A ‘Missionary’ From China
Will ‘Preach’ Film Art Here.
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| Dr. Francis Wu |
Photography as practiced by the Chinese will be discussed in Louisville Tuesday night by Dr. Francis Wu, FPSA, FRPS of Hong Kong. His illustrated lecture is to be at 8pm in the auditorium at Speed Scientific School.
The Louisville Photographic Society is sponsoring Dr. Wu’s lecture. He was brought to this country through the combined efforts of the Photographic Society of America and the Photographer’s Association as a featured speaker on their convention programs at New York and Chicago, respectively.
Although he is a professional in whose studio many European and Oriental dignitaries have been photographed, it is his avid interest in all phases of photography, which led him to undertake his present lecture tour.
Dr. Wu is internationally known pictorialist. He is a firm believer in the value of traditional Chinese art and attributes much of his remarkable success in competitive exhibits to its influence.
In regard to Chinese photography as quoted by Jack Wright in the PSA Journal:
“My impression with photography as practiced by the Chinese is that their pictures conforms to the considerable extent to the Chinese character. Their photographs are soft, delicate and highly artistic. Very few would dare to produce a picture that was bold, abstract and strong in character.
In his lecture, profusely illustrated by many of the pictures that have won honors and acclaim throughout the world, Dr. Wu traces the influences of traditional Chinese art and explains the methods by which he achieves such remarkable results.
In recognition of his pictorial achievements, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society of London in 1941 and of the Photographic Society of America in 1948. In 1949, he became a Cornerstone member of P.S.A. and now serves as representative for Hong Kong and China. At the recent New York convention, PSA bestowed on him the award of Honorary Membership. He has always been honored by photographic organizations in numerous other countries.
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| The Bamboo Pipe By Fraancis Wu |
Jack Wright furnishes this concerning Dr. Wu’s background:
“”When francis Wu was 9 year old, he came across a book called “While You Wait Photography” The little volume purported to give complete instructions for making pictures….”
“With $6.00 saved from his allowances he purchased a Kodak folding pocket camera and inserted a roll of film. After taking pictures he opened up the camera immediately and looked at the film, expecting to see the pictures all finished in a “while you wait” basis. He still laughs about the incident.
“Dr. Wu was born in China and educated in Honolulu, In Hawaii he met Nicholas Haz (of Cincinnati), the noted photographer teacher, and Haz encouraged him to continue and expand his photographic activities”
In 1931 he entered Lingnam University in China and soon organized the first camera club.
Gaining rapidly in technical skills and pictorial understandings. He made prints that began to be accepted by international salons and exhibitions. In 1937, he determined to make photography his profession. He now operates a large and successful studio in Hong Kong, employing more than 20 assistants.
His progress was temporarily halted by the Japanese occupation. But when Hong Kong was liberated he was appointed official photographer for the Hong Kong Colonial Government. In that capacity he had the distinction of being the only Chinese photographer to take part of the Japanese surrender ceremonies.
Shortly after the Japanese invasion of China, the First Hong of International Salon of Photography was announced, under Dr. Wu’s leadership.
“The exhibition was well publicized,” Wright reports, “and entries poured in from all parts of the world. After the judging, but before the salon started, the war broke out and within a short time the Japanese occupied Hong Kong. Dr. Wu, who by that time was a professional, immediately changed his profession as “broker” because he was afraid that any connection with photography would get him into trouble with the Japanese. The European members of the Photographic Society of Hong Kong were marched away to prison camps. Dr. Wu was not imprisoned. In secrecy and stealth, he was bale to smuggle 90 percent of the accepted prints in the salon out of the club’s darkroom. He hid them in various points in Hong Kong. The remainder of the pictures, including those which had been rejected, were captured by the Japanese and destroyed or sent to Japan”
Dr. Wu’s studio is furnished with the most modern equipment, including 10 speed light outfits. He reports that supplies are plentiful in Hong Kong, but that in the China mainland, amateur photographers are greatly hampered by scarce and outdated materials.
He devotes much of his time to amateur groups. One of the best known of these is the “6:20 Group”, which takes the name from the fact that it meets each Sunday to take the 6:20 a.m. ferry to Kowloon from which the search of pictures begins.
In order to help the Chinese amateur groups, Dr. Wu organized the Chinese Photographic Publishing Company and edited its monthly magazine. “Chinese Photography” printed in both Chinese and English. When the Iron Curtain of Communists was recently drawn around the mainland of China, the magazine was forced to suspend. The publication of the books continues. However, and among these is one on completion, printed in Chinese and English for the amateur. His latest book is “Classical Chinese Beauties”, depicting the dainty charm of the Chinese women.
Photographers in the Louisville area are fortunate to have an opportunity to hear a craftsman of Francis Wu’s stature. His prints are wroth driving miles to see. The unique approach to photography as practiced by one grounded in Chinese cultures will provide fresh viewpoint for all interested in camera work.
