Oldham Photographic Society is one of the oldest continuously meeting photographic societies in Britain. The Society met through two world wars and has never changed its name since it was founded at the Hare and Hounds Public House in Yorkshire Street in May 1867.
We are always ready to embrace new methods and were one of the first clubs to introduce digital photography to our members in the 1990s. Our members today are almost all amateurs though we are also open to professional photographers. Our membership covers a range of ages and ability, from people who just like to take photos for fun to national and international award winners.
Time and Place
Our meeting place is the North Chadderton Conservative Club (The Blue Club),
Victoria Street, Chadderton OL9 0HH.
Meetings are there unless otherwise stated on the Programme. [Map here]
Meetings are at 7:15pm for a 7:45pm start. Doors open from 7 pm.
HYBRID Meetings (Most members attending the Blue Club in person, with some watching Via ZOOM) are held occasionally, so that we can take advantage of booking more distant lecturers and judges. Look at the How to Join section about membership.
What we do
Our Programme includes talks, competitions, appraisals and tutorials. Project nights introduce members to new skills and try to get them thinking “out of the box”. Even beginners will find that their photography improves in leaps and bounds, simply by joining in and learning by example. There is always someone on hand to answer your questions and help you with problems. You won’t need to bring your camera equipment except on practical evenings and the occasional outing.
Our members have very varied interests from sport, landscape, portrait, nature, still life, digital composite…the list goes on. Whatever your own photographic interests, you will soon fit in.
The Galleries and Online Exhibitions pages will give you a flavour of our work.
Competitions
As well as internal competitions, we take part in friendly inter-club competitions in the region. We support the annual L&CPU competitions with an entry and have been successful in regularly having work selected for PAGB competitions. We have had great results in both the international club competition “The FIAP World Cup” and also aim to come within the top 8 clubs n the nationally held club PDI Challenge and Club Print Challenge…we have been successful in this in recent years..recently (2025) being placed 4th in the UK at the PDI Championships.
Affiliation
The Society is a member of the Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union (L&CPU) and affiliated to the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB).
Page updated 30th April 2026