Pioneers are snap happy at how it's all panned out

Today's members in their state-of-the-art studio

Crisp white walls, rolls of immaculate backdrops piled in the corner, state-of-the-art lighting suspended from the ceiling. Just one flick of a switch and the complex machinery will glide to wherever it is desired, its bulbs beaming down where needed, no awkward cables dragging in view.

"It's a studio to die for," smiles George Neilson, inset. "When we bring people to have a look around, they always let out a 'wow!' when they enter this room."

George, president of the Edinburgh Photographic Society, and his fellow members are rightly proud of the studio as well as what the organisation itself has achieved - and continues to achieve - as it marks its 150th anniversary this month.

The society, thought to be the largest of its kind in the UK, has been based in this very building since 1954, having moved from a former site on South Bridge, serving the needs of the city's photography enthusiasts and attracting international attention for its efforts along the way.

In fact, its annual International Exhibition of Photography is taking place in the society's 68 Great King Street premises right now, throughout the Fringe, with hundreds of entries from as far afield as China and Iran on display in the ground floor main hall.

"I was in Vancouver not so long ago and got talking to someone who knew about our exhibition," explains George, 65. "It shows the world that the Edinburgh Photographic Society is here."

It all began in 1861 when a group of local photographers removed themselves from the then Photographic Society of Scotland (PSS), which had formed five years earlier under the patronage of Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert. It is understood they found the PSS too formal and objected to the exclusion of a photograph from one of its exhibitions simply because it featured semi-nude females.

Greyfriars Church after a fire in 1845

Quickly attracting the attention of other forward-thinking, enthusiastic photographers across the city - both professional and amateur - the society grew and, by 1900, had more than 500 members on its books.

It has long prided itself on having a diverse mix of members. Some 235 are now part of the society, coming from all walks of life, including students and legal minds.

"We have a huge mix of people," explains George. "We have those who are very experienced to those who just want to know more about photography - complete amateurs."

Every Wednesday the society holds its main club night, where members come together to share ideas.

There are also separate interest groups within the society, focusing on the likes of digital imaging, nature, and photographic creativity, all working to enhance their knowledge and capabilities.

George explains that it is the members who have always driven change in the society, from its initial conception right through to the present day, where the challenge of keeping up-to-date with modern advancements is always met with the introduction of new equipment and techniques.

The society's state-of-the-art studio says it all, as does its digital editing suite, crammed with some of the most modern equipment on the market.

It's something of a dream for photographers, most of whom could never afford to house such pieces in their own homes, never mind find the space to do so. "We owe these premises to one of our former secretaries, Gracie Alison, who was driving past one day, saw the 'for sale' sign and thought how great it would be if the society could have it as its premises," says George, a keen sports photographer.

"She reported back to the members - there were around 600 at the time - and it was agreed the money would be found to buy it."

By modern standards, securing a grand four-story gardened property on one of the New Town's most prestigious streets for 2000 is jaw-dropping, but there is no question that back then it was still a vast amount of money. The Edinburgh Photographic Society now owns the building outright, which was recently valued at 1.6 million.

"We know how lucky we are to have this," smiles George.

Photography has come a long way since the founding members of the society met in a room behind a watchmaker's shop on South Bridge, all of whom may have come from diverse backgrounds but all had money nonetheless.

After all, back then, photography was an expensive hobby that only the privileged could enjoy.

There was no such thing as the compact digital camera most of us know and love today, and the notion of being able to take high-quality pictures from an electronic contraption that also has the ability to make telephone calls - while on the move - was not even a glimmer in an inventor's eye.

It was only in 1888 that the reality of a "portable" picture-taking device really came true thanks to the arrival of the box camera, although it is understood many members were wary at first of such modern inventions.

Nowadays, embracing all that is new in the world of photography is at the fore of the Edinburgh Photographic Society.

The society may be 150 years old, but by no means is it stuck in the past. "We try to take photography forward," explains George.

"It is important to keep up with all the advancements. Most of our members try to upgrade their equipment when they can but it can, of course, be very expensive."

With a basic annual membership fee of 70, each member helps pays for the upkeep of the society's premises, including the electronic key-fob system that allows 24-hour access every day of the year to the Great King Street building and its facilities.

"We have a lot of photography students who may need to work here very late at night, or from very early in the morning," says George. "So it's important they can have access when they need it.

"Who knows what the future holds for the Edinburgh Photographic Society. However, one thing is guaranteed, if there are huge changes in photography then we will be first there to take them on board. There is no doubt about that."

The Edinburgh Photographic Society's International Exhibition of Photography is now on display at 68 Great King Street, Monday to Friday, 10am to 7pm, on Saturdays from 1pm to 7pm and on Sundays from 1pm to 5pm, 4/3.

For more information, visit www.edinburghphotographicsociety.co.uk