Ilford Photographic Society - International Exhibition of Photography - 1956

The Ilford Photographic Society was founded in 1902. It is affiliated to the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain through the Anglian Federation of the Photographic Alliance. The Mayor Of Ilford opened this exhibition. Alderman F.T. Peasson, J.P. on February 27th, 1956.

President’s Forward:
It is necessary for the author of a good photograph to have an artistic perception possessed by only a relative few. Thus, Ilford Photographic Society has always made the open class available to entrants from all over the world, and the selected entries this year have been very gratfying to know that countries such as Yugoslavia, Austria, Hungary and the U.S.S.R., are once again interested in International Photographic Exhibition, together wit prints from U.S.A., Canada, Philippines, South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, Sweden, Germany, Czechoslovakia, France and Italy.

Smiling Indian By Francis Wu

Francis Wu, Hon. P.S.A., F.P.S.A., F.R.P.S., F.I.B.P., F.R.S.A. (Hong Kong) have 3 prints in this exhibition.

• Smiling Indian

• By The Fountain

• Symbol Of Peace

Francis Wu - Exhibition - 14th South Shields International Exhibition of Pictorial Photography - 1954

South Shields is a coastal town at the mouth of the River Tyne in South Tyneside in England. South Shield is a traditional resort with beautiful beaches and dramatic coastline. Badly damaged by World War II, the town has undergone much replanning and rebuilding and is a vibrant riverside town.

The International Exhibition of Pictorial Photography is the fourteenth of its kind to be organized by the South Shield Photographic Society and is intended to attract the vast pictorial photogpahy from all over the word, and has received the approval of both the Royal Photogpahy Society and the Photographic Alliance.

Mr. W.E. Gundill, O.B.E., J.P., F.R.P.S., who is a pictorial photographer and a photographic judge of outstanding ability, made the selection. The Committee is confident that the high standard, which has been set in the past years, is well maintained.

Maid With Fan by Francis Wu

Francis Wu, Hon. P.S.A., F.P.S.A., F.R.P.S., F.I.B.P., F.R.S.A., has 4 prints in this exhibition and “Maid with Fan” was published in the Salon Catalog. The other prints were “Net Drying In the Calm”, “Drifting in the Moonlight” and "Relax Nude".

Francis Wu - To Judge Singapore Annual Exhibition

HongKong Tiger Standard - December 18, 1953

Francis Wu, one of the world’s leading photographer, will leave for Singapore to judge the annual exhibition of photographs of the Singapore Art Society, UP reports.

The exhibition, which will be opened by the Commissioner general for Southeast Asia, Mr. Malcolm MacDonald at the British Council Hall on January 6.

Mr. Wu is also scheduled to give two lectures. He will speak to members of the Singapore Camera Club on “How I Make My Exhibition Pictures”. His second lecture will be open to the public will be “Pictorial Photography From a Chinese Viewpoint”

It is understood Mr. Wu hopes to take sufficient photographs of Singapore for an exhibition in Hong Kong on his return here.

Francis Wu was ranked among the top five in the 1952 “Who’s Who in Photography” and his pictures have been exhibited in salons over the world.

Camera Craft Magazine - Award - Advanced Class - 1939

 The Old Woman by Francis Wu

In this portrait from war-torn China, the pathos of the subject has been upper most in the mind of the photographer. Yet he has not allowed this to obscure the need he has to meet the rules of the game as he knows them. The lighting has been thoughtfully considered to bring out the deep lines of character and age, which cover the old woman’s face like the crackle on ancient porcelain. The headgear surrounding the face has been skillfully subdued in order that no unwanted detail may obtrude itself into the arrangement. The care with which the background has been caused to become slightly lighter as it approaches the dark cloth, which frames the face, is apparent in the original print. And finally the placing of the face in the picture plane is faultless.

Francis Wu - Stuyvesant Peabody Award - 1955

PSA Journal / November 1955
Awards For Services To PSA

Francis Wu, F.P.S.A., of Hong Kong has been named winner of the Peabody Award according to the announcement by  Eldridge Christhilf, Chairman of this year's Peabody Award Committee.

The Stuyvesant Peabody Award has been given annually by the Photographic Society of America (PSA) and is one of the most prestigious awards of our Society. It is presented to a member of the Society who has contributed significantly to pictorial photography by exhibiting, lecturing, judging, writing, or teaching. It is one of the Certain Society Awards which may be given each year and presented at the membership meeting of the conference.

Francis Wu - One Man Show - Photographic Society Of Hong Kong - 1950

The Chinese Photogrpaher Magazine / April 1950

 A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER

By David Cohen. Hon. Sec. Photographic Society of Hong Kong

 Poison by Francis Wu

Francis Wu is a native of Kwangtung Province, and was born in Bak Toy, China in 1911. His early education took place in Hawaii and here his interest in photography began. When only nine years old, he was introduced to the art of picture making via a very simple camera, and gradually his talent in art and photogpahy made him determined to excel in this hobby. Even in his school days, he spent quite a lot of time studying photographic techniques besides his regular class work; and his interest in photography grew with his experience.

In the year 1931, he returned to Hong Kong to further his studies at Lingnam University in Canton, and very soon was organizing the University’s first Photographic Club. Various salons and exhibitions were accepting his initiative and determination to learn more and more about photogpahy was made apparent in his greatly improved pictures, and after several years of hard work his prints were being accepted by various salons and exhibitions.

  

Song of Spring by Francis Wu

Francis Wu decided to turn professional in the year 1937, and the government of Hong Kong showed their appreciation of his ability, after the liberation of Hong Kong, by appointing him as official photographer for Governor House by Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt. Moreover, he was the only Chinese photographer who participated in the Japanese surrender ceremony.

For several years before the establishment of the present Photographic Section in General Police Headquarters, Francis Wu assisted the Police in Crime Photography.

He obtained his Fellowship from The Royal Photographic Society in 1941, and a few years later, in 1948 became a Fellow of Photographic Society of America. And have appointed him as their representative for China and Hong Kong.

Francis Wu - The Camera Magazine - October 1947

The Camera Inc. in Baltimore publishes the Camera Magazine monthly. The chief editor is John S. Rowan, FPSA, and the manager editor is E.V. Wenzell, A.P.S.A. This is issue is Volume 69, Number 10. In this issue, Francis Wu won the First Prize in the Magazine’s Photo Contest.

The print that won was “The Day Is Done”.

The Day Is Done by Francis Wu, A.P.S.A., F.R.P.S. (China)

We discovered this pleasing composition by the side of a stream in China just after an April shower. He exposed Kodak Super-XX film 1/300 second at f8 in a 3 ¼ by 4 ¼ Graflex camera, and developed the negative in DK-50. The enlargement was made through a texture screen on Kodabromide and sulphide toned.

Francis Wu - Lecture - Kowloon Rotary Club - 1953

In his talk on “The Art of Photography” to the Kowloon Rotary Club in Hong Kong luncheon at Peninsula Hotel yesterday, Mr. Francis Wu, the Colony’s leading professional photographer, listed five essential points for making photographs of first class quality.

The five essentials were idea, concept, technique, composition and appeal. A mystery of these five essentials together with some imagination and alertness would enable a photographer to produce pictures exhibition standard.

Observing everyday life and using one’s imagination could obtain ideas. Technique not only referred to darkroom work but of how to use a camera properly and what kind of camera to use. It was essentially the darkroom technique that made a snapshot becomes a prized photograph; There was also a mastery of the selection of the developer and paper and how to expose the film.

Mr. Wu said that many photographers paid too much attention to their darkroom technique and forgot about the composition of their pictures.

Mr. Wu illustrated his talk with a number of photographs. Among them were some like Chinese paintings. Mr. Wu said that photography could do a lot for the presentation of art and in presenting Chinese paintings on photographs he used a number of prints in one photograph.

Merry-go-Round by Francis Wu

Mr. Wu showed a number of experiments he had made by using up to five negatives in one picture One of this were called “Merry-go-Round” in which a nude was surrounded by rings of light, and another was called “Chinese Tapestry”

Francis Wu - The American Annual of Photography - 1951

Photography did not attain the undisputed place as an art medium, which it holds today without fighting a long uphill battle. No camera can produce work of more imagination and skill than the operator possesses. Works of art have been made with Brownie camera, but they are much more easily produced with cameras that have more adjustments. The artist should have his mind completely concentrated on his art; he should not be distracted by the mechanical operations involved.

Evening Prayer by Francis Wu

“Evening Prayer” by Francis Wu, we come to expect outstanding work from Dr. Wu. And he never disappoints us. In this portrait he has given us a charming glimpse of a Chinese lady in her home. He tells us the purpose was to show Chinese classical beauty and in this he has been outstandingly successful, both in his selection of a model and in the way he has employed her. He displays no proud beauty obviously conscious of her charms and trying to show them to the best advantage, but a handsome and unaffected gentle woman serenely unconcerned about her appearance. It is a rich picture with an exceptionally long scale of tones managed with surpassing skill to produce a very beautiful effect. There is a wealth of material, which has all been very carefully handled and subordinated to the main idea so that it does not distract us from contemplation at the lady at her devotion. Even her great beauty and the richness of her attire do not vie in interest with the main theme of the pictures, which is an act of simple piety performed by becoming respect.

Francis Wu - Brooks Institute of Photography - 1954

Dear Mr. Wu:

We students of Brooks Institute of Photography enjoyed your pictures very much; they were beautiful. Mr. Dobro gave a nice comment on them and told us nice things about you.

We are ending you our greetings and our best wishes.

Brooks Institute is a creative and supportive community where individuals passionate about a future in the visual and media arts can immerse themselves in the development of their personal talent through unmatched experiential learning, providing the skills and confidence necessary for them to make an immediate and meaningful contribution to the creative workplace.

A Chinese Lassie by Francis Wu

In 1954, Francis Wu was invited by Boris Dobro of Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California to show the students in the “Brooks Camera Guild” a set of his photographs so the students can study and learn from.

Francis Wu - Judge - Photographic Society of Hong Kong - 7th Annual International Salon of Photography - 1952

Forward By Francis Wu

It has been the aim of the salon to promote photography here but also to forge stronger and closer links among photographers and those in other parts of the world, and the response to our appeals for support that we have had from countries all over the world is a real encouragement to us.

The interest taken by our distinguished patron, H.E. the Governor, Sir Alexander Grantham, G, C, M, G, has made our Salon one of the highlights of the year, and we are deeply grateful to him for this, and for having so graciously opened this Salon.

The standard of photography in Hong Kong remains high. More and more of our members here have their prints accepted in the major Salons of England and America “ The Royal Photographic Society, The London Salon, The Photographic Society o America, as ell as in Europe and other parts of the world

Fishing At Dawn by Francis Wu

Francis Wu, Hon. Master of Photography, F.R.P.S., F.P.S.A., F.I.B.P., F.R.S.A., etc. was one of the judges of this Salon. His judge’s prints in this exhibition include:

• The Dreamer
• Fishing At Dawn
• Rowing Thru The Mist
• By The Candle Light

Francis Wu's Studio - Gloucester Arcade - Hong Kong

In the early 1950’s, Francis wrote this article on some important points on how he operates Francis Wu’s Studio at Gloucester Arcade in Hong Kong.

Francis Wu with his 4 by 5 Sinar View Camera

Today, the whole trend of photography is changed. Studio equipment is chosen, not for impressiveness, but for utility and quality. Smaller, more compact studios with fewer lights now replace the big cluttered studios. The big 10 by 12 studio cameras are now rather obsolete, and view cameras are becoming more and more popular for studio work. At times, reflex cameras are used for action or child photography, and this had had very successful results, which could hardly have been obtained by the bigger cameras. The miniature camera is a good standby for baby photography.

The method of lighting has undergone a great change as well, and many photographers have been experimenting in lighting as illustrated in magazines for different effects, to correct defects, and to flatter the sitter, and this is very different from the old-fashioned conceptions of lighting. All the modern studios in China and Hong Kong use photoflood, and this is the most popular and widely used method of lightning. A few studios are using the Aton-Light and the fluorescent lamp, but only one studio is using the more modern electronic flash and that studio is FRANCIS WU STUDIO. I have found the electronic flash very handy in capturing expressions and actions, and this means of lighting facilitates photography to great extent. Moreover, the customer is spared from sitting under hot lights, and is usually very pleased with the comfort that the electronic flash affords that.

For the darkroom, the health of the darkroom worker is considered and furnishings and rules set down are helping to alleviate poor health conditions due to bad ventilations and dirtiness. Darkrooms are now air-conditioned, and cleanliness is a definite requisite, not only for the darkroom, but also for the darkroom worker. Furniture are properly set up, and arranged to avoid unnecessary steps. The equipment is the best the photographer could afford. Timing is no longer by counting or murmuring, but more accurately controlled. The automatic timer and the gray scale eliminate much guesswork. The Weston Analyzer is used for checking negative density, and the spot enlarging meter for determining the enlarging exposure. All these automatic devices help to promote accuracy, and enable the work to be done in a much quicker time. There is now more perfect tone gradation. more uniformity of tone, and a much better quality of prints. Safelight is tested for the type of paper and film used, and the whole darkroom is electronically controlled. Needless to say, darkroom technique has advanced considerably as compared with long ago, for the output of new inventions is not few, and the spread of a more scientific method is doing much to advance the quality and the quantity of pictures in Hong Kong and China.