Published on 1st July 2024

Horsham Photographic Society is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024. Despite the recent loss of lifetime president Roger Baker, the society continues to thrive in the digital age. Here, we look back at the society’s history, accompanied by members’ photos from a recent inter-club competition… 

FIRST EXPOSURE

A photography club known as the Horsham and District Camera Club has been active in town since at least 1923. The club held a competition in which winners were awarded a silver trophy and in 1964, this trophy was rediscovered and donated to Horsham Photographic Society. It is still presented annually to the winner of the Print of the Year competition. It is not known for how long the original club survived, but Horsham Photographic Society held its inaugural meeting at the Town Hall on 5 October 1949. The first chairman was P. G Mirfield ARPS and there were about 30 members from many walks of life, although photography was an expensive hobby at the time. 

LUXURY LEICAS

By 1950, there were 37 members, paying an annual subscription of 10 shillings, with meetings held in Albion Hall. Among the early members were businessmen who could afford luxury Leica cameras. Medium format cameras such as the Rolleiflex 120, using 2¼ inch square negatives which gave only 12 photographs per film, were also popular. Talks were given on flashlight photography, photographic chemistry and other techniques, with self-portrait and print competitions held. The following year, members photographed Horsham and an album with more than 150 prints was presented to the town; this now resides in Horsham Museum. In 1953, Roger Baker joined as a teenager, paying a junior subscription of 7/6d (37.5p). Almost 60 years later, he would play an important role in updating the 1951 photographs. 

SPLASH OF COLOUR

In the early 1960s, some members had cine cameras and created their own movies. These included The Music is Murder (1962) and Migraine’s Elusive Case (1963), filmed in Horsham Park, the local police station and Gatwick Airport. These were shown to the public in the Co-operative Hall, but have since been lost. The society was named as the top photographic society in West Sussex by the West Sussex County Times and by 1964, membership had jumped to 48 members. They were mostly men, so the club offered half price subscription to encourage more women. 

In 1968, the society protested to the local MP and the Chancellor of the Exchequer about a 50% purchase tax levy on photographic equipment and materials. The same year saw some members beginning to work with colour prints, which was a more expensive process and gave less reliable results than colour transparencies. Home processing of colour prints from negatives was difficult and even more expensive than commercial prints. It is not unsurprising that black and white remained popular, but even so the cost of processing a film of black and white prints equated to almost a week’s wages for a labourer. 

PHOTO FLOURISH

For reasons unknown, the society’s Silver Jubilee was celebrated a year early in 1973 with an exhibition called Phototex 73. This was held in the Causeway Barn and was opened by Victor Blackman, a top Fleet Street photographer. 

The 1980s saw another substantial increase in membership as photography became more affordable and sub-groups were established for natural history and portraiture. In 1988, an audio-visual group was set up, creating short film stories using two projectors to show slides set to suitable music. The society continued to flourish as it approached the millennium as it adapted from the dark room to digital. 

In 2009, Roger Baker was chairman as the society celebrated its Diamond Jubilee with an exhibition at Horsham Museum. It also held a competition for local schools and an open competition that attracted many entrants. Roger was awarded a Life Presidency when he retired as chairman at the end of 2009, and he would continue to celebrate the society’s success for many years to come.  

MOBILE NETWORK

Today, the society has as many women members as men. The sub-groups no longer exist and are incorporated into the main group, which has a combination of competitions and speakers. There is a wide range of digital and print competitions, while the advancement of mobile phone cameras beckoning an exciting new age in which people never miss an opportunity for a brilliant photograph. 

The society meets every other Wednesday in Horsham at 7.45 – 10pm and new members are always welcome. The 2024 programme includes a Natural World competition in August and a Street and Travel photo competition in September, while speaker John Nathan displays photos from the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica in October. It is recommended that people attend three meetings before committing to join. Members who wish to earn distinctions with the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) are encouraged and given guidance. 

For long-serving members Tony and Pat Perry, it’s the variety of the programme that makes membership worthwhile. Pat said: ‘We have been members of the society for 16 years, joining shortly after moving to Horsham from Kent, where we had been members of another photography society. Some members have a particular interest that define a lot of their output, but our images are an eclectic mix of landscapes, architecture, plants and scenes that captures our attention. I often see beauty in everyday things, such as rays of light reflecting through a window. I realise not everyone will find them as fascinating as I do, but it gives me a lot of pleasure. That is one of the joys of photography and that is why variety is key to our programme of talks, projects and competitions. 

ROGER BAKER

To mark its 75th anniversary, the society launched an external open photo competition for residents, arranged and sponsored by Roger Baker. Sadly, Roger died on 10 May after a short illness and the competition is now being held in his memory. Entries are invited from outside the Society and photos can be taken using a camera, mobile or tablet, with cash prizes offered. Committee member Anne David said: ‘As a result of the manner in which Roger conducted himself as a true gentleman, and his unique contribution to our society for 71 years as a member and latterly as our life president, we have always seen him as the glue which held our society together. Over the years he has made numerous good friends at the club and he will be sorely missed. We know he would have appreciated his parting memory being in connection with his beloved Horsham Photographic Society.’

Further information:

For details about joining or to enter the 75th anniversary Photo competition, email hps75comp@gmail.com or visit www.horshamphotographicsociety.co.uk