South China Morning Post – Hong Kong - Tuesday, November 21, 1950

Photographic Society’s Int’l Salon
Opened By Governor

The Governor Sir Alexander Grantham was interested to many of the fine photographs hung in this year’s International Salon, which he opened yesterday. Mr. Francis Wu is seen explaining a few points to His Excellency

The Excellency the Governor, Sir Alexander Grantham, officially opened the Fifth International Salon of Photography yesterday.

Lady Grantham accompanied the Governor. Mr. Francis Wu, Ernest To and Mr. David Cohen, representing the Society’s Council, met them at the entrance to St. John’s Cathedral Hall.

The Governor made a through inspection of the photographs on view, numbering 150. He toured the hall in the company of Mr. and Mrs. Wu and later had tea at the official table.

Sir Alexandria and Lady Grantham remained on the premises nearly an hour. They both commented that this was the finest collection of photographs displayed in the international salons held thus far.

The pictures are open to public view from today, and will be hung until November 25. Nineteen countries are represented in this year’s Salon, and I understand that from the salon chairman that the judges had a difficult time selecting the entries and the winners.
Francis Wu was also one of the salon judges.

On the invitational Panel this year are prints submitted by the five salon judges. Mr. Wu displays three portraits finished with the usual expert craftsmanship.

Idling By The Swing By Francis Wu

                                           

Lincoln State Journal – Nebraska – June 22, 1949

One-Man Show
Francis Wu

A Village Belle By Francis Wu

The unique photography of Mr. Francis Wu will be exhibited at the Miller & Paine auditorium from Thursday, June 23 through June 30.

The Lincoln Camera Club sponsors this exhibition.

Francis C.K. Wu FPSA of Hong Kong China is one of the world’s truly famous photographers. Included in this exhibition at Miller’s is the unique study of a coolie enjoying a cigarette; the title is “Old Butt Delicious” and brought to Mr. Wu the grand prize in the Amsterdam (Netherlands) 8th International Salon. This traveling Salon is arranged through the Photographic Society of America.

Old Butt Delicious By Francis Wu

41st National Orange Show – San Bernardino, California – 1956

This International Exhibition of Photography is being held in San Bernardino, California in 1956. The city of San Bernardino occupies much of the San Bernardino Valley. It is one of the oldest communities in the State of California and it is the 18th largest city in California.

Francis Wu, FPSA, FRPS of Hong Kong has 4 prints in this exhibition:

188    Smiling Indian
189    Net Mending
190    The Clam Catcher
191    Peace On Earth

The Clam Catcher By FrancisWu

Honolulu Star Bulletin – 1950

Ex-Honolulu Man Edits New China Photo Magazine

Francis Wu, FRPS, FPSA of Hong Kong, is editor in chief of a new photographic magazine called “Chinese Photography”

Mr. Francis Wu is well known in Hawaii where he attended St. Louis College. He has relatives here.

The editor has forwarded copies of the first two issues, January and February.

BI-LINGUAL TEXT

Although most of the text is in Chinese, there are occasional articles in English, and each month’s issue contains an excellent salon section exhibiting a cross section of the pictures being made my Chinese artists.

The lithographed publication is issued in Hong Kong and presumably most of the photographs represented are located there.

Several of the pictures bear evidence of having been made by Mr. Wu’s associates in the 6:20 club – a group of early Sunday risers who starts their field trips at that time.

The second issue introduces excellent color reproductions, including a cover by Mr. Wu

Technical printing limitations do not do the picture full justice, but enough of the original comes to the idea of what Chinese photographers are doing.

The work bears an unmistakable Oriental imprint – and we few offerings that seek to imitate western style art fall far below the standards of those whose inspiration is purely native.

OUTLINES PURPOSE

In an introductory statement, Mr. Wu outlines the magazine’s purposes:

“In presenting this first issue to the photographic world, it is right that some explanation of the aims and scope of the committee responsible for the publication be given."

“These aims can be stated quite shortly. They are designed primarily for the promotion of photography in China; to extend Chinese culture and beauty; and to act as a teaching journal for all interested in photography…."

“I am…convinced that we have something original and unique in our Chinese photographic technique and it is because of this that such a monthly publication as this journal is desirable as a medium of encouragement foe Chinese photographers."

CHINESE VIEWPOINT
“Chinese Photography is devoted entirely to the Chinese viewpoints of photography and most artistic photographs which are selected for insertion are usually taken by Chinese photographers with Chinese subjects and atmosphere."

“The photographic world has seen western photography through their many publications, but we have seen very little of Chinese art. Therefore, it is unnecessary for Chinese photographers to duplicate materials, which has already been widely published elsewhere."

“Chinese Photography is the first photographic monthly magazine devoted entirely to the promotion of photography in China."

For those who would like to communicate with the editors, the publication address is “ Chinese Photographic Publisher, St. George Building, Hong Kong, China.

The Illustrated Weekly Of India – Sunday: November 16, 1952

International Photographic Exhibits

The First Association India-International Exhibition of Photographic Art, some entries from which have been reproduced here, was held successively at Ahmedabad and Bombay in September and October. It was jointly sponsored by the Camera Pictorialist of Ahmedabad, The Camera Pastoralists of Bombay and The Photographic Society of India, and was notable for some outstanding exhibits from abroad.

Idling In The Swing By Francis Wu

Hawaii Chinese Newspaper – Honolulu – Thursday July 24, 1952

Francis Wu, Hong Kong Photographer Will Present Chinese Viewpoint In Lecture Tour Throughout Mainland.

Francis Wu

“My pictures have been exhibited all over the world” said Francis Wu, the Hong Kong photographer who is booked for a photographic lecture tour that will take him to practically every state in the country during the coming months.

Elaborating further, he remarked that he has sent photographs to exhibitions in England, France, Germany, Holland, India and The United States, just to mention a few.

“I even had a one-man show in Honolulu a few years ago” he commented. It was held in the Library of Hawaii and the photographs covered a variety of subjects”

An example of one who takes up photography by chance, Mr. Wu worked diligently at his vocation until now, after fifteen years, he has been invited by The Photographic Society of America to lecture on “Pictorial Photography from a Chinese Viewpoint.”

For his tour, Mr. Wu has selected two sets of fifty prints each. The first set consists of photographs of Chinese classical beauties. For the sake of tradition, minute detail had been given to costumes, coiffures and make-up.

The other is a set of Chinese pictorials, a composite
 Of several pictures put together to resemble Chinese paintings. As far as he knows, Mr. Wu is the first photographer to adopt this technique for Chinese paintings.

In addition to the lecture tour, this outstanding photographer will attend the annual convention of the Photographic Society of America in New York City from August 21 to 30. The second group is only composed of professional photographers.

Mr. Wu is resting as long as he can here before leaving for the first convention.

“I want to soak up plenty of Hawaiian sunshine before I start that long lecture tour.” He said.

This is not the first visit to the islands; however, he was sent here by his parents at an early age to attend St. Louis College, and Mun Lun School. After his graduation, he returned to China and received his bachelor’s degree from Lingnam University.

He arrived by plane last Wednesday night and is houseguests of relative, Mrs. Bertha Young of 3818 Kilauea Avenue.

V Salon Internacuional De Arte Fotografico – Valparaiso – 1956

This International Exhibition of Photography is sponsored by the Club Fotofrafico y Cinematografico de Valparaiso in Chile. It will be held at the Casino Municipal de Vina del Mar from February 20 to March 10, 1956.

Valapraiso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country’s most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. Santiago is Chile’s official capital.

Francis Wu, Hon. PSA, FPSA, FRPS, FIBP, FRSA of 2 Gloucester Arcade, Hong Kong has 4 photographs in this exhibition and his print “Old Butt Delicious” won a gold medal.

85    Symbol Of Peace
86    Shell-Fish Catching At Dawn
87    Smiling Indian
88    Old Butt Delicious

Old Butt Delicious By Francis Wu

S4C News – Los Angeles – October 1952

Pictorial Photography From A Chinese Viewpoint

On October 23rd. Francis Wu will present his lecture on “Pictorial Photography From A Chinese Viewpoint” in the Fiesta Room of Plummer Park. He will have with him pictorial prints for display and illustration purposes.

Mr. Wu, who is already a Fellow of both PSA and the Royal Photographic Society, was further honored at the Awards Banquet of the recent New York Convention when he was given an Honorary Membership for “unselfish activity on behalf of the Society in the Far East and for extra ordinary accomplishment as both professional and pictorial photographer.”

Mr. Wu will arrive at the International Airport on a American Airlines plane at 1.20pm Oct. 23rd. He will give his lecture in the evening and will leave the next day for the north. stopping over in Fresno for the PSA Town meeting, and reaching San Francisco for an engagement on the 27th. His purpose in this tour is to meet American photographic enthusiasts and to contribute his bit to our knowledge of the art; he is giving three months of his time and a substantial sum for that privilege.