Letchworth & District Camera Club was formed on Thursday 13 October 1921 from the demise of the K & L (Kryn & Lahy) Photographic & Microscopic Society. After a year the “& District” was dropped. The Subscription could be paid by instalments “owing to the very difficult times prevailing”. Meetings were held in Letchworth Museum. The Club fairly soon received a letter from the Letchworth Naturalists Society requesting that smoking should be discontinued at meetings, so the Camera Club moved to the Church Institute in Pixmore Way. Relations were not harmed too much, because the two clubs agreed on joint outings, and the Camera Club agreed to provide photographs for the Naturalists survey work. Outings were organised by bus, train and bicycle. Early meetings involved the development of plates, making lantern slides and gaslight printing.

 

In 1924 the Club moved their meetings back to the Museum. However, some meetings were held at Donald Brunt’s studio in Leys Avenue, and “Discerna” in Station Road, Gernon Lodge Preparatory School, and the Library Lecture Hall. The Club moved to Letchworth Settlement in 1950, and meetings have been held there ever since. In 2003, the Club was renamed Letchworth Garden City Camera Club, following Letchworth’s own official name change.

 

There has been renewed interest in photography with the introduction of digital cameras and computer printing, which has resulted in increased membership. It does not matter what type of camera you use, whether it is an iPhone or similar, a compact, a bridge or an expensive Digital Single Lens Reflex - our members use them all. There are several prints displayed in our exhibition that were captured using an iPhone. Try and spot the ones taken using an iPhone, you will be surprised!