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About the Club
 

In 1976 a local airman put a notice in the Forres Gazette inviting anyone interested in forming a camera club to attend a meeting in the Community Centre. About nine people attended and Jack Cameron was elected as the first President of what was titled the Forres Camera Club. Under his tutelage and the subsequent leadership of local photographer Les Hester the club made great progress.

 

By its constitution the stated, and rather pompous, object of the club is:

“to promote the practice and study of photography and the branches of science and art connected therewith”.

However the club's late Honorary President, Alex Fraser, who was one of the founding members put it more pithily as:

"a cheerful meeting place for enthusiastic amateurs who have never taken themselves too seriously and who compete in a spirit of friendly rivalry".

We still don’t take ourselves too seriously!

 


From the beginning of September through to late March the 35 or so members of the club meet once a week on a Thursday evening from 7.30pm in the upper room of Forres Town Hall. This winter programme consists of a mixture of illustrated talks, practical nights, occasional visits and feedback from competition judges. The evening is usually split for socialising over a tea or coffee. On a separate evening of the week training sessions are arranged where basic and more advanced photographic techniques may be learned.
 

  

As part of the winter programme there are five internal competitions at which prints and projected images are judged by attested judges.  These attract large entries, particularly of digital images. There are five trophies to be won in the internal competitions.  There is also a regional competition known as the Grampian Eye where clubs from Forres to Stonehaven compete in a spirit of friendly rivalry.  Our main rival is of course Moray Camera Club based in Elgin. 

 

Other special events over the winter include the annual Alex Fraser Memorial lecture, which is delivered by a noted photographer and is open to the public; the Dingwall National Slide Exhibition which includes entries from all over UK; the London Salon, a collection of provocative but award winning images from international sources.

 

 Outing

 

Over the summer there are local outings each Thursday evening, monthly day trips and occasional weekend trips.  On these outings new members can learn practical skills in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.

 

The club seeks to be part of the wider community and normally has a presence at community events such as Forres Theme Day, Scottish Week or the Highland Games; and members give presentations to community groups.  The club is also invited to take photographs for display at Dallas Dhu and Benromach.  Also the High Street is often brightened up by a display of club photographs whenever there is an empty shop window. 

 

In the year 2000 the club produced an archive of photographs taken by members and local school children showing elements of the very varied social and business life of Forres which was eventually lodged in the Falconer Museum. It also published a very popular book, Forres in Focus, containing 174 coloured photos recording much of the social life of Forres as it was at the start of the new millennium. Copies of the book are still available at knock down prices on application to the Competition Secretary. Forres in Focus
New members are always made welcome and before joining may attend for a couple of weeks to see if the club is for them.  The annual membership fee currently stands at £25 plus a £1 charge for each evening attended (includes tea/coffee).  For more information on membership or if you think you would like to come along please contact the Secretary.

Adapted from an article first written for the Forres Gazette by Ian Condie.
     








A glimpse of Forres of Yesteryear
by Alex Fraser


Town Hall
     
     
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