EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

Southland Times, Issue 24869, 8 October 1942, Page 3

EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

BLEDISLOE CUP AWARDS Photographs exhibited in annual competition between New Zealand camera clubs for the Bledisloe Cup have been placed on exhibition in H. and J. Smith’s lounge and will remain there for one week. The display was opened yesterday afternoon by the Mayor (Mr A. Wachner) in the presence of a fair number of photographic enthusiasts. Although the Southland Photographic Society did not compete for the cup, it has placed on the walls a selection of the work of its members. The cup was won this year by Wellington with 1027 points and the other clubs in order were: Auckland 960, Christchurch 948, Dunedin 884, Waikato 820. The photographs reach a high standard with a good variety of portraits, land and seascapes and novelties. Some of the prints are strikingly original and undoubtedly display artistic and technical skill. At the opening function the president of the society (Mr W. H. Tustin) said the annual exhibition was looked upon as an event in the photographic world and he hoped that artists, who might at one time have scorned photography, were taking an interest. The cup awarded for the competition had been presented by Lord Bledisloe when Gov-ernor-General of New Zealand. He had been an ardent amateur photographer and was said to have taken back to England a fine collection of pictures secured by himself and Lady Bledisloe. The conditions of the competition were stringent and ensured that only the best photographic work in New Zealand could compete. Each club submitted 12 pictures after selection by the club members, and the final exhibit could include not more than two prints from any one competitor. MEMBERS ON SERVICE The Southland Society had suffered severely from the absence on active service of some of its most active members, and it had not been possible to get six members who thought their work was good enough for the competition. However, a selection of pictures by members of the society had been placed on exhibition. Every effort was being made to keep the society active for the return of its members from war service. The society was indebted to the Southland Museum Trust Board, which allowed it the use of its meeting room and dark room, and to H. and J. Smith, Ltd., for allowing the use of its lounge for the exhibition. He hoped the time was not far distant when Invercargill would have 39 art gallery in which photographs would have a place along with paintings. In declaring the exhibition open, the Mayor said Lord Bledisloe’s thoughtful gesture in presenting a cup for competition among camera clubs had been the means of promoting a friendly spirit of rivalry between the photographers in all the provinces. Invercargill was fortunate in having a live photographic society and he looked forward to the time when it would win the cup. Such exhibitions did much to foster an interest in the natural beauty of the surroundings. While it was the function of the local bodies to beautify parks and reserves, photographers could place on record the result of the work and help in making more widely known the attractions of local beauty spots.