The Photographic Society of Hong Kong – First International Salon of Photographic Art – 1946

The Photographic Society of Hong Kong regrets that a number of the prints submitted in 1941 have become damaged or lost. Of these, the following entries were originally selected for hanging, and are honored accordingly.

The hanging of the exhibition of the First International Salon was delayed from 1941 to 1946 because of World War II.

The opening of the exhibition will be opened by its patron H.E. Sir Mark Young, G.C.M.G. (originally to have been opened by H.E. Sir Mark Young, K.C.M.G. in 1941) at St. John’s Cathedral Hall on Wednesday, 11th December 1946

The Photographic Society of Hong Kong expects to resume its full activities in the New Year, including participating in Salons and Exhibitions, in England and America. Prospective members anxious to take part in these activities will be welcomed to its ranks.

Francis Wu was one of the judges and was also in the salon committee of this salon in 1941, and in the Council in 1946.

PSA Town Meeting of Photography – Fresno Convention Center – Francis Wu – Speaker - 1952

We do hope that you all enjoy, in every way, this third PSA Town Meeting of Photography held here in the City of Fresno in the heart of the great San Joaquin Valley, the richest agricultural Valley in the world.

In planning and presenting this event, we aimed at the best and we feel that our program with its well-known celebrities, speaks for itself.

We wish to express our fondest gratitude to Dr. Francis Wu, Hon PSA, FPSA, FRPS, of Hong Kong, China who has so graciously added his full share to our program.

We trust that his journey home will be pleasant one accompanied by many happy memories of his association here in America with the member of the PSA family.

Francis Wu will be speaking in the Main Auditorium on Sunday, October 26th. His lecture will be on “The Chinese Viewpoint of Photography”

Ninth New Zealand Salon of Photography - 1955

This exhibition is conducted by The Rotorua Photographic Society for the Photographic Society of New Zealand.

The language of photography is universal and we take great pleasure in presenting the Ninth New Zealand International Salon which gives, to  all who see it, an opportunity to study the ideas of their neighbors in many countries, both near an far.

The Rotorua Photographic Society has the honor of conducting this salon – the first International sponsored by the Photographic Society of New Zealand, established  in 1953 at Rotorua. The Salon has been conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the Photographic Society of America. The work hosen for exhibition should b of great benefit to the photographs

The Clam Catcher by Francis Wu

The judges of this exhibition are:
Jack Bedford, ARPS
Alan Gordon. ARPS
Harold Larsen, ARPS, APSA

Francis Wu, FRPS, FIBP, FPSA have 2 prints in this exhibition:
The Clam Catcher is an Honors print and reproduced in the salon catalog.
Touches of Sunlight

The Star - Johannesburg - Print From China For City Salon - September, 1953

 A Dreamer by Francis Wu

Idle lies the flute, the player leans against an upturned basket before a plum-blossom screen and dreams. This print. “A Dreamer” has the delicacy and imaginative grace typical of Chinese Art. Submitted by Francis Wu of China to the Johannesburg Camera Club. It will be exhibited with 150 other prints from photographers of the Union and overseas at the Sixth Witwatersrand International Salon of Photography, to be opened by the Mayor, Mr. H. Miller.

Foto News – Journal Of The Singapore Camera Club – 1954

 

 The Master Photographer, Francis Wu Expounds On...........

The year started with a very rare treat. On the invitation of Mr. Loke Wan Tho, Mr. Francis Wu, R.R.P.S., F.I.B.P., the famous Hong Kong photographer visited Singapore on 4th January 1954 to act as one of the judge of the Singapore Art Society’s Fifth Open Exhibition of photographs. While he was here he gave two public lectures, one of which under the auspices of the Camera Club, was given on 5th January an entitled “How I Make My Exhibition Pictures” Mr. Wu work is already well known in Singapore. On another page we reproduce his picture “Idling In The Swing” which won on of the Silver Medals at the Art Society’s Third Open Exhibition in 1952

"How I Make My Exhibition Prints"

On the same night members of the club gave a dinner at Tai Tong Restaurant, Happy World at which Mr. Wu was the honor guest.

Mr. Francis Wu gave a one-man exhibition on January 7th of some of his best works.

Idling In The Swing by Francis Wu

PSA International Exhibits - San Luis Valley Camera Club - Augusy, 1954

This is a letter from San Luis Valley Camera Club on Francis Wu's Exhibition held by the Photographic Society of America's International Exhibits.

Chinese Magazine - February 1950

Francis Wu is the editor In Chief of the magazine and this is his Editorial Note for the  issue:

I wish to Thank the people who has given their help and guidance for the publication of  the “Chinese Photography”, a tea party was held at the Cecil Hotel. Lady Grantham and Mr. Kwok Chan were among our honorary guests. More than one hundred persons, including well-known photographers, press representatives, advertisers and high government officials, attended the party.

The first issue of “Chinese Photography” has been the result of our efforts, and we have received many complimentary comments and frank criticisms from friends and readers. We are now using these suggestions and comments to our advantage in improving our forthcoming issues.

Many letters have been written to us inquiring information in regard to The Photographic Society of America and foreign photographic publications and photographic materials; these letters prove that “Chinese Photography” also serves as a channel of information from all photographers in the Far East.

In this second issue, we are introducing color photography which is such a popular trend in photographic art. Our increase of articles are designed to give beginners better educational material and helpful information. For further to aid our readers, we would like to have them send questions on which they need hellp and assistance.

Straits Echo – Times of Malaya – Photo Show In Aid Of Blind Home - May, 1954

Mrs. R.P. Bingham, wife of Resident Commissioner, Penang, yesterday morning declared open the three-day exhibition of Mr. Francis Wu’s exhibition, at the Khek Association. and spent 45 minutes browsing over 132 photographs on show.

Mrs. Bingham was met by Mrs. K.S. Lim, Hon. Secretary of the St. Nicholas Home committee, Mr. Chan Eng Hock who arranged the exhibition and Mr. Loh Cheng Chuan of the Penany Art Society, which sponsored the exhibition, gross proceeds of which will be entirely in aid of the St. Nicholas Home for the Blind.

Moss M.C. warren of the St. Nicholas Home Bought down two of the children. Master Peter Chin and Miss Lim Ah Yean, for the opening ceremony.

Mrs. Lim expressed on behalf of the committee, grateful thanks first to Mr. Wu for allowing his photographs to b used to help the Home’s funds, the Penang Art Society and everyone who have made the exhibition possible, and Mrs. Bingham for coming to open it.

 Eastern Window by Francis Wu

Mrs. Bingham then declared the exhibition open and with a pair of golden scissors handed to her by Miss Lim Ah Yean of the Home she cut the ribbon across the doorway.

Mr. Francis Wu, well known of photographers and others as Hong Kong premier photographer, was in Penang last February, and the pictures he took during his visit here and in other parts of Malaya will form the subject of the exhibition to be sponsored by the Penang Pastoralists soon.

His collection on view yesterday, and to be seen today and tomorrow represents the work of 11 years of patient and ceaseless efforts to get the best from nature and the women who posed for him. Some pictures on view collected as many as dozen top awards in Salons over the world.

Reproduction of some of the loveliest portraits, from the “Classical Beauties” is among the photographs to be seen at this exhibition at the Khek Association.

Hong Kong Tiger Standard - Wu Denies Refusal To Speak Chinese - January 10, 1954

Mr. Francis Wu, well-known Hong Kong photographer, told the Standard yesterday that he had not officially informed either the Penang Camera Club or the Penang Arts Society that they would not welcome him on January 12 as a result of his refusal to address their members in Mandarin or Cantonese.

He had gathered from a news report in a Chinese paper that the two Committees had met and decided not to welcome him to their Club’s names but that individual members could do as they pleased.

Prefers English

Mr. Wu emphasized he had not started that he would not address them in Chinese. What he did say was that he preferred to address them in English as some of the photographic terms could not be translated and yet convey their full meaning.

The Penang Camera Club and the Penang Arts Society had arranged to hold a tea party for Mr. Wu when he visits the Island on January 12.

“If they don’t welcome me, I will not feel bad about it at all. I still heel honored to visit Penang and I will have private discussions with the Camera Club members instead of giving a public address” he said.

Mr. Wu added that he found it part of his duty as a photographer, especially a Chinese photographer, to promote and encourage other Chinese photographers to take greater interest and improve their standards in photography.

Mr. Francis Wu, visiting Hong Kong photographer, is seen with two other members of the Singapore Art Society's selection committee, Dr. C.A. Gibson-Hill and Mr. Lok Wan Tho, viewing exhibits for the Society's Fifth Open Exhibition of photographs to be held in the British Council Hall. Picture shows (from left) Dr. Gibson-Hill, Mr. Loke Wan Tho and Mr. Francis Wu

Kodakery - Mr. Wu Takes Look At The American Scene - October 16, 1952

Tells U.S. Audiences About Snap shooting in China

“I think American friendliness has made the greatest impression on me.” The quiet-spoken Chinese who said that was Francis Wu…..his country’s “Ambassador of Photography”

He has come across the world from Hong Kong for his first visit to the United States.

On a nationwide lecture tour, sponsored by the PSA and PAA, Rochester was one of the some 50 stops coast to coast in 24 States.

He had a tree way purpose in stopping in Rochester: to speak before the Kodak Camera Club. To brush up on photographic techniques and new developments at Kodak and to renew acquaintances with Company people whom he had met in China or with whom he has correspondence down through the years.

Gordon Frisque, Kodak's European & Overseas Organization and Francis Wu

Wu, one of China’s best known photographers, came to the U.S. in July ands will return to his homeland around Christmas. In the meantime, Mrs. Wu is in charge of his studio and photographic supply store.

By the time he gets back home, he figures he will have traveled about 50,000 miles. He marvels at the American transportation network that makes distant cities just a few hours away.

On his Kodak visit he was particularly interested to learn new techniques in promoting photography. Much credit must go to him for the spread of photographic interest in his native land. He has been instrumental in forming Chinese camera clubs. He’s acting as advisor in five such clubs now and is quite proud of eh fact that 120 Hong Kong exhibitors had 660 entries accepted in the London Salon recently.

Photography in china principally is black and white, he says. Color, however, is making headway, and he is interested in developments along this line when he stopped in at Kodak.

Goodwill Mission

He hopes one of the results of his trip will be a closer relationship between Chinese and American photographers.

One of his favorite lecture topics is picture taking from the Chinese viewpoint. There is a distinct difference between their photographic ideas and those of the Western world.

“Americans look for the drama in pictures” Wu observes. “Chinese on the other hand. Seek the delicate”

Picture subjects, however, he says, are much the same. Chinese snap shooters, like their American counterparts, put babies and family pictures on their list of camera targets.

Runcorn Camera Club – Thirteenth Annual International Exhibition – 1956

This year the Runcorn Camera Club should be in a position to stage one of the best exhibitions of pictorial photography that they had ever had the pleasure to hang. They have had an exceptional entry in the open class from all parts of the globe, and of particular interest are those works from Middle and Far East, where today some really beautiful work is being done in the field of pictorial photography of exhibition standard.

A large entry means more work for the judges, but it gives to them a greater pleasure and an enhanced satisfaction in as much as their selection, to give an exhibition of high quality pictures, can be made to include only those works which measure up to a very high standard both in technical and pictorial quality.

An exhibitor whose work is included can feel that it is there only through its real merit in comparison with the best work being produced amongst exhibiting photographers today. This year, with certainty, an acceptance label of the Runcorn Camera Club means that in keen competition of truly international character the work has had to achieve qualities of a very high order indeed.

Mary Goes Round by Francis Wu

Many examples included in this exhibition are of conventional type of pictorialism – good landscapes good portraits and good figure studies, but there is also a very creditable number of works, which reflect more advanced ideas of pictorialism

Experimental themes and subjects, clever twist of design and pattern making within the photographic medium. This is thought provoking work.

Many examples accepted indicate in no certain manner the exceptionally beautiful print quality, which is attainable today. This exhibition will include many examples of sophisticated and clever work of very high order or artistic merit, which will amply repay very careful study.

The judges are N. Crawshaw, ARPS., W.T. Dawson, ARPS., J.H. Trace, ARPS, FRSA

Dr. Francis Wu, FRPS from Hong Kong, China have 4 prints in this exhibition.

• Peace On Earth

• A Calm Catcher

• Mary Goes Round

• Vanity

The 10th Annual Exhibition Of Marine Photography International - 1957

The Mariners Museum, Newport, Virginia

A very successful judging of prints took place at the Mariners Museum. The judges enjoyed their work and carefully considered each entry. They concentrated on selecting the scenes, which most clearly carried out the purpose of the Exhibition pf Marine Photography: to encourage a greater interest in the creation of documentary and artistic maritime photographs.

Ninety-one monochrome prints were accepted for hanging. Fifty of the accepted prints were selected to be displayed in a special exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. Last yea, viewers of the exhibition numbered 22,565. It is anticipated an equal or greater number will see this year’s show.

Moonlight Night by Francis Wu

All of Francis Wu’s prints were selected to hang in the Smithsonian Institution of Art and two of the prints also won “Documentary Awards”. Francis Wu has 4 prints accepted in this exhibition:

Shell Fish Catching
Two Little Fishermen
Moonlight Night
Morning Songs