FROM THE WEBSITE: The Royal Photographic Society is one of the world’s oldest photographic societies, founded in 1853 with the objective of promoting the art and science of photography.
Membership is open to all, irrespective of experience or knowledge. No qualifications are required to join, simply a passion and love for photography or images, its technologies or applications.
Many of our members join to further their own photography and to embrace the challenge of working towards our internationally-recognized Distinctions (LRPS, ARPS and FRPS) or Imaging Science Qualifications (QIS, GIS, AIS and ASIS).
By attending Society events – around 650 each year – our members enjoy unparalleled opportunities to share knowledge, meet and learn from other photographers and to develop their photographic interests and skills.
The Society holds a number of exhibitions and competitions for members and non-members. The International Print and International Images for Science Exhibitions are held annually alongside exhibitions organized by Special Interest Groups, Regions and Overseas Chapters.
The Royal Photographic Society educational remit is central to its work. It organises practical workshops and lectures with its Regions and Special Interest Groups arrange additional activities, lectures, visits and field trips. The Society also supports photographers and students through its bursary programme.
Our annual Awards, held in London each September, recognise the highest achievements of individuals from all fields of photography.
We help support photographers by providing feedback to the Government in consultations, work with the police on photographers’ rights, act as an advocate with the media on behalf of photographers and photography and work with other organisations to raise awareness of copyright.
As an educational charity, we support young people through school and university visits, scientific workshops and by contributing speakers. We provide indoor and outdoor exhibitions for the wider public interest which, as well as being displayed in the UK, have travelled around the world from China to the Ukraine. We also have an annual bursary programme, with sponsorship to be won for environmental and medical photography as well as postgraduate research, social documentary issues and short films. Our supplementary charitable work includes working with other charities such as Cafe Art who run an annual photography contest for those affected by homelessness.
INFORMATION:
– Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge took over as Patron from The Queen in June 2019.
– The Duchess of Cambridge was made an Honorary Member of the Royal Photographic Society in 2017.
EFFORTS:
June 25, 2019 – Photography Workshop With Action For Children – Shortly after being named the new Patron of The Royal Photographic Society The Duchess of Cambridge visited the Warren Park Children’s Centre in Kingston-upon-Thames, south-west London to take part in a photography workshop for children – a collaboration between the Royal Photographic Society and Action for Children, whose celebrating its 150 year anniversary this year. Catherine spent more than an hour with 11 young people from across the UK who were participating in workshops where they learned about the different elements of photography, workshops also touched on how photography provides a way for young people to express themselves and release their thoughts and feelings.
November 10, 2021 – The Duchess Visits The Imperial War Museum – The Duchess of Cambridge, visited the Imperial War Museum in London to meet Holocaust survivors at the Royal Photographic Society exhibition Generations: Portraits of Holocaust Survivors. Bringing together over 50 contemporary portraits of Holocaust survivors and their families, the exhibition shines a light on their lives and highlights our collective responsibility to cherish their stories. The exhibition features new works from 14 leading photographers, including RPS Honorary Fellows Jillian Edelstein, Sian Bonnell and Joy Gregory, as well as Frederic Aranda, and two portraits taken by the Duchess at Kensington Palace in January 2020.
