History of Exeter Camera Club
Originally founded in 1890
History of Exeter Camera Club
The Club was originally founded in 1890 as Exeter Photographic Society but changed the name to Exeter Camera Club in February 1896. In 1906, in association with Kodak, the Club organised an exhibition of photos by local dignitaries which included images taken by Queen Alexandra of Denmark, whom Kodak had recently given a camera.
Over the years the club has had many illustrious members who have seen their passion evolve from black & white film and chemical developing through to colour digital imagery and computer processing.
One such member was Frederick Gordon Tutton, a pioneer of early colour photography. In 1922, Tutton was the first person in Devon to be awarded a medal by the RPS for colour work and in 1927, was one of the founder members of the RPS Colour Group. Tutton was the Club Secretary between 1915 and 1928. You can read more about F.G Tutton here: https://rammcollections.org.uk/2019/06/21/a-pioneer-of-early-colour-photography/
ECC 1890-2015 _ A 125 Years of Celebration
In 2015 Exeter Camera Club produced a book titled 125 Years of Celebration. This is a book with hard cover and also a PDF document.
Members were asked to produced one image each for the book.
The Club also held an Exhibition of Work at Exeter Guildhall which the Mayor opened.
The book also shows our 2015 Winning Panel of images which were entered into the Devon Clubs’ Print Battle.
The book was sponsored by Fotospeed. HERE IS THE LINK TO THE PDF FORMAT OF THE BOOK
Members Achievements
A presentation of Members List of Achievements and images was also shown to club members to celebrate our 125 Years of Celebration. These can be seen by clicking here
Summer Meeting of the Photographic Club at Hampton Court 1856
The Roger Fenton Print still belongs to Exeter Camera Club and is held at the Media Museum in Bradford and insured by them for £5000.
Roger Fenton MA joined the RPS in 1853 was Secretary, Council Member and Vice President. He withdrew from photographic pursuits in October 1862.
Roger Fenton is a towering figure in the history of photography, the most celebrated and influential photographer in England during the medium’s “golden age” of the 1850s. Before taking up the camera, he studied law in London and painting in Paris. He traveled to Russia in 1852 and photographed the landmarks of Kiev and Moscow; founded the Photographic Society (later designated the Royal Photographic Society) in 1853; was appointed the first official photographer of the British Museum in 1854; achieved widespread recognition for his photographs of the Crimean War in 1855; and excelled throughout the decade as a photographer in all the medium’s genres—architecture, landscape, portraiture, still life, reportage, and tableau vivant.
Bickleigh Bridge 1890
Exeter Camera Club – Fifth Society Excursion, April 1890
The above represent those who did their duty on Saturday April by going to Bickleigh by train working hard at exposure markings, walking nearly one mile to Bickleigh Court. Coming back to the New Inn, having passed two cows on the way that were so frightened by the contingent that a butcher boy who was driving them had to blindfold one.
Many of the photographers thought that they were the ones frightened and not the cows but as the cows went along quieter after their party bolted out of the way.
Bullied Beef (Recommended) served by Mr Mark Strong/String (who is over 80). Soon having had at last proper feelings which showed itself by all agreeing to have their likeness taken, which was promptly done, all standing with their backs to the Inn but it fortunately did not cause offence.
James Cheese – President
Another notable Club member, Alfred Rowden was a keen amateur photographer and natural historian in Exeter. His photograph shows members of the Exeter Camera Club on a field trip to Stoke Woods, on the outskirts of Exeter.
