By now most members will have been advised that Barry passed away on Friday, September 30th 2022; 1928 ~ 2022. Barry was 94 years young. I would like to reflect upon Barry’s Photographic journey with particular emphasis on his legacy to the Wollongong Camera Club.

Barry’s photographic love affair commenced in 1939 when his parents gave him a Box Brownie using 120 film roll. In those days, there were no mini-labs, 1-hour photographic services, nor had the inkjet been invented. It was a “do it all yourself” hobby. Developing the film’s negatives was in a soup bowl and printing on Kodak Paper using the sun as the light source. The resultant print was brownish (for a monochrome) with a very short shelf life.

By the early 1940s, World War II had commenced, everything in life was in short supply and in huge demand. Photographic film and papers were unprocurable. His film of choice, none other available, was Dufaycolour Transparency (Slide) film with an ISO 8. The resultant picture taking was at 1/25th second with an aperture of f16. It soon became evident that only Summer-time images were acceptable. Barry modified his camera, a drilled hole to increase the aperture and adjustments, to take 16 images instead of the “8”. The film was sent to England for processing, about a 6-week turn around with the final transparencies.

He later upgraded to a Bakelite, Baby Minolta camera taking 127 roll film. At this time, Barry commenced his foray into the darkroom, building his first enlarger from a large jam tin can, an opal glass diffuser and an old camera lens. The light source was the house’s 100Watt light, later replaced with an 800Watt Photoflood light. He was mixing his own processing chemicals and making his own photo-sensitised papers.

In 1947 Barry’s film supply received a boost with Kodachrome 35mm Colour Transparency (Slide) film with a lightning increase in speed to ISO 10. By the  end of WWII, Barry received a 35mm Camera for his 21st, a French manufactured Sem Kim. After WWII, photographic gear was still in short supply and expensive. Even during the 1950s Barry reverted to his earlier learnings, building his own projector with some challenges to precision and specifications. The projector served him well for the next decade or so

These earlier decades taught Barry valuable lessons, not only in crafting his hobby, but also giving him sound knowledge of exposure, camera operations along with film development and printing processes. No rangefinder, no exposure meter, no auto focus! A far cry from today’s digital equipment with all the bells and whistles, plus more for the photographer. Histograms was something taught in schools in mathematics classes.

Barry’s pathway to greater knowledge started in 1955 when he joined the Wagga Photographic Group and the regular competitions, learning from mistakes, further developing skills already gained. By this time competition prints had reached a huge 10” x 8” (today’s A4 size). Not an A3 Print in sight! Barry also served on the Club’s Committee. Barry became a regular book borrower at the Wagga Wagga Library, everything, anything on photography was on his reading list. After-all, there wasn’t any YouTube or Video Courses in those days; Steve Chen, Chad Hurley and Jawed Karim (YouTube Founders) would not been around for another 5 decades.

It wasn’t long, 1957 in fact, that Barry completed his first Judge’s Course by correspondence from the Photographic Council of NSW. Barry had also moved on to a Kodak Retinette and Diax cameras until in 1960 he had access to a Praktica SLR with extension tubes; thus, his love of macro grew. Barry didn’t look back.

1963 bought Barry to the Wollongong Camera Club doors. He was amazed by the superb 20” x 16” (A3) B & W Prints on display, remarking “… I could never do that quality of work”. Again, his pathway led him to the Wollongong Central Library and to every photographic book on the shelves. It wasn’t long before his hard work commenced to pay dividends, taking out Pointscores and Print of the Year Awards.

During the early 1970s, Barry attacked the National and International Competition with the vigor and precision that Barry had to succeed. His successes further encouraged Barry to enter other external Competitions, like the FCC and APS Affiliated Competitions.

The Judge, Presenter and Teacher:

From the very beginning Barry has had a thirst for photographic knowledge, how does it work, what is the process? He learnt through trial and error, from books and fellow photographers discussing everything, sharing knowledge, fostering the art, and craft, of photography. Barry was of high value; a most respected photographer with his presentations amongst the best in Australia.

Barry’s last Wollongong Camera Club Presentation was at the tender age of 88 years old on Macro Photography and Gear. Barry also attended 2 FCC Judges’ Course in 1987 and 1995, granted APS Approved Nature Judge in 1996. He saw this as a way share his knowledge with the entrants and also to learn from each image that he was commenting upon. It was a 2-Way process, one that he never grew tired of. As Barry said on many occasions; “… I got so much pleasure out of judging, lecturing and teaching photography.” Barry has been widely published for his Award-winning images in The Nikon Club Membership Magazine, NSW Dept of Industrial Development and Decentralisation (1984-85, 1986-87 Editions) (world-wide distribution) as well as National and International Catalogues, name a few.

Camera Clubs and Affiliations:

1955 Wagga Photographic Group. 1963 ~ 2022 Wollongong Camera Club; 1977 Kiama Shellharbour Camera Club (Over 22 years in Committee positions); 1981 APS (Australian Photographic Society)

Recognition Awards:

1983  Life Membership, Kiama~Shellharbour Camera Club; 1998  SSAPS  from the Australian Photographic Society for State Service (NSW); 2003  LAPS  from the Australian Photographic Society (via the Exhibition System); 2004  AAPS  from the Australian Photographic Society (via the Panel System); 2010  Life Membership, Wollongong Camera Club

Barry’s Wollongong Camera Club Record:

At Wollongong Camera Club Barry was a prolific competitor being awarded:

Slide of the Year Trophy 11 times; Slide Pointscore Trophy 3 time; EDI Pointscore 1; Colour Print of the Year 6 times; Pointscore 7 times; Monochrome Print of the Year 4 times; Pointscore 3 times.

Monthly Competitions: From the Club’s accessible records from 2002 to 2020. Barry last entered Club Monthly competitions in 2019. His Awards are: Slides:42, Edi/Digital: 57, Colour Prints: 97 and Monochrome Prints: 55  This is a reflection of Barry’s craftmanship and photographic awareness. It is quite an achievement by an individual member.

Barry is survived by his wife, Eunice, who is also a keen and competent photographer having also gained her LAPS and AAPS Photographic Honours, and his family. Barry’s prolific photographic endeavours have been achieved through self-belief, self-learning, having an eye for detail and very good creativity. Barry would also share his photographic craft with those who wanted to learn and develop their skills.

Barry will be sadly missed. A man and photographer with great insight.

Bruce Shaw, Life Member, Member since 1982, Public Officer.