will em brace all. It is not the wish that the Photographic Society of South Africa should supplant the Royal Photographic Society, nor the Photographic Society of America, but here we have a Society dealing with our own particular problems, vast distances, bard light, high temperatures and a large number of very young clubs and Societies.
PHOTOGRAPHIC PERSONALITIES
BRANNIE NOEL PENNY, the first Honorary Secretary of the Photographic Society of Southern Africa, Ltd., has been interested in photography since 1934. In that year he joined the Krugersdorp Camera and Cine Club and soon afterwards became its secretary. After serving in this capacity for almost six years, Brannie was elected Chairman of the club in 1940 and, except for a break of one year in 1949, has held that office ever since. He has also been a member of the Camera Club of Johannesburg for the past fifteen years.
Brannie started exhibiting in 1939 and has had prints accepted both in this country and overseas. In recent years his interest has shifted to the technical processes of photography, especially older printing processes, such as Kalitype and Gum Bichromate, and to color transparencies, and as a result of this he has neglected the exhibition side of photography.
After the abortive attempt in 1946 and 1947 to found a national photographic body, Brannie became keenly interested in this project. When he discovered, during the course of his work as financial adviser to the Photographic Congress of Southern Africa, that the time was ripe for the revival of the project, he became a very enthusiastic worker for the establishment of the Photographic Society of Southern Africa, Ltd., becoming, on its formation in July, 1954, a Director and Honorary Secretary of the Society.
Brannie, who is employed in the secretarial department of a large mining group in Johannesburg, is well qualified for the position of secretary, having passed the examinations of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries with distinction in 1949 and 1950.
NATURE'S BASTIONS
Robt. Bell
NEW OFFICE FOR
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
The Registered Office of the Photographic Society of Southern Africa Ltd has now been changed to 311 PLEIN CENTRE, cor. Plein and Wanderers Streets, Johannesburg.
The office has been opened from 1st February and will not only be a general office for administration and Executive meetings, but also a Members room, where country members can relax and enjoy the library and other facilities with their photographic friends in the city. A telephone will be available and meals and teas can be served from a nearby restaurant.
Any members visiting the city are invited to call in and sign the visitors book and have a chat to the lady in the office about the activities of the Photographic Society of Southern Africa.
MAY 1955
CAMERA NEWS OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
The Pretoria Photographic Society this year won the main award for the best collective entry in the annual Amateur Photographer Overseas competition in London.
The Art Editor of the Amateur Photographer states that there was a very large entry from all corners of the Empire and Commonwealth, and the overall standard was extraordinarily high and few prints only did not come up to first class exhibition standard. Individual awards from South Africa were as follows:
| SILVER PLAQUE: NO TITLE O. Abramowitz Pretoria |
SILVER PLAQUE: L DE YAAL C. van Tilburg Pretoria |
BRONZE PLAQUE: MORNING REPOSE Max Nowitz Pretoria |
BRONZE PLAQUE: AFRICAN WORSHIP Dr. A.D. Bensusan FRPS, FPSA Johannesburg |
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT: LADY FROM THE EAST Max Nowitz Pretoria |
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT: DYING SWAN J. le Roux Johannesburg |
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT: TULIPS Elro Braak Pretoria |
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT: COMMERCE WINDOW H.C. Brinkworth Wynberg C.P. |
JULY 1955
CAMERA NEWS OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
PRESIDENTIAL NOTES
by Dr. A.D. Bensusan FRPS, FPSA
BIRTHDAY
Members will receive this copy of the Journal in time for our birthday, and some will surely like to recall the happy event of July last year in Durban when Photographic Society of Southern Africa came into being. I myself will be quite at home on this particular day, for my wife and I hope to be present with photographic friends at the monthly meeting of the Durban Camera Club and to share this first birthday with our hosts of last year's historic occasion.
In the short space of this first year, Photographic Society of Southern Africa has built up a large and valued individual membership, besides almost every Photographic Club from Kenya to the Cape is participating in its functions. From Pretoria this month comes news of both the Afrikaanse Fotografiese Organisasie, and the Pretoria Cinematography Club joining our ranks.
Throughout 1955, there has been, on the average, a new member every second day; and still our Membership Chairman is not satisfied.
It is little wonder then that we have never before been so united as we are right now. Let us hope that it always stays like that.
NOVEMBER 1955
CAMERA NEWS OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
PRESIDENTIAL NOTES
by Dr. A.D. Bensusan FRPS, FPSA
1955 INTERNATIONAL SALON
The Durban Centenary Salon at the First Congress, last year, drew 339 prints and 164 slides from exhibitors scattered far and wide throughout Southern Africa, and such tremendous support gave a clear indication of the latent enthusiasm in our photographic circles and South Africans topped the acceptance lists with honors, amidst very strong Overseas competition.
The current Pretoria Centenary Salon organized by the Pretoria Photographic Society: under the auspices of our own Photographic Society of Southern Africa and held in conjunction with the Second Photographic Congress, drew even greater support. Over 650 entries (512 prints and the remainder slides) again came from the corners of Southern Africa to place before the judges - the largest entry from Southern Africa ever assembled for any photographic exhibition in the world.
There was a record entry of more than 1,500 from all over the world, and only 143 prints and 73 slides were accepted for display. The print acceptance figure of little over 8% brings this Photographic Society of Southern Africa Salon into line with such great exhibitions as that of the Royal Photographic Society and Photographic Society of America for the majority of International Salons rate at approximately 10% or over.
One wonders whether we are not defeating our objects, with such a stiff competitive Salon, for there are bound to be scores of our own exhibitors who will be disappointed, but Photographic Society of Southern Africa can easily meet the situation. On the other hand those 43 South African prints which reached the walls, and those eight that received 'unanimous acceptance' and the award winners are a great tribute to the very high standards of our own South African photography today.
With such phenomenal support from within our own country, Photographic Society of Southern Africa can confidently face the future and assure our exhibitors of a Salon which is supported by all and which maintains a standard comparable to the leading world exhibitions. At the same time it is the wish of our Directors that the Club and group spirit rather than the individual should be fostered and we hope to introduce something along these lines in the near future.
We have the prints in our own country - Pretoria Salon is evidence enough - we have the enthusiasm and now that we have a National body we are setting about the co-ordinating of these scattered activities and bringing added culture and joy to the public and photographers alike.
I would like to thank the panel of a dozen judges of the Pretoria Salon, and to mention the light-box judging system that worked so well, and to pay tribute to the energetic Committee headed by Photographic Society of Southern Africa Vice-President Dr. J. K. Du Toit and his charming wife Molly, and Oscar Abrornowitz (Secretary), Richard Monnik, Trevor Reed, C. van Tilburg, H. Krynauw, Dr. Bennie Danzig, Prof. B. Wiehahn, E. Zikmann and the other helpers that made this such a memorable occasion.
OSCAR ABRORNOWITZ:
WITH SOME OF THE PARCELS RECEIVED FOR THE PRETORIA SALON.
THEY WERE EVENTUALLY MORE THAN ELEVEN FEET HIGH.
NOVEMBER 1955
CAMERA NEWS OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
SECOND PHOTOGRAPHIC CONGRESS of SOUTHERN AFRICA
PRETORIA 1955
By Eric Vertue ARPS
Our hosts, the Pretoria Photographic Society, had done a lot of organizing and months of hard work showed their worth when everything ran smoothly, so smoothly that one wondered whether anyone had done any work at all! The lectures were interesting but unfortunately space will not permit a review of all and only those that made a personal appeal can be mentioned. Harold Weaver, Production Manager of SATOUR gave us a most interesting insight of putting South Africa on the map for tourists and then entertained us with the premiere of his two latest 16mm film productions. Too many of us know too little of the fine work this organization is doing for the country.
GENERAL VIEW OF SALON
BY RAY RYAN
Dr. E.P. Friede entertained us to a most thought provoking lecture on "The Power of Line" and I'm pleased to tell you that he has promised to contribute this lecture to Camera News. The talk, illustrated by about one hundred diagrams, was very well received indeed, and to prove his philosophy the lecturer produced several prints which had salon acceptance stickers on the back. Dr. Friede apologized for his "Bavarian English" but that was not necessary. A fine lecturer and a delightful lecture.
Louis Nel gave us a very breezy lecture in Afrikaans with the need of the Press for photographs as his main theme. I should hate to be the shorthand writer who ever attempts to quote Louis!
Ted Jones was controversial while Harry Lotzof gave us the advertisers, angle to color photography. Benny Danz ig and Cor Van Tilburg differed, with great interest, in their outlook on outings, the search for pictures and photography generally.
On Saturday afternoon Dr. H. Muller, Mayor of Pretoria, opened the Pretoria Centenary Salon which surely must rank as one of the greatest Salons the country has ever staged. Not only were the pictures good, the judges had over 1200 from which they selected only 149, but the presentation was magnificent. Each screen had its own bank of lights and the hall was gaily decorated with flowers and greenery. The accompanying illustration will more clearly indicate the layout.
Then there was the banquet and braaivleis which gave all present an opportunity of getting to know one another.
After this feast of lectures and entertainment came the General Meeting of Photographic Society of Southern Africa, the first ever to be held. It was a good meeting, delegates discussed their various points to good purpose and as the meeting wore on one was aware of a solidarity which will make the Society great. From Bloemfontein, Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Uganda and Pretoria came thoughts and questions, all of which showed a remarkable singleness of purpose.
Our thanks for a memorable Congress go to the Chairman of Congress, Dr. Jan du Toit and his charming wife, Mollie. Be it tea or ice, Mollie had the answer. Jan always had full control of the multiplicity of meetings and speakers. Oscar Abramowitz had done his secretarial work well and the band of helpers who surrounded them, and who are not named, all contributed their share.
The General Meeting decided to hold the 1956 Congress at Cape Town and the slogan "CAPE TOWN OR BUST" was carried unanimously. We shall be pleased to see you!
