Excerpts from the RAPC Souvenir History
CELEBRATING 75 YEARS
A Progressive Era (1975-1992)
1974-75 ushered in a period of significant expansion in Camera Club development following some years of limited activity and declining membership. A new executive headed by Cam McKechnie as president and Shirley Smith as program chairperson presented an ambitious program with proposed guest speakers that included Youssuf Karsh (he did not make it, and does not seem to have ever been on a club program.) Programs covered topics in both still photography and films, including presentations by portrait photographer John Evans, freelance photographer Ted Grant and CBC TV stars John and Janet Foster. Club members paid a visit to the National Film Board Still Photo Division to see a six-projector slide show presentation and were also invited to a tour of Crawley Films. A $1 entry fee for club competitions was charged to raise funds for awarding of prizes.
John Fowler recalls joining the club in 1973 after moving from Montreal: “As a newcomer to Ottawa, I joined the RACC very soon after my arrival, and made many good friends, several of whom I still keep in touch with, and a couple of whom I count to this day as among my very best friends.”
A new executive elected for 1975-76 was headed by Danielle Allard. The Camera Cub operated a permanent display cabinet for the showing of members’ work on the second floor of the RA Centre. The exhibit was described as “… a source of pride this season. Many excellent prints have passed through it, and Catherine Kelly is doing such a great job in arranging them to best advantage.”
The club’s first annual Open House was held on May 4, 1976. Karin Lehmann, who is credited with organizing the event, reported that it “…attracted a throng of visitors. A most conspicuous guest was Colonel By, whose presence delighted many visitors.” Events included: an Ottawa pictorial slide show, By the Way, edited by Janet Long, Frank Brodie, Jim Scrimger and Bill Nelson; a slide show by Raymond Thauvette on early photography; a nature audio-visual show contributed by members and assembled by John Fowler; and Mardi Gras, an audio-visual presentation by Danielle Allard and Barry White. Special displays were arranged by Ron Andrews (colour printing), Robert Laramée (effects of various lenses), Danielle Allard (RA activities), Glen Staflund (program), and Raymond Thauvette (old photographic equipment). Don Beckett acted as MC. The outgoing executive was later given “… unanimous and sincere accolades for a job well done. Membership was increased, a varied and interesting program was offered members — with the capping event a highly successful Open House.”
Robert Laramée, who first joined the club in 1975, was one of ten club members who made a Victoria Day weekend trip in 1976 to tour Kodak headquarters in Rochester, New York. Others included Danielle Allard, Barry White, Frank Brodie, Roy Bartlett, and Don Beckett. “We visited the Eastman House, a couple of Kodak plants, and the Planetarium.” Another memorable trip for Robert was to Montreal with Roy Bartlett to the Formula 1 Grand Prix where they “shot a whole pile of colour slides.” Robert served as darkroom manager before leaving the club in 1984 because of work commitments, but returned in 2002 for a second career in active photo club service.
Further growth occurred in 1977-78, as membership rose to 125 under chairman Roy Bartlett, and planning and construction of a photographic studio was begun. A new studio division offered “the equipment, the lighting and the opportunity for members…interested in portrait, figure and still life photography.”
An RA News report noted the impact of technological changes on photography in that period: “The development of modern film had detonated an explosion of cameras and camera technology. Clearly, if film had not been greatly improved and if colour had not come along, we might still be using cameras much like those in 1935.” Types of cameras then on the market included roll-film cameras, which used film that came in rolls rather than cassettes or cartridges; conventional and single lens reflex 35mm cameras using film loaded in cassettes or magazines; Kodak Instamatic cameras having film supply and take-up reel in the same cartridge; and Polaroid cameras having no useable negative.
The 1978-79 executive under Chairman Glen Staflund introduced an awards system for club competitions whereby “winners will receive points to be accumulated during the year. Trophies will be awarded at the end of the season for the overall winner and for the highest totals in the slide and print categories.” Further changes followed in 1980-81 when rules allowed submission of six prints and six slides into each competition, with no image entered to be more than two years old. This number was later reduced to four. Credit was given to George Hill, who was to serve as the 1984-85 Chair, for successfully manufacturing new electronic judging machines used in club competitions.
Commenting on good membership attendance, even “during the draggy month of February,” RA News column writer Karol Kovacs credited new members “who not only show up at these weekly soirées but have been taking an unusually large amount of the prize ribbons in the competitions….This new bunch has also found its way down to the lounge for post-meeting refreshments.…The social contact and extended conversation give our club the fresh input and vigorous life that it searches for.”
An RA News column by Brian Fogarty on new trends in photography contained these prophetic comments: “Just around the corner is the greatest challenge of all, electronic or video film. This would allow the capturing of images by electronic digits rather than silver particles…this combined with the ability to instantly project…single images on any…TV set or video monitor.
In 1983-84, the club, prompted by experience relayed by Pierre Mineau from clubs in other areas, adopted a new competition format introducing four levels of photographic proficiency —Junior, Intermediate, Senior and Master – in both print and slide divisions. Every member started at the Junior level. New members could choose to start at higher levels depending on their previous photo competition experience, but were encouraged to start at the bottom.
Experienced Photo Club members Karin Lehman, John Fowler and Stanley Klosevych for many years conducted photo technique training courses for RA members. Photo Club members, meanwhile, engaged in community outreach projects by displaying their work in shopping malls and at cultural events such as the NCC Fall Rhapsody.
CELEBRATING 75 YEARS:PART 3 will appear next month.
CELEBRATING 75 YEARS:PART 1
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These stories are excellent and inspiring!! 😉