LSPGA | g3vjm

London School of Printing and Graphic Arts 1955

I signed up with LSP, as it was known, to study photography and graphic arts at the original building in Back Hill, Clerkenwell, long before the college moved to the Elephant and Castle. It was at a time before photography had entered the modern age. All photographs were black and white and were taken using plate cameras - half plate size 6.5" by 4.75" and in the studio there were no shutters used, exposure was made by taking the lens cap off and on. For architecturial shots we had lenses with shutters.

35mm cameras like Leica or Contax were riddiculed. The only acceptable small camera was a Rolleiflex or Rolleicord (for the poorer amongs us).

I only had a 1935 Ikoflex with a f3.5 Triotar lens which I used throughout my time there. A student in my year (jane Gate) had a Hassleblad 1000f of which we were all very envious. Some years later I bought it from her for £50 and still have it today - and it still works.

It was a 3 year course but after the second year I applied for the Shell Petroleum Training Scholarship, which I won. If I had stayed at LSP the 3rd year would have been colour photography, which I did at Shell anyway.

Mr Wenham Lecturer in photographic science	Canteen	Fred Cook Fred Cook was head of photographic Department. Taken on a vintage Elgy camera
Fred Cook Lecture. Helen facing the camera at the back	Mrs Wicks The 'Chemical Lady' in charge of dishing out the developer and fixer	My Year Students We were asked to supply a photo for Typos student magazine
My Year Students Me in goon sheet with Tina. Henri , Michael and David to my right and Mrs Bassy, Jock and Jane to my left. Eric with the umbrella	The year below mine In from the right Desmond. Helen, ?, Isobel. Pam second behind the camera. Can't remember any other names	Typos Magazine 1955 Front cover of the magazine produced as a student exercise each year
Architectural Shot Trip to Crawley New Town which was just being built. We had a coach trip there and all lugged plate cameras around	Jock Fellow student on the trip to Crawley	Crawley The old and the new
New Town 1955 The very early work in building Crawley New Town	Julian Shepherd The weeks work was examined every Friday afternoon 'Print Crit' session	Julian Shepherd Another shot of the same 'print crit' session
Mr Wenham Colour reproduction lecture. Taken on vintage Elgy camera	David Tina Henri Taken during our evening social life	Isobel Fellow student
David Fellow student