The Edinburgh Society of Professional Photographers

1924

Exhibition

The Meeting on 7 January heard that an exhibition of prints selected by the Professional Photographers' Association in London, was to be held at the College of Art, Edinburgh, for one week beginning 21 January.              [BJP 1924, p.40]

It was agreed, at the Meeting on 6 October that there should be an Exhibition of Members' photographs in Edinburgh in late October, and that the Society should endeavour to secure the latest PPA Exhibition Pictures to be shown for one or two weeks at the College of Art.                                                        [BJP 1924, p.632]

Unfortunately no hall was found for display of the PPA Exhibition    [BJP 1924, p.754]

Advertising Campaign

There was some concern amongst members that the proposed 'cooperative advertising campaign' had not yet gone ahead.  Some funds had been collected but the required sum of £5,000 had not been reached.                  [BJP 1924, p.40]

Electric Current Rates

A Committee was established on 7 January, to recommend how Edinburgh's photographers should proceed in their attempts to negotiate cheaper electricity rates for printing and studio portraiture, as had been granted by the Corporations in other towns.                                                                         [BJP 1924, p.40]

Discussions with the Corporation's electrical engineer, Mr Newington, were reported to the Meeting on 7 April.  Mr Newington had taken the view that the amount of electricity used at present by professional photographers in studios in Edinburgh did not justify the concessions granted to photographers in other towns. He said

"The electric current used was infinitesimal, taking into account what the installations could supply."

It was agreed to supply Mr Newington with details of the proportion of  electricity that the Edinburgh photographers used for commercial purposes, and a list of other towns that had granted concessions.                                 [BJP 1924, p.242]

Following the discussions with Mr Newington, reported to the April Meeting, the Society must have been surprised to hear within a month that he had written to advise that:

"The Magistrates and Council of Edinburgh Corporation had resolved that the special rate for cinema housing and photo process printing works be given to photographers for electricity used for photographic purposes."

The rate offered was 3.1d per unit on the first 5,000 units, then 2.7d per unit -  a concession of about 1d per unit.  However this rate would not apply to general lighting.  It was considered that photographers would be unlikely to go to the trouble of rewiring their premises to take advantage of this concession.
 [BJP 1924, p.301]

Electric Light Demonstration

An Electric Light Demonstration using Boardman electric studio ark lights was given at J Campbell Harper's studio on 21 November in front of a large appreciative audience, by Mr Angus Beal of London.  He said:

"You can put an electric light where you want it, and can use it either day or night, irrespective of the vagaries of the climate.  Photographers can therefore work longer hours with electric light and accordingly have larger profits."

[BJP 1924, p.708]

Assistants' Social Evening

George Balmain reported on 7 February that to date he had received 69 acceptances for the Assistants' Social Evening to be held on 25 January.  He expected to receive a further 30.  An orchestra had been engaged, and there would be a whist drive with prizes.                                     [BJP 1924, p.101]

At the Meeting on 10 March, it was reported that "the evening had been an undoubted success and enjoyed by all".                             [BJP 1924, p.180]

It was proposed in October that for the next Assistants' Social Evening, the associates should be allowed to run their own entertainment.        [BJP 1924, p.632]

Lectures

Members were encouraged, at the Meeting on 7 February, to volunteer to give lectures.  The following volunteered:

-  William Crooke undertook to criticise any print submitted to him.

-  Mr Drummond Young agreed to speak on Panchromatic Plates

-  W B Hislop agreed to speak on Copying

-  Swan Watson undertook to "give one of his interesting lectures"

[BJP 1924, p.101]

Photographic Exhibition

There was little enthusiasm at the Meeting on 7 February for a proposal to hold a photographic exhibition in 1924.  It was agreed that one might be considered for Autumn 1925.                                                                                  [BJP 1924, p.101]

Kodak

The Secretary was instructed, at the Meeting on 10 March, "to convey most grateful thanks to Messrs Kodak for the trouble and expense they had been put to in showing their film in Edinburgh."                                                   [BJP 1924, p.180]

Two weeks later, it was announced that Kodak had offered to pay for this year's advertising.  The Secretary was instructed "to convey cordial and grateful thanks of the Society to Messrs Kodak Ltd for their generous and spontaneous action in providing this  munificent gift"                                                        [BJP 1924, p.180]

Classes

Messrs Ayton and Johnston reported to the Meeting on 7 April 1924 that they had judged the work of the retouching class and that they had been greatly impressed by the work and the enthusiasm of the pupils.  They also complemented Mr Young on his excellent methods of teaching.                                           [BJP 1924, p.242]

Attendance at the new classes beginning in Autumn 1924 was reported to the Meeting on 6 October.  There had been 12 enrolments for Mr Young's Retouching Class but only 3 for the Composition and Lighting Class.  Disappointment was expressed at the "seeming indifference of assistants to better themselves in their work"

The President reported that he had arranged for Mr Speaight of London to give a lecture on the second Monday of November on:  "What the Portrait Photographers can Learn from the Portrait Painters of Italy and how they Trained their Assistants".

[BJP 1924, p.632]

Advertising Campaign

At the Meeting on5 May, the advertising campaign by the Association of Professional Photographers was criticised as being particularly ineffective, most unattractive and lacking in style.  It was unanimously agreed that it was unnecessary for a third of the space in the advert to be taken up by the symbol and name of the National Publicity Association.                              [BJP 1924, p.301]

An exchange of correspondence with the National Publicity Association of the Professional Photographers' Association was reported to the Meeting on6 October.  It was considered that there had been a great improvement in the adverts.                                                                                           [BJP 1924, p.632]

 

 

 

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