WOLLONGONG CAMERA CLUB
1898
Thursday 1st September 1898 Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong NSW)
AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY
Sir, Photography, especially for amateurs, has lately advanced by such leaps and bounds that it has taken hold of most of the large inland towns. Why it has not done so in a district such as this, so richly favored with land and seascapes at every turn it is difficult to say. Whichever way one takes a walk, if only of half-a mile, there is to be found a view worth committing to paper. The writer not long ago was looking through an album of Illawarra views and spent over an hour inspecting and taking notes of the localities embraced in the scenes, and was surprised to see how beautiful certain localities, which, seen and passed every day, did not appear to have anything particularly striking as a view, looked after passing through the camera. For instance a "Part of South Coast Scenery" was a view taken off the northern end of the local bathing shed at high tide and embraced the railway line, cutting, rocks, high water and sandy beach to Fairy Creek with the high cliffs as a back ground. Again "Charcoal Creek, Illawarra", was a nice-looking pool somewhere about Unanderra, fringed with overhanging trees and tree palms and a "South Coast Road", embraced Angel's Bridge and the roadway each side of it. Who would think these localities would make a picture having a sale value? Yet when transferred through the camera and properly printed they made beautiful pictures. Now, why cannot we find out and take our own pictures according to our own respective ways and ideas? Cannot a club be formed among the local amateurs and those who are interested in the pastime? Cameras can be purchased from £1 up to £100, and amongst the benefits accruing from membership would be mutual teaching (not necessarily in the dark room, ladies), exchange of ideas, obtaining supplies in bulk and therefore at a cheaper rate, exhibitions of views, making of lantern slides and properly projecting them on screens. The latter should take, well. Imagine an instantaneous snap-shot of yourself steadily walking along or having spill off a bicycle being projected on a screen before yourself and your intimate friends. And again, a very pleasant day's outing could be arranged for the purpose of taking views alone at any of the panoramic localities within easy distance. For those who require a quieter pastime than tennis, cricket, golf, etc., there can be nothing better than being an amateur photographer - commonly called a Kodak fiend. You do not necessarily need the company of others for an enjoyable trip, but, armed with a small camera you can go alone in search of views and snap off a dozen in quick time. But the most interesting part is the developing watching the picture appear from "nothing". A few ladies have signified their intention of going in for cameras, whether a club is formed or not, and in a few days will be seen in Mr A.J. Walker's window several snap-shots showing the evolution of an "amateur".
KODAK
Tuesday 6th September 1898 Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong NSW)
AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY
Sir, I was much pleased to read the delightfully gossipy letter of the gentleman (I assume it is not a lady) who writes as "Kodak" in your issue of the 1st instant I should most particularly like to see a club formed in accordance with "Kodak's" suggestions. Like himself, I am an amateur photographer and cyclist combined. There is really nothing that gives me greater pleasure than to be able to snap the hind quarters of some pig-jawed cow ruminating in a stagnant pool. Miserable and all as she may be, she is wonderfully improved by passing through the camera. The facility for obtaining reflections in water in this district are remarkable, especially after rain. Then combine the fun of developing and the mutual teaching in the dark room. I do not, however, understand "Kodak's" allusion to the ladies under the circumstances. But then I am a married man myself. As I have said, I entirely agree with "Kodak" that there are some lovely spots in and around our city that deserve being perpetuated - for instance the lighthouse, the Port Kembla Harbour, the court-house clock, Mr Wiseman's tower and Fairy Creek.
I saw a lovely subject today. It was a a poor rough-coated old brown horse. He stood at the edge of a waterhole in Smith Street. His fiery eye was conspicuous by its absence. His neck was arched the wrong way. His head hung beside his knee; and as he stood pensively on the brink of that waterhole I naturally came to the conclusion that the poor waif was contemplating the depth of the water with the ultimate intention of committing suicide. It was a suggestive picture. I ran for my camera. If I only could succeed in obtaining a snapshot, I thought I could start a camera club for myself and obtain undying glory. As I returned towards the spot where I had left him I was pleased to see the horse still there. A thrill of joy — known only to amateur photographers and cyclists — shot unbidden through my heart of hearts. My breast heaved. Alternately I wiped my lens and brow. Alas my pleasure was short-lived — my anticipations were nipped in the bud. The sanitary inspector (Mr Earl) also had found the animal and was snapping him off to the pound. I pleaded with that gentleman. It was no use. I begged him to return that horse for one short hour to his position at the hole. But it was not to be. The sanitary inspector was like pure cold ice. He told me to go away. It was a little but pathetic incident, and I shall carry about the recollection of it until my dying day.
Not only is the beauty of a picture much enhanced by passing through the camera, as stated by 'Kodak'; it is also much enhanced by having a judicious name given to it. For instance, a 'View taken on the northern end of the ladies bathing shed at high tide would be more attractive if it was called "Nereids bathing", or "The bath of Venus" or "Now, ladies" or "Graceful evolutions", or "Not a man near". I only offer this as a suggestion for discussion in the club when it shall have been formed.
I am also inclined to agree with 'Kodak' that a camera at £100 is much better than the £1 article. Now, since this fact has been pointed out to me, I shall obtain a £100 camera when Mr Walker gets in his new stock, which I understand is to be a large one. Then I shall arrange for many a pleasant day's outing. There is really nothing after all in being called a 'Kodak' fiend. People love you all the more. Why, sir, if you only level your 'Kodak' at a lamp post you will have several young ladies hanging around the spot gracefully for hours afterwards. If you have spoiled your negative, what more natural than that you should return for another shot. This is my experience. Watch how the men pull down their waistcoats and push out their necks, as you pedal along with your Gatling-gun 'Kodak' in mid air like a man-of-war entering the battle — the very embodiment of grace itself. They are all inviting you to photograph them. And for this they call us 'Kodak' fiends ! Pshaw ! Perish the thought ! Let us despise the allusion ! Let us form our club at once. Let us arm ourselves with £100 'Kodaks' right off and go forth hand in hand to photograph or to die !
Let us always bear in mind the delightful words of the poet Longfellow, who says:
Life is real, life is earnest,
And hard graft is not its goal;
Snapshots may be taken daily
At each rippling water-hole.
There's a soft thing, bright and airy,
Out the Unanderra way,
There's a mud hole down at Fairy
Creek — we smell it every day.
Comrades, then, be up and doing;
Get your Kodak on your knees;
Cows and trees and bushes growing
Whisper gently on the breeze.
Whisper gently, only waiting.
To be snapped by such as thou
Smiling maiden, frowning mountain,
Sparkling fall, or kindly cow.
Take, develop, print them, mount them,
Label them with anxious care,
Then bestow them on your neighbors,
Scatter them with bossy air.
Scatter, till perhaps a brother,
Or a sister dressed in lace.
May look kindly on your picture,
May assume the heart of grace.
And go forward on the cycle
With the ever-spinning throng,
Led by 'Kodak', snapping trifles
For our club at Wollongong.
Then perchance.
Good-bye. Here's my father.
A.B. SHUTTER
Friday 20th December 1907 Page 4 - Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong NSW)
PHOTOGRAPHERS CLUB
At a meeting at the Milo Studios on Tuesday night last it was decided to form a photographers club in Wollongong. After preliminary matters had been fixed up, the meeting was adjourned till early in next month. Great enthusiasm was shown in the meeting, which augurs well for the welfare of the newly-formed club.