Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm.

Camera Amnesty

Have you got an old-fashioned camera gathering dust at home?
Are you wondering if it still works?
Do you want to start using it with film but don’t know where to start?

Between 2 pm and 4 pm on Saturday 10 August, photographer, researcher and camera geek (his own word!) Frank Menger will be at Wiltshire Museum to look at and give advice on how to use vintage analogue photographic cameras!

From checking basic functions and explaining how the equipment might be able to be used again, Frank will help you to acquaint yourself with your camera again!  He will even try to make a picture with it on the day for you to take away!

In case the camera is not working, Frank will be able to recommend if a repair is possible, and where to have it mended!

Should you not want to keep the camera any longer, please consider donating it to Frank, who can use it with his students at University of West of England to experiment with!

There is no charge, but a donation of £3 to the Museum would be appreciated!

Date: Saturday 10 August

Time: 2 pm to 4 pm

Price: FREE entry

Location: Lecture Hall at Wiltshire Museum - located on the first floor, accessible via stairs or a platform lift. Limited, free, on-site parking.

Ages: All ages welcome

Booking: Not required, just come along during the afternoon.

Terms and Conditions
No responsibility can be accepted by the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society (the Society) for accidents or injury sustained during the course of any event arranged by the Society.

Frank Menger is a Research Fellow: Centre for Print Research, at the University of the West of England.



Other Wiltshire Thatcher Events

LECTURE: Exploring photography’s history up to 1939

Dr Michael Pritchard will look at how photography evolved from its announcement in France and England in 1839 up to the outbreak of war in 1939. He’ll show how the cameras and equipment that photographers – both amateur and professional – used evolved, and the types of photographs produced during the period. Tuesday 16 July, 7.00 pm at Wiltshire Museum. Booking essential.

Victorian Portrait Photography brought to life

General workshops - various dates. Booking essential.

Family Workshops - various dates. Booking essential.

Exhibition: A Wiltshire Thatcher – a Photographic Journey through Victorian Wessex

An exhibition celebrating the work of Ernest Farmer, a little-known but leading figure in the development of photography as an art form.

The exhibition explores Farmer's life and photographic techniques, alongside over 100 photographs of the people, villages and landscapes of Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset taken by Ernest in 1892. One of them, the Wiltshire Thatcher, was used on a 1971 album cover by Led Zeppelin.

At Wiltshire Museum until 31 August 2024.

Visit the webpage for more information.

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