In the age of the smartphone, Northern Ireland’s oldest camera club is helping to keep print photography alive.
Vittorio Silvestri, president of the Central Photographic Association (CPA) camera club, believes “we’re losing a bit of history” because of the decline in print images.
The club, currently located in south Belfast, dates back to 1906 and is this year celebrating its 120th anniversary.
Silvestri has been in the CPA for four decades and in that time has seen membership decline from more than 70 people to about 30.
“The numbers are dwindling,” he said, adding that there are not many young people active in the club.
With camera technology on smartphones getting better by the year, Silvestri says doors have been opened for the younger generation when it comes to making photography more accessible.
“However, we’re not really seeing them come into the club because of that,” he said.