In 1983 a group of people showed an interest in photography and individually signed up for States of Guernsey evening classes. The first session was run by Graham Jackson, a professional photographer with a photographic shop and studio situated in the Arcade. The following term was run by a full time teacher at the Grammar School, where the weekly meetings were held and covered developing and printing in the darkroom. On completion of the course five of the group kept in touch and talk was to join one of the existing camera clubs, Guernsey Photographic Club or Spectrum. At that time Spectrum dealt only in slides and G.P.C. had a waiting list, but all print competitions had to be the authors own work from start to the final print. No trade processed work accepted.
As some of the five who stuck together did not have facility to have a dark room, so over a few drinks at the Dorset Arms, after an outdoor shoot it was decided to try and form a new club for home or trade processed prints. What to call it? A short one word title was preferred, and the name Prism was decided upon. Next was where to meet and as I had contact with someone at the Forest Methodist we approached to arrange renting of the rear meeting room.
Our first meeting therefore took place in January 1984. At first all sizes of prints were accepted up to 8” x 10”, trade or home processed. Very quickly it became apparent that the larger prints were usually in the top places, so the league was split into 2 sections, large, and small. (6’ x 4”).
As we had no funds with the founder members paying a membership fee to cover rental expenses, we set about to encourage new members to join and also set out to raise funds. With this in mind we held two fairly successful events, the first was at the town carnival, which fell on Bastille day. A large board was produced with a hole for members of the public to put their heads through with a guillotine painted background to have their photograph taken. So we advertised it as to loose their head for a £1, and the photographs were available for collection two days later at Guernsey Photographics camera shop. We also took this to the Rocquaine Regatta, and so it proved to be fairly popular, and a reasonable sum of money was raised. This of course was pre digital cameras. To increase membership we advertised an open evening where a demonstration of black and white printing was shown, and quite a few attended, and most then joined the club.
All items such as print viewing stands, trophies etc. were made by committee members, and as I had the workshop and machines with my trade of cabinet making, most were done by myself. The trophies were made of mahogany, with the league trophy, which was competed for over the year in set subject for each meeting, and points awarded for places as voted in house by the attending members. Print display stands were made, and lighting attached which made viewing of the prints much better. The league trophy is two shapes of polished mahogany with a 35mm camera set on a spindle. We also held two other competitions, which were judged by someone outside of the club, and were called print of the year. One an open subject, and one portrait. Again these trophies were made, the portrait of the year had a clay image of a fisherman’s head, and the print was a silver shield mounted on a mahogany plaque in the shape of a rolled scroll. Fairly quickly the club grew in numbers and a very healthy membership, and the club was fairly well off as costs were kept down by members all helping to make it a success.
Quite a few entered external competitions, both Guernsey and Jersey eisteddfods, and UK national and international salons. On at least 2 or 3 occasions a day trip was organised to go to Jersey to see their eisteddfod exhibitions.
Despite some local acceptances a few of us who sent our work away to the UK wondered why it wasn’t so successful over there. As we could not see the standards required we decided as a very small group to start the Guernsey Salon of Print Photography in 1990. Just prior to this we applied to become a member of the Southern section of the PAGB (Photographic Alliance of Great Britain). At first this was a national print salon but then mainly due to postage costs entry numbers declined to around 1,000. A change was made to digital which now saw an immediate rise to around 2,500 entries.
After approximately 10 years as president I retired, and then followed a number of new presidents elected. Of these, but not necessary in the right order were Ken Carre, Ron Sparkes, May Herve, John Daykin, Carol Paes and maybe a few more but I have not kept this recorded, but should be in the club records.
– Derek Tostevin