The Edinburgh Society of Professional Photographers

1926

Congratulations

1.  On 1 February, the President, Swan Watson was congratulated on having been appointed FRPS (Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society).        [BJP 1926, p159]

2.  On 5 April, E D Young was congratulated on winning first prize of $500 in the Middle Atlantic Estates Photographic Exhibition.                           [BJP 1926, p233]

3.  On 1 October, the President, Swan Watson was again congratulated - this time for having won the Professional Photographers' Association Gold Medal for his portrait of Lord Sands at the Society's All British Professional Exhibition

[BJP 1926, p159]

Visitor from USA

It was agreed on 6 December that Mr Able (USA) should be invited to meet members of the Ediniburgh Pofessional Photographers' Association during his visit to Britain.         [BJP 1926, p742]

Lecture - William Crooke

At the Meeting on 1 February William Crooke delivered a lecture entitled "Photographers whom I have met".  He spoke of:

-  his first apprenticeship, to Mr Mansefield of Grafton Street, Dublin.
This came to an unfortunate end.  The building collapsed and many negatives were destroyed, whilst the building next door was being demolished.

-  his next apprenticeship, with John Chancellor in Dublin.
John Chancellor came from an Italian family.  He held the Royal Appointment as Photographer to the Viceroy

-  working as an Operator for Mr Silas East, Photographer, Southport.
Mr East was a town councillor.  He would take all his photographs in only two positions, one for women, the other for men.

He showed a film of members at the 1899 Convention, identifying each of them in turn, and also spoke of having met Valentine,  H P Robinson, J G Tunny and others.  He spoke highly of the work of one of Edinburgh's current photographers, Marshall Wane.                                                                        [BJP 1926, p159]

Free Sittings

The campaign against the practice of photographers offering "free sittings" appeared to be ongoing.  At the Meeting on 1 March 1926 it was reported that 1,134 copies of the Professional Photographers' Association Free Sitting circular had ben distributed to members of the Faculty of Advocates, Writers to the Signet, Soicitors, Supreme Courts and the Medical Profession.                [BJP 1926, p159]

On 1 November, Swan Watson returned to the subject of "free sittings", commenting that these had robbed the profession of a great deal of its dignity and status.                                                                                           [BJP 1926, p697]

Prices in the Depression

At the Meeting on 5 April, the Secretary read a note from the Glasgow and West of Scotland Professional Photographers' Association, suggesting that they should cooperate with the Edinburgh photographers in making representations to manufacturers concerning the price of materials, in view of the current recession.

The subject was again discussed at the Meeting on 5 April, but by that time the prices, particularly of higher grade materials had begun to fall.

[BJP 1926, p233, 285]

Kodak Exhibition

At the Meeting on 6 December, the recent Kodak Exhibition was discussed.  Opinions expressed:

-  Automatic vertical enlarger:  this is of considerable use.

-  Kodak system of lighting: little enthusiasm.

-  Kodak rapid oil colouring:  "an old idea developed in a modern form".

[BJP 1926, p742]

Question Night

Questions scheduled to be discussed on Question Night, 5 April, were:

1.  The different keeping qualities of bromide paper

2.  The keeping qualities of isochromatic and panchromatic plates

3.  Questions as to lenses

4.  Projection printing

5.  Permanency of bromide prints

In fact there was only time to discuss the first two questions.     [BJP 1926, p233]

Portrait Photography

J B Johnstone and Swan Watson addressed the Meeting on1 November giving their advice on the subject of portrait photography.

J B Johnstone's view was that a professional photographer must:

-  be a good businessman

-  have artistic talent

-  be a student of humanity.

He suggested that the Professional Photographers' Association should inaugurate a Certificate or Diploma for which professional photographic students would be require to study.  He envisaged a 3-year course, that would include study of the history of art.

Swan Watson added that in addition to the requirements above, a professional photographer should have:

-  a thorough grounding in all technical subjects relating to the taking and development of photographs.

 [BJP 1926, p697]