Falkirk Camera Club

Falkirk Camera Club - a Snapshot of its History and Current Activities

On March 22nd 1889 a meeting was held with the purpose of forming an Amateur Photographic Association. "The objects of the Association (reported the Falkirk Herald) are the advancement of photographic art and science in the district, and the mutual improvement of the members"

A committee was formed, with Mr William Graham as President, and thus was born the Falkirk Amateur Photographic Association (FAPA). The first meeting of the club took place on April 5th 1889 and the club already had between 20 and 30 members. Documented reports show that FAPA ran to at least 1907 but it probably continued until the outbreak of WW I.

The club has been through many incarnations since, reforming after WW I as Falkirk & District Photographic Society (1922-33); becoming part of Falkirk School of Art Club and Photographic Circle (1934-38); continuing after WW II as Falkirk Art & Photographic Club (1946-57) - although, from 1949, this was generally referred to as the Falkirk Art Club (FAC).

Then, in 1953, the East Stirlingshire Camera Club (ESCC) was formed and existed in parallel with FAC until 1958 when, at its AGM of April 17th 1958, it decided - not without some debate - to re-name itself Falkirk Camera Club (FCC). So this then is the official 'birthday' of FCC. After this time there are no reports of photography as a section of FAC so, it would appear, FCC had united the photographers of FAC and ESCC into a single club.

Over the past few years Geof Longstaff has researched the history of all of these local camera clubs and produced a 90 minute Audio-Visual presentation of his findings, a copy of which is now held in the Falkirk Archives in Callendar House.

The A-V contains details and images of the club's founders; its many office bearers; trophy winners; successful images from the past; awards and successes in external and national competitions; club venues; FCC's place in the community; portraits of all of FCC's Past Presidents and more besides.

FCC, with it's objectives having changed little, is still thriving with some 60 members and meets every Thursday evening at 7.45pm in Erskine Church Hall, Falkirk between September and April. The club programme consists of a broad mixture of talks, instructional evenings, internal and external competitions and outings with the latter organised mainly in the summer months.

Members have a wide range of interests and abilities and we like to consider ourselves as being an inclusive club. We compete successfully against local camera clubs. While some individual members have gained recognition as winners in the national photographic scene, collectively as a club we have recently made our mark by reaching the finals of the Scottish Photographic Federation Digital Knock-out competition on two successive years and last year we were the top Scottish camera club in the GB Small Camera Clubs Competition.

So, if you have an interest in photography, regardless of ability, why not come along to the club, where you will be made most welcome or visit our website for further information? (www.falkirkcameraclub.co.uk)