The PSS - Tracing its Roots

   PSS - A Pictorial History 1950 to 2001    

The Place
Boat Quay, home to dark, utilitarian warehouses, long before it became the entertainment hub it is today.

The Time
A hot, sultry May afternoon in 1950.

Five friends sat for coffee to discuss setting up a club to cater to the interests of a growing number of photography enthusiasts in Singapore. The men present: Messrs Lee Hock Chiong (who mooted the idea), Pung An Leong, A. Rahman Bin Hj. Hussein, Soh Teow Seng, BBM and Szto Sim Chuan.

About two months later, these five managed to gather more friends, numbering 20 in all. They had their first meeting in borrowed premises off Jalan Besar.

After some preliminary discussion, all present put in votes to select their management committee.

The final selection comprised Messrs Yee Joon Toh (President), Soh Teow Seng (Honorary Secretary), Chan Siew Loon (honorary Treasurer), and committee members Lee Hock Chiong, Lee Yew Meng, Lew How Chye, A. Rahman Bin Hj. Hussein and Szto Sim Chuan.

The name of the organisation: The Singapore Camera Club. Number of members: About 30.

Meetings were held on a monthly basis at the home of Mr Chan Siew Loon.Geared up to set their new club in motion, members held their first photographic competition in October that year.

Publicity in the press led to the club receiving enquiries from other like-minded enthusiasts. The outcome: Enough members to warrant a monthly bulletin to spread the word of the club's activities.

Due to limited resources, however, darkroom and studio facilities were found lacking. The Club then moved to a temporary clubhouse at 33 Kent Road, then later again to rented premises, at 57 Pheng Gek Avenue.

Friends of the Club

These changes were made possible through the help of the late Mr Ang Chwee Chai, BBM (who became the Club's second president), and the late Dr C. A. Gibson-Hill and Dato Loke Wan Tho.

Contributions in kind were also made by Messrs William Tan (Patron of the Club) and Chu Siu Mong, as well as other well-wishers and members.

Fully-fledged, the Camera Club chose as its Patrons Viscount Hanworth; Dato C.J. Paglar; and His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Malcolm MacDonald who officially opened the Clubhouse at Pheng Gek Avenue in 1953. Other patrons included Mr Yusof Ishak, the Yang Di-Pertuan Negara and later President of Singapore; and President Benjamin Sheares (both of them until their demise).

Enjoying success

The Camera Club's first Photographic Competition in 1950 proved to be a huge success for an organisation as new as theirs and, from then on, annual photo competitions were introduced.

The competitions were not just held once a year, but four times, prompting the introduction of open competitions and exhibitions in conjunction with other organisations.

In 1953, the 1st Malayan Photographic Exhibition was held. It was later renamed the Pan Malaysian Photographic Exhibition and later, the Singapore National Photographic Exhibition (SNP) after Singapore split from Malaysia.

In 1978, the ASEAN Salon replaced SNP. Soon the Club's members felt the need for more exposure, particularly from countries that had a long history of photography associations and clubs. It the sough affiliation with The Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain, The Photographic Society of America and The International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP).

More exposure meant more interaction overseas photographic organisations and societies. Over time, the Club played host to individuals and representatives of photographic bodies from abroad.

Members reciprocated with overseas visits and in 1978, organised its first trip to China for Singaporean photographers.

New name, new role

Encouraged by international recognition, members proposed that the name, Singapore Camera Club, be changed to one that would befit its role at an international level. The proposal was adopted and in 1956 the Singapore Camera Club metamorphosed into The Photographic Society of Singapore (PSS).

Today, PSS is more successful than it has even been, with 1200 members ranging from 15 to 85 years of age from all walks of life, and is recognised by FIAP as the national photographic body in Singapore.

In 1957, in recognition of its expanding role as a promoter of photographic activities the Singapore Art Society handed over to the Club the responsibility of organising the annual International Photographic Exhibition, now known as Singapore International Salon of Photography (SIP). In 1958, the Club held it first biennial Foto Fair in conjunction with SIP.

A home of its own

With membership steadily growing, the Club felt that the location at Pheng Gek Avenue was not central enough for most of its members.

Through the support of Dato Loke Wan Tho, the chairman of Cathay Organisation, the Club found alternative premises at 4 Cashin Street.

But urban redevelopment necessitated the move to its current premises at No 6 Lorong 7 Geylang in 1984. It was purchased for $550,000, much of it from members' contributions, including significant amounts donated by Lady Yuen-Peng McNeice, the Cheng-Kim Loke Foundation, Mr Goh Tjoei Kok, JP, BBM, Mr Tan Kim Cheow, Mr. Lim Boon Seng and Mr Lau Tiau Siong.

PSS has enjoyed a high measure of international success. In 1980, it organised the World Photographic Congress. Over 100 amateur and professional photographers congregated here for one of the largest photo events in South-East Asia. The Photo & Imaging Asia 2001 exhibition is yet another high-profile event which the Society hopes to turn into a biennia affair.

The objectives of the Society have remained consistent since its founding. These are: to foster and promote the practice and appreciation of photography in Singapore; to provide suitable facilities for members to pursue their interest; to organise a regional and an international salon; as well as photo exhibitions and competitions at national level.

It is a corporate member of the People's Association. Many of its members are advisers to camera clubs at Community Clubs.