The club began life in the early 1980s under the auspices of a city educational enterprise at the Madeley Centre

in Normanton, Derby. Photographic courses were organised in the evenings, successfully introducing many

students to film based photography. Instruction and participation was provided in basic techniques, presentation,

dark room work, studio lighting and the history of photography.

These very successful courses generated an enthusiastic band of photographers and the limitations of meeting

within an educational establishment began to tell. Meetings and courses were limited to term times and had to

finish at 9.30 pm, resulting in the local pub becoming an unofficial, but attractive venue. Fortunately, the club was

able to obtain a new home in the premises of the hospitable Derby Rowing Club, where meetings could be held

every week in comfortable surroundings with bar facilities.

In this new location, the club was able to expand its activities and to continue its original aims of introducing

photography to a wider group of interested people. Over the subsequent 25 years, the club organised over 500

lectures, more than 200 photographic competitions, exhibited at Derby Art Gallery and the Q Gallery, took part in

countless inter-club competitions, devised and presented audio-visual performances, organised outings and

weekend photography breaks, and took an active part in the internationally supported Derby Format photography

festival.

The club benefited from generous support by the Lotteries Commission. This has allowed expansion by funding

new equipment, software, books and services, helping to further the aims of bringing the appreciation and

execution of photography to an even wider audience. As well as an increased capacity to provide learning and

experience, the club has been enabled to embrace the digital age and provide practical, hands-on development of

capture, enhancement, manipulation and presentation skills. This digital expansion generated sufficient demand

for the club to create “Digital Tuesdays” when the many interested members can take time to concentrate on such

matters as pixels and Photoshop to complement the content of the regular Monday meetings.

The club’s activities created a response in recruiting many new members and the long, harmonious relationship

with Derby Rowing Club came to an end when expansion of the membership dictated a change. The club was

fortunate in being able to move to larger accommodation at The Grange in Littleover, Derby in July 2009 where an

equally comfortable and welcoming ambience has been found.

The club looks forward to another period of development and the continuation of its aim to provide experience,

learning and socialising in its hallmark friendly atmosphere. What will the next 25 years bring?

Created by Barry Thompson © 2009-2010 Derby City Photographic Club all rights reserved

8^th March 2010