Smethwick Photographic Society is one of the leading photographic societies in Great Britain. For over thirty years SPS has enjoyed unparalleled success in the world of club photography. It has been winner or runner-up no less than 18 times in the annual "Top Club" slide competition run by the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain. It has also won the equivalent PAGB print competition for its first three years. In 1997 it won outright the first photographic 'World Cup' organised by the Austrian 'Super Circuit'.

Within its ranks it can boast more than 20 Fellows of the Royal Photographic Society and many more with prestigious international honours. Our current membership is in excess of 250 covering all abilities and age profiles. It is an ideal platform for the newcomer to photography, as our more experienced members relish the opportunity to pass on their knowledge and expertise. If you are looking for inspiration, look no further, as you will have the opportunity to view work of the very highest standards. The work on show at our members' annual exhibition is equivalent to that seen at many International Exhibitions. Members' work is regularly sent worldwide to foreign exhibitions, gaining medals, trophies and international recognition.

The Society also plays host to many other important visiting exhibitions throughout the year, the SPS headquarters being used by the Royal Photographic Society for many of its group meetings.

One of the highlights of the Society is our main programme, that takes place every Thursday at 8pm (except Christmas week). Top lecturers travel from all parts of the UK, and occasionally from abroad, to present the best in club and professional photography. Competition nights include helpful critique from qualified assessors in Colour, Monochrome prints and projected images at various levels of photographic skill. Other evenings are devoted to help you master digital photography, studio lighting, darkroom techniques and for all of our members, we run small-group tuition sessions and support for gaining RPS and PAGB distinctions.

For over 30 years the Society has organised the Smethwick International Exhibition of Photography, one of the UK’s most prestigious exhibitions. Our exhibition attracts thousands of entries from photographers across the globe, and is presented during the first half of January each year as an exhibition of colour and monochrome prints, an audio-visual of pictorial projected photography with informative presentations of natural history and travel projected images.

The social side of the Society is not neglected, with day trips, nature photography excursions and weekend trips across the UK and Europe. Members meet in our lounge socially before and after the evening's programme, where there is a free interchange of ideas and thinking.

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