RA Photo Club
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| Formation | 1939 |
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| Type | photograph organization based in Canada |
| Legal status | active |
| Purpose | advocate and public voice, educator and network |
| Headquarters | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
Region served | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Membership | Around 130 |
Official language | English, French |
| Website | www |
The RA Photo Club is located in Ottawa, with over 130 members. It meets weekly at its location in the RA Centre from September to May, hosting speakers and monthly competitions. The RA Photo Club has many special interest groups, including Nature, Urban, Portrait, Life, Faces & Figures, Still Life, Fine Art, and the Feedback Group. The club is a member of the Canadian Association for Photographic Art, a national organization promoting and encouraging photographic arts in Canada.
The club has exhibited at many area venues including the National Press Club (located in the National Press Building), and partners with local charities to provide photographic services. In 2006, these included the Tulip Festival (Ottawa), Canada Dance Festival, Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, Ottawa Bluesfest, Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival and Hope Volleyball. The festival partnerships resulted in several media uses of the photographs, including a spread by the Ottawa Citizen.
Partnering with festivals is now limited to the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival.
Competitions and Rank
[edit]Photographic competitions are run throughout the year, approximately monthly. These include an annual regional inter-club competition and the Bruce Wilson Memorial Trophy (which features entries of a set of five related black-and-white prints). Special interest groups run competitions or showcases as well, including the Nature Fall Challenge.
Members acquire rank by consistently succeeding in the club competitions. Ranks range from Junior through Intermediate to Senior to Master. When a member attains Master rank, they must present on their photographic journey at a club meeting.
History
[edit]The RA Photo Club was founded in 1939 as the "RA Camera Club", its first chairperson being Doug White of the National Film Board of Canada and met at 30 Rideau St. near the Government Conference Centre (then Union Station). In 1951 color slides were introduced and prints began to be exhibited in local theatres and department stores. The club moved to its current location at the RA Centre in 1962.
In 1970, Special interest focus groups of the club began with a Nature group.
Over the years the club has added facilities, including a darkroom which operated from 1951 to 2016, a portrait studio in 1955 that is still active today, audio-visual capability in 1978 and a digital lab in 2002. Recorded historical membership levels include: 50 in 1958, 90 in 1965, 200 in 1999 and over 250 in 2006. Being a social club, membership took a hit after the COVID-19 Pandemic when meetings transitioned to an online format, but is now rebounding.
Recent Activity
[edit]For the current Club program, upcoming events, facilities, special interest groups and information on how to become a member, please visit the RA Photo Club.