The origins of the Keswick Photographic Society can be traced back to a group of six people who attended a photographic evening class at Keswick School.
These people formed what was known as the 'Keswick Photographic Circle', meetings were held at local hotels and projected slides were the main interest. This group formed the nucleus of the present Society which started with fortnightly meetings in 1979. The meetings were held then, as now, at the Southey Street Methodist Schoolroom but are now weekly.
The membership is now around 40 people with a good mix of new and experienced photographers. Traditionally the Society has been strong in both slides and dark room printing and has now wholeheartedly embraced digitally projected and digitally printed images.
The Society holds regular internal competitions with projected images (slide and digital) and prints being judged. Our members regularly feature in national and international competitions and exhibitions.
The Society's meetings are open to all and they attract many photographers who are visiting the Lake District. One of our major events is Members Print Exhibition held annually at the 'Theatre by the Lake'. This open exhibition is very popular with the Society's Members and with the visitors to the Theatre. The exhibition is now in its eighth year.
Another of the Society's successes was the winning, until this year, of the Western Area Battle for three successive years.
We look forward to many years of interesting photography.
David Rayment
Chairman