Reigate Photographic Society


The society has been in existence for over 60 years. It is one of the largest and most active in the area. As such it aims to provide an interesting and varied programme of events each year for the benefit of fellow enthusiasts. It is recognized, however, that sustained success is reliant upon the ability to attract new membership.


Membership of a camera club can enable you to get much more satisfaction from photography. You may be new to photography, and wishing that you could improve the standard of your photographs. Perhaps you need advice on the best equipment to serve your needs, or would like have greater confidence in your ability to get the best results from the photographic equipment which you already own. On the other hand you may already have wide experience, and merely wish to expand your knowledge, or measure your capabilities against other members in the club competitions.


We aim to provide a programme of events which will have a broad appeal to photographic enthusiasts.


In addition to people who enjoy photography purely as a leisure activity we have members who are professional photographers.


We have young people, students, family members, people from varied business activities, plus some very active and competitive members of the 'third age'.


Whatever your own specific photographic interests, age, and level of expertise we are confident that you will find like-minded members in Reigate Photographic Society.


Lectures -


A wide variety of topics is covered during each season. Most talks are given by people who have considerable expertise in a particular topic. This may cover an aspect of creative activity, use of photography to support another interest, or a specific subject relating to technical matters.


Competitions -


Members are invited to compete in a formal series of internal contests, as well as a number of ad hoc and fun ones, during each season.


There are classes for prints, both monochrome and colour, and transparencies. In all instances the processing can be done by the entrant or be trade processed. In order to cater for the varying degrees of expertise, members are classified as Preliminary or Advanced. In this way it is planned that competition should be on equal terms, related to the experience of individual members. Within this structure it is then possible for members to be promoted as a result of success in a lower class. To cater for very experienced new members there is a procedure to accept a panel of their work, and to place them in an appropriate class from the start.


In addition to the formal competitions there are a number of ad hoc or fun ones during each season. Examples of these are:


Print-a-neg - where all competitors are given an identical 35mm B&W negative, from which they have to use their technical skills and ingenuity to produce a winning print.


Disposable camera competition - limited to colour prints from a disposable camera.


Chatham Challenge - (named after the first such competition) where all competitors visit a chosen venue on the same day during the summer, and have to take 12 slides on specific topics.


Mini Presentations - This is a chance to show some photographs outside of the competitions


Special Interests -


Members may have special interests and these are often demonstrated at the club, or may result in ad-hoc outings with small groups


Social Events -


There are occasions when the cameras are put away, although it cannot be guaranteed that the subject of photography will not crop up! Events include a summer garden party, plus a number of other informal gatherings during the summer 'closed season'.


Affiliations -


The society is affiliated to The Photographic Alliance of Great Britain, and thus enjoys association with a very large number of other camera clubs. The most immediate contact is with clubs in the Surrey Photographic Association.


During each year a number of inter-club competitions are run, which enable club members to co-operate on a team basis in knockout competitions against other clubs. Although this may not be of interest to all our members it does mean that there is wider contact with enthusiasts from these other clubs.