SOCIETY HISTORY : SOCIETY HISTORY
SOURCED FROM THE SOCIETY ARCHIVES
In the contemporary press, the Society was reported to having been resuscutated in the March of 1901, as the Dewsbury & District Amateur Photographic Society, though there is very litle evidence of it's predecessor.
There were 45 Original members, mostly business and professional people, with the Town Clerk as President, An early member and it's most distinguished was W E Gundill (bottom right) OBE, J P, Hon F R P S, who died in 1959 and was still a member at the time of his death.
A competition held in Mr Gundill's honour takes place every year based on 6 prints or slides on a theme of the authors choosing, the Gundill Trophy is awarded to the set of prints or slides that gain the most points.
Mr Gundill acheived international fame for his gum-bicromate and bromoil prints, he was at various times President of the YPU, and twice President of the P A G B, and Vice President of the Photographic Convention.
The society has held an annual exhibition of members work every year since it's foundation, and has held meetings in various locations including Dewsbury Minster and of late in the Mayors Reception rooms in Dewsbury Town Hall (top left).
For many years the members tended to specialise in architectural photography gaining many awards, but turned to pictorial work mainly in colour printing.
In later years members took to producing quality monochrome prints and colour slides, Today there are about 30 active members and in the last few years some have turned their hands to digital images, many of which have won awards in the YPU exhibition.
WE MEET EVERY MONDAY NIGHT AT 7.00 PM TO 9.30 PM, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS FROM
SEPTEMBER TO MAY WHY NOT COME AND JOIN US, NEW MEMBERS ALWAYS WELCOME
