PICTORIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKERS SOCIETY
FORMED 1913
22nd March 1913
Page 154 - Vol. 20 No. 3 The Australasian Photographic Review
PICTORIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKERS SOCIETY
Dear Sir, I have much pleasure in bringing under your notice the formation of the Pictorial Photographic Workers Society.
1. The objects of the society are to advance the art of Pictorial Photography.
2. To mutually assist, advise and encourage members in the production of pictorial work.
3. To arrange for placing such work in Colonial and Foreign exhibitions and publications.
4. To hold an annual exhibition of members work and social evening.
The members of the society shall be limited to 15, who must be enthusiastic workers of proved ability. Subscription, 10s. per annum. The clubroom shall be Mr. O.H. Coulson’s Studio, 214 Queen street, Melbourne. The meetings are to be held on the 2nd Thursday in each month. One hour to be devoted to business and consideration of members work, and one hour to demonstrations. The society shall be governed by a committee of four and Hon.Secretary elected at the annual meeting. All work must be passed by the governing committee before it can be exhibited in the name of the society. The committee shall prepare a roster of chair men for the meetings, whose duty it shall be to control the meeting and provide a suitable demonstration for the evening. Each member must in turn act as chairman.
This is a brief outline of the constitution of the society, which is already a going concern. A strong working committee, consisting of Messrs. O.H. Coulson, C.J. Merfield, W. Howieson and J. Williams, has been appointed, with Mr. F. Dutton acting as Hon.Secretary. Mr. John Hayles will have the honor of taking charge of the first meeting next month.
The committee have appointed a controller of pictures whose duty it shall be to place the work sent in before the society members as a class on each meeting night for general criticism. All work must be passed by the committee before it sees the light of day, under the society’s name. Very careful consideration has been given to members qualifications, and only workers of proved ability and good clubmen have been enrolled, with a view of making the society a social as well as an artistic success.
The full compliment, 12 for the present, have joined. The 12 shall be considered the founders of the society; three seats are being reserved for desirable aspirants.
The roster for the ensuing 12 months has been drawn up, each member providing suitable demonstration for one evening.
We are determined to do our best to establish a school of high-class Australian work in Melbourne, let it cost what it may.
22nd April 1913
Page 211 - Vol. 20 No. 4 The Australasian Photographic Review
PICTORIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKERS SOCIETY
Selecting “Bromo Carbon Work” as his subject, Mr. John Hayles gave the initial demonstration at the rooms of the Pictorial Photographic Workers Society, and in the course of his remarks described it as a carbon process, controlled by chemical instead of direct light action. He also said that the advantage of working the carbon process independent of daylight made it a great boon to the amateur. The doing away with the sensitizing and exposure of the tissue made the method convenient and sure for the converting of bromide enlargements into carbons of any desirable color, or, if preferred, the tissue could be stripped from the print and transferred to any suitable surface, the print redeveloped, and made available for further use.
Successfully demonstrating the process, Mr. Hayles advocated the use of amidol for developing the bromide paper, and strongly recommended the velvet surface, although some fine results could be obtained on toned and rough papers by the experienced worker. He used the Ozobrome bleaching solution, with the addition of citrate of potash to obtain soft effects, and alum for contrast.
After ten minutes chat on the possibilities of the process, the members devoted the second part of the evening to the criticism of the pictures handed in. Four pictures were unanimously selected as being worthy to represent the society, and these have been retained by the committee, the nucleus of the first set.
A very enjoyable and instructive evening was spent.
Mr. W. Howieson will act as demonstrator and chairman at the next meeting.
22nd May 1913
Page 258 - Vol. 20 No. 5 The Australasian Photographic Review
PICTORIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKERS SOCIETY
Mr. Howieson demonstrated the making of enlarged negative transparencies, and recommended a soft-working plate, given full exposure, and quick development. He used Amidol to develop, taking care not to make the transparency too dense, as it was advisable to find the correct time of exposure before proceeding with the work on hand. A small plate was used for the purpose, and afterwards kept, with the correct exposure penciled on the corner, for reference. To soften contrasts, transparencies made on paper would be found useful.
The society had no difficulty in completing the first series of pictures, and these are now well on the way to try their fortunes at the A.P. colonial competition.
22nd June 1914 Page 317 - Vol. 21 No. 6 The Australasian Photographic Review
PICTORIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKERS SOCIETY
The illustration reproduces a souvenir of the Society’s First Annual Dinner, recently held. It was designed by Mr. D.H. Coulson, a member of the society and the pictures thereon represent some of the successful work shown at the “Amateur Photographer Colonial Exhibition".
The exhibition of members work on or about the 21st June will complete the program for the year.
A set of pictures has been forwarded for the 1914 “Amateur Photographer Colonial Exhibition" and members are well pleased with the all-round improvement shown, which is very marked. An endeavor will be made to get some work away in time for the R.P.S. Exhibition, and members have undertaken to assist at the Adelaide Club’s Exhibition in July.
The meetings since the formation of the society have been most enjoyable and successful, and members look forward this year to placing a set at an American Exhibition, and, if possible, arranging for an interchange of pictures.
SOUVENIR OF THE FIRST ANNUAL DINNER