Dumfries Camera Club Platinum Exhibition Opens

Dumfries Camera Club was founded in 1947 and as a part of their Platinum Anniversary celebrations, Club members have photographed many hundreds of the Region’s residents and heard a little about their lives, families, work and interests. Dumfries Camera Club's exhibition PEOPLE OF DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY, is now open in the Gracefield Galleries. This includes a display from the Club’s archive going back to 1920. There are also displays by Dublin Camera Club, and pictures by Don McCullin in the studios - 49 of his disturbing pictures, courtesy of Artists Rooms and The Tate.

The diversity of Dumfries and Galloway is reflected in the faces and stories of its people. runs from 26th August to 30th September at Gracefield Arts Centre, Edinburgh Road, Dumfries. Open Tues-Sat 10am-5pm FREE EVENT Occupying 5 full rooms, this is the culmination of a challenging project, photographing more than 1000 local people and recording a little of their stories, to celebrate 70 years of Dumfries Camera Club. Copies of the images will be stored, for future generations, Dumfries and Galloway Archive Service.

The Club has a long association with the SPF, and has been one of the SPF's most active and successful Clubs during it's history. Dumfries Camera Club has been a continuous member of the SPF since joining in 1947. There have been two SPF Presidents from Dumfries Camera Club during that time Eustace T Senior 1965 - 67 and Rod Wheelans 1989 - 91. Eustace T Senior was also SPF General Secretary 1952-56. Both Eustace and Rod went on to become PAGB Presidents too in 1967-69 and 2005-07 respectively. A number of other members from Dumfries Camera Club have served on the SPF Executive over the years, in more recent times Rod Wheelans, Simon Allen, John McVie, Ian Newton, Edmund Fellowes, Gordon Rae. John McVie and Gordon Rae are current vice-presidents of the SPF. 

The Scottish Salon was hosted and organised by Clubs in it's earlier years; Dumfries Camera Club have hosted it five times - 1952, 1958, 1970, 1987, 1993. They also co-hosted the first Scottish Salon run and organised by a separate SPF Executive Salon Committee in 1998, the 79th Scottish Salon. For more on the history of the SPF and it's Clubs visit the page dedicated to this on this website (click here)