A new exhibition to mark 100 years of the Preston Photographic Society opens at the Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston on 12 November until – 6 February 2006.
 | | Roby's Raleigh by Michael Barnes (2000) |
The exhibition celebrates the centenary of the Preston Photographic Society, which was founded in 1905 as the Preston Camera Club. The exhibition includes photographs by past and present members, including portraits, landscapes and some local images, from private collections and the Harris Museum’s photographic collection. The Preston Camera Club was founded on the 13 November 1905 by members of the Preston Scientific Society who met to form a society dedicated solely to photography. The Club attracted professional and amateur photographers who wanted to meet together to hold lectures, competitions and events to promote photography. The club soon had permanent rooms in Stanley Chambers on Lancaster Road where it met for over half a century. The club took part in regional and national competitions and became well known for its natural history and portrait photography.
 | | Programme Seller by Walter Dresser |
Many of its former members have achieved national acclaim including the natural history photographer Joseph Speed, who was the first to capture the flight of a bumble bee at 1/5000th of a second, the photo-journalist Noel Coombes and art photographer Jack Nicholson. The Preston Camera Club changed its name in 1960 to the Preston Photographic Society and today is the longest surviving photographic society in Preston. On show with the members’ work will also be the winner and runners-up of the children’s photographic competition held during the summer. An illustrated catalogue will also be available to accompany the exhibition. * The Preston Photographic Society meets every Thursday night from September to May at Fulwood Conservative Club. For further details of the society and meetings please contact the secretary Mike Barnes on 01772 746314. | 
