The Star Weekly, Toronto, Canada – November 6, 1954

It is no exaggeration that many of the world’s best photos will be seen in Victoria’s International Salon, the third week of this month. Of outstanding quality are these pictures of Hong Kong’s Francis Wu. The titles are “Flirtation”, “An Old Shatin Woman”, “The Clam Digger” and “Grandpa’s Darling” is a fine sample of the painting art.

The Clam Digger By Francis Wu

PSA Journal – PSA Convention - June 1983

Francis Wu. Hon. PSA, FPSA - Speaker on Pictorial Prints – “Pictorial Photography My Style”

The 1983 PSA International Convention, to be held August 8-13 in San Francisco, will feature a wide variety of programs on various photographic topics – including a special reception in honor of the Society’s 50th anniversary.

Our speakers will take us on voyages around the world, providing special views of life in Australia, China, Africa, Canada, Hong Kong and even Pennsylvania.

Francis Wu - One Man Show - Indonesia - November 1956

Francis Wu’s Print Collection

1.     In Search Of A Melody                
2.     Mary Goes Round                        
3.     A Dreamer                                   
4.     Harvest Summer                         
5.     Dawn                                         
6.     Rear Window                              
7.     Dreams Of A Faller Flower        
8.     Noodle Boy                                
9.     By The Fountain                         
10.    Lonely Stroll                              
11.    Fisherman’s Daughter            
12.    For Shrimps                                  
13.    Grandpa And His Pipe                
14.    Book End                                    
15.    Oriental Tapestry                         
16.    Portrait Of An Indian                  
17.    Maid And The Fan                   
18.    Forgotten Melody                        
19.    Pond Fishing                                 
20.    Work Begins At Dawn                 
21.    Tulsan Belle                                   
22.    Drifting In The Moonlight             
23.    Net Loss                                      
24.    Maid In Waiting                          
25.    Touches Of Sunlight
26.     Koko
27.    An Old Shatin Woman
28.    Before The Dance
29.    Net Drying In The Calm
30.    Sea Fever
31.    Smoke And Misty
32.    Fishing At Sunrise
33.    Fishermen's Paradise
34.    Just Two On A quiet Morning
35.    The Clam Catcher
36.    Two Little Fishermen
37.    The Boat Man
38.    That Land Is Green
39.    Net Drying In The Calm
40.    Beauty And Art
41.    Emily
42.    Steel Age
43.    Shell Fish Catching
44.    Evening Prayer
45.    Sunnyside Of Life
46.    Sailing In The Moonlight
47.    Tangled
48.    The Three Kittens
49.    Old Butt Delicious
50.    Symbol Of Peace

Francis Wu has a One-Man Show in Indonesia sponsored by the Sin Ming Hui Photographic Society. Francis Wu is also the Honorary Advisor of the Society.

The show was in November 1956.

Peace On Earth by Francis Wu

Foto Club De Salta XVInternacional De Arte Fotogragico – 1955

Francis Wu of Hong Kong has 4 prints in this exhibition in Argentina in 1955

By The Fountain
Mary Goes Round
The Fisherman’s Daughter
Harvest Summer

The Fisherman's Daughter by Francis Wu

PSA - Francis Wu – Honorary Representative of Hong Kong - December 18, 1953

Mr. Francis Wu, Hon. PSA, FPSA
53 Bonham Road, Top Floor
Hong Kong

Dear Francis:

It will not surprise you at all to receive this so-called official notice of your reappointment as Honorary Representative to China for PSA. The entire Society is very grateful to you for what you have done, and I hope that through your efforts and ours, we will be able to cement even more closely the relationship between our countries.

As a reminder, it will mean a great deal to the Society if you would give us an occasional report on what is happening in photography in your country for publication in the PSA Journal. The few reports that we have received and published last year have met with much interest on the part of the members. In addition, I will be moist grateful if you will recommend for PSA Honors those members in your country whom you believe deserve them. I’ll send you the necessary blanks immediately. Also, it may well happen that the Honors Committee will ask your opinion on members who are proposed.

I hope in the coming year, it may be possible to arrange exchange show to provide the kind of material from PSA that would be interesting to your photographers. In any event, it gives me great pleasure to confirm your reappointment, which was unanimously approved by the board of Directors.

Sincerely
Norris Harkness
President, PSA

Hong Kong Tiger Standard – Hints On Photography - By Francis Wu – December 24, 1961

Francis Wu

It's The Idea That Counts

In photography idea is one of the main ingredients that go in making a picture. So thinks Francis Wu who has been taking pictures for over 40 years.

Idea alone, however is not enough and must go together with composition and technique which, speaking from his own experiences, Wu remarked comes as one get more interested in taking pictures.

Talking of “Vanity” which he took and which illustrates this story, Wu said he had been wanting for a long time to take a picture series showing classical Chinese Beauties as they looked in the olden days.

He further remarked that the Chinese and Western conception of beauty is different. In the latter, parts of the body, from hands, bosom, neck to legs are photographed partially or wholly uncovered drawing emphasis, as a result, on the sex factor. The Chinese are more conservative on such matters and the classical beauty “Vanity” is shown making up hr eyebrow with a brush. The emphasis in the picture, as he wanted to convey it, is on refinement and subdued elegance

"Vanity".............The Chinese Way

Strive For Realism

Wu, whose picture have won prizes in international salons, rates American photographers the best in the world because of their concern over details.

Where do Hong Kong photographers stand? Its Wu’s opinion that Hong Kong photographers, striving for realism are less meticulous on questions on detail and more or less go along with Japanese photographers who believe in taking an action picture as it is happening without being unduly concerned over angle and lighting. One has to have “a seeing eye” If he is to excel in picture taking

China Mail – Pictorial Of Hong Kong – By Francis Wu - 1940’s

China Mail – Pictorial Of Hong Kong – By Francis Wu - 1940’s

This soft cover book is published by The Newspaper Enterprise Ltd., Printed by The Tai Wah Press and photographed by Francis Wu.

Hong Kong was ceded to Britain by the Treaty of Nanking in August, 1842, the island of Hong Kong quickly grew into a major city and seaport, houses, office buildings and godowns sprang up almost overnight and the harbor was soon busy with ships from most of the seven seas.

By a convention signed in October, 1860, the Kowloon peninsula on the mainland opposite was also ceded to Britain, being handed over formally in January of the following year

The amazing growth of the Colony of Hong Kong, which is less than a century was transformed from barren rock, partly covered with coarse grass, into one of the leading seaport of the world.

The Day Is Done by Francis Wu

Still Waters By Francis Wu

The Royal Photographic Society – May, 1954

Francis Wu – Appointed As Overseas Correspondence of Hong Kong

The Royal Photographic Society was founded in 1853 “to promote the Art and Science of photography”

Dear Mr. Wu:

At the last meeting if my Council it was unanimously decided to appoint you to serve for the year 1954-1955 as an Overseas Corresponding Member of Council for all Hong Kong and I hope that you will be able and willing to continue to assist the Society in this capacity

At the same time, I have to thank you for the service you have given to the Society in this way during the past year, for it is extremely valuable to the Society to have someone in your country to whom reference can be made on matters where advice and help are needed.

Yours sincerely,
L.E. Hallett
Secretary

Popular Photography Magazine – March - 1948

Spring Song by Francis Wu

    

Francis Wu’s photo “Spring Song” was published full page in the March 1949 issue of Popular Photography Magazine. It won a Merit in Photography Award  in the magazine’s 1948 picture contest. The judges selected this print as an outstanding example of Contemporary Photography.

Merit In Photography Award

Photo Art Monthly Magazine – February 1940

Francis Wu from far Hong Kong, China sends one of the great portraits of factual rendering but undeniable merit. The diffusion is remarkably well played off against the sharpness of the important features.

Photo by Francis Wu

Chicago Sunday Tribune – Camera Art – February 17, 1952

China Girl

These prints are from an exhibition of photography by Francis Wu of Hong Kong, China, which will be seen at camera clubs in Chicago and vicinity in forthcoming weeks. They were brought here by the Chicago Area Camera Club Association under international arrangements for exchange exhibition.

Vanity

Shatin Mist

The Johannesburg Sunday Express – September 12, 1954

7th Witwatersrand International Salon Of Photography – 1954

They counted, and re-counted. But it was no use. Only 999 pictures were received from 32 countries all over the world, for the 7th Witwatersrand International Salon of Photography, which opens in Johannesburg tomorrow. The one picture to make it a round thousand entries was not there.

All today, the selected prints will be “hung”  and Camera Club members will be busy till late in the evening preparing for the annual event that is now ranked high among world salons.

The Chinese girl you see was submitted by one of the world’s ace photographers, Francis Wu, Hon. P.S.A., F.P.S.A., F.R.P.S., F.I.B.P., F.R.S.A. of Hong Kong.

Cine-Photo-Club Perigourdin 2nd Salon International D’Art Photographique – Perigueux – 1954

Forgotten Melody by Francis Wu (China, Hong Kong

In this exhibition, there were 1845 entries from 22 countries in which 323 prints were exhibited. There were five exhibitors from Hong Kong, China with 20 prints.

The judges for this exhibition are:
Fred Chemorin
Michel Francois
Jacques Merly
Maurice Masset
Roger Vergez

Francis Wu from Hong Kong, China have 4 prints in this exhibition, in which “Forgotten Medley” was printed full page in the salon catalog. The other prints are:
Drifting In The Moonlight, Shellfish Catching At Dawn and An Old Shatin Woman.

The Folio – The International Portfolio – Vol. 2, Number 4 – 1948

Francis Wu Scoops Salons

The following item appeared in “Hong Kong Sunday Herald:

Francis Wu, well-known local photographer, has been awarded the only gold medal in the Amsterdam (Netherlands) 8th International Salon.

Mr. Wu submitted 4 prints for the exhibition. All won awards – a grand prize, a first, a second and a fifth prize. This is the first time in photographic history that one entrant gained such a high honor. The photos were published in “Focus” magazine and are now in a traveling exhibition in all part of the Netherlands

“Old Butt Delicious” is the picture that captured the grand prize. It is a character study of a coolie enjoying a cigarette butt of a foreign brand, which he picked up.

Old Butt Delicious by Francis Wu

The first prize award is “Sunset”, a picture taken at Aberdeen Harbor of a fishing junk returning at twilight. The soft glow of sunset is fully emphasized with sparkling highlights

Aberdeen Sunset by Francis W

1st Hong Kong Festival Of The Arts Salon - 1955

The Photographic Society of Hong Kong sponsors the First Hong Kong Festival of the Arts Salon. This exhibition is restricted to Hong Kong Photographers only. The Photographic Society of Hong Kong is affiliated with the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain and the Photographic Society of America. H.E. Governor, Sir Alexander Grantham G.C.M.G. is the patron of this salon.

Francis Wu, F.R.P.S., F.P.S.A. is the president of the Photographic of Hong Kong. He is also one of the judges. The other judges are Robert Bates, A.R.P.S., Kan Hing Fook, F.R.P.S., Cheung Yee Chiu, F.R.P.S., A.P.S.A, and K.A. Watson, Esq.

Francis Wu has 6 prints in the Invitation Panel, they include: By The Fountain, Mary Goes Round, Gusandelle and Abstract No1, No2, and No.3.

 Mary Goes Round by Francis Wu

PSA Journal – Overseas Report – Hong Kong – July 1953

By Francis Wu, FPSA, Hon. PSA – Honorary Representative

The year 1952 has proved to be the most eventful yet in Hong Kong. More photographic activities than any previous year has been held, and more photographic spirit have been shown by local cameramen.

First of all, the Hong Kong photographic Society, one of the largest photographic organizations in the Far East, with membership amounting to more than two hundred and fifty, had a highly successful year.

The Seventh Hong Kong International Salon of Pictorial Photography was successfully held at St. John’s Cathedral, which daily drew a large crowd on interested spectators from all walks of life throughout the duration of the exhibition. The accepted prints, sent from different countries of the world, represented the best collection of pictures ever hung in Hong Kong salon. Prints entered by our local photographers attracted considerable attention from the public, displaying our own high standard in comparison with that of foreign pictures.

Hong Kong exhibitors seem to have had much popularity last year throughout the world with their exhibition prints, and there were many successful ones too. At least a dozen and possibly more, gold, silver and bronze medals from International Salons all over the world were won by our photographers. Many new Chinese exhibitors found their pictures published in such photographic magazines as “Photograms Of The Year”, “Photography” and so forth.

The Indian and the American Exchange Exhibits drew great attention from the camera conscious public. These exhibits helped to show the different approach to pictorial photography from different viewpoints. Hence, from these exhibitions. Technique, composition, presentation, toning and other methods of treatment have been greatly appreciated and many are applying these methods to their photography.

The 6.20 Group of Photographers I seen as usual every Sunday morning, and sampans and junks, misty and atmospheric effect dominate Hong Kong pictorial photographs. Candid photography has gradually been introduced into Hong Kong circles and is influenced greatly by the Baltimore Salon and the Photography Annual contest.

We have two schools of photography here, and though they are not as large s those in foreign countries, still it is a good beginning of education of photography in the Colony.

From these facts one can visualize the progress the Hong Kong cameramen have made in photography. It is astonishing to find photography so rapidly advancing, and it is becoming more and more popular here. The standard of Hong Kong photography has considerably improved, and we hope that, with the help and advice of PSA and the PSAers we may be able to do better work in photography in the years to come.

Hong Kong Camera Club – Popularama Magazine – November 1964

Francis Wu, F.P.S.A, F.R.P.S – Honorary Adviser

The Hong Kong Camera Club established itself as an organization devoted to popularizing photography in Hong Kong and rendering a service to those who take up photography. It is incorporated under the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance as a company limited by guarantee n not having a share capital. It aims to encourage the study of the technique and art of photography, to promote public interest in photography, and to establish connections with international, foreign, or local photographic institutions in order to promote the art of photography in all forms and manners.

The club held its inauguration ceremony on 16th August, 1964.

With regard to this monthly bulletin,, which is named “Popularama”, it is hoped that every issue will publish some articles with the study of photography and also photographic work of its members, in addition to news of the Club and that of the photographic world.

Picturing Today (Photo World) – Vo. 12, No. 1 – February 1951

Photo World is published by Norman Kark, Grand Buildings, Trafalgar Square, London.

EASTERN EXPOSURE

Francis Wu

As a Chinese is unmistakable in a crowd of Europeans, so a Chinese photograph stands out from a group of others: both the man and the picture have clear-cut national characteristics.

Take, for example, the work of FRANCIS WU, which we reproduce on the following pages. Wu. One of China’s leading photographers, believe that – in photography, at least – East and West should never meet: that a Chinese should take pictures that faithfully mirror China, rather than allow himself to be influenced by Western technique. As he puts it: “the face of a Chinese can never be changed to resemble a Westerner; so why should a face of China itself be changed to resemble the West?”

Luk Yau Hall

Appreciation

 

Canton Cinderella

Time's Handiwork

PSA Journal – Francis Wu – Honorary Advisor – Mental Health Exhibition - July 1979

Hong Kong

Human emotions, an international exhibition of photographic creations depicting joy, anger, sorrow, love, passion, apathy, excitement, hatred, fear, anxiety and the many moods and emotions of the human being, was sponsored by the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong in observance of Mental Health Week. Some of Hong Kong’s most prestigious photographers served on the committee and as judges.  Honorary advisers included Francis Wu, F.P.SA.

Camera Club Digest – Vol.1. No. 11 – October 1952

Camera Club Digest is published in San Bruno, California. It is edited and published by John McCreary.

Francis Wu’s Photo: Chinese Beauty is featured on the cover.

 Chinese Beauty by Francis Wu

The Francis Wu Lecture

If you have somehow missed our announcement on the Francis Wu lecture in San Francisco under the sponsorship of NCCC with the cooperation of PS, you haven’t been reading this rag and you’re Council Delegate must be asleep. If you don’t already have your ticket you should holler like mad at your program chairman or whoever handles it in your club. This is one of the BIG events in the Nor Cal area and shouldn’t be missed.

Mr. Wu’s subject will be “Pictorial Photogpahy from the Chinese Viewpoint”, and it will be richly illustrated by a display of prints made by him. We have attempted to reproduce a few of these prints in this issue of CCD so that you can get a foretaste of the program. Don’t miss this fine show!

The Old Man by Francis Wu

The Day Is Done by Francis Wu