What began as a small newspaper advertisement for photography enthusiasts in 1956 has grown into a 70-year success story for the Tauranga Photographic Society.

Now, seven decades on, the society is inviting the community to celebrate the milestone.

The group will host an open day on Saturday showcasing the images, people and passion that have shaped the club, while highlighting how photography continues to evolve.

Sue Wagenaar has been with the society for six years and president for three.

She said it was “quite an achievement” the Tauranga Photographic Society had been going for 70 years.

“A lot of people don’t know that there’s a camera club, so that is our primary goal and the whole point of this exhibition is to raise awareness and try increase membership.”

The Tauranga Photographic Society was formed in 1956 after a Bay of Plenty Times advertisement was placed in the paper inviting anyone interested in photography to attend a meeting.

The inaugural meeting was held on January 12, 1956, before the first official club gathering took place at St Peter’s Presbyterian Church Hall the following month.

Forty people attended and elected the society’s first committee.

By the end of its first year, membership had reached 100, making it the sixth-largest photographic society in New Zealand at the time.

Tauranga Photographic Society president Sue Wagenaar. Photo / Jo Davidson

The society was formally incorporated in 1957 and affiliated with the Photographic Society of New Zealand.

“For me the biggest thing is that the society has so much history behind it over the years and it’s still functional and so much has changed,” Wagenaar said.

“We’ve got members who have been a part of the club for as much as 15 years and they still remember the darkroom days, so the fact we’re still going in a changing world is really good.”

She said the club had definitely moved with the times, and embraced changes like Photoshop and Lightroom.

“Change is inevitable; we have to embrace it because otherwise you get left behind, and I think people have taken it on board even with changes from digital cameras to mirrorless.”

Today, the Tauranga Photographic Society is based at 177 Elizabeth St, where members meet to share their work, learn new techniques and explore a wide range of photographic genres.

To celebrate its 70-year milestone, the Tauranga Photographic Society will host an open-day exhibition.

To celebrate its 70-year milestone, the society will host an open day on Saturday from 9am to 4pm.

Visitors will be able to view members’ photographs and learn more about specialist areas including wildlife, landscape, waterfall, astro and creative photography.

Wagenaar said club members who specialise in areas such as waterfall, bird and landscape photography will be available to chat informally with visitors, share their work and discuss their techniques.

“It really is quite phenomenal what people can do with photographs, and blending different photos, mixing a bit of this and a bit of that, and maybe that’s what appeals to me.”

The club’s original mission remains unchanged: providing a welcoming place for anyone with an interest in capturing and sharing images.

“Come along to the TPS clubrooms and discover what photography has to offer.”

Kaitlyn Morrell is a journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.