A camera club is mourning the death of its much loved chairman.
Graham Caile, chairman of Romford Camera Club (RCC) in Collier Row since 2009, was known for his black and white photographs and his love for print, as per his catchphrase, “Digital? Bah… you can’t beat a good print.”
Carol Kay, a close friend of Graham’s, said: “His loss will be keenly felt not only by Romford Camera Club, but by all of his friends and colleagues in the photographic world.”
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Carol added that Graham was a great help to his elderly neighbours, especially during Covid.
“He was a regular knight in shining armour, helping out with day-to-day tasks and keeping an eye on them during the pandemic,” she said.
Graham, who lived in Essex for most of his life, volunteered at Saint Francis Hospice in Havering-atte-Bower and took portraits of loved ones with their families for them to cherish.
He was an engineer and worked for Redbridge Council for more than 25 years before retiring to take up his true passion, photography.
Graham joined RCC in 2008 and became chairman in 2009, a position he held until his death at home on May 20.
His love of photography began with black and white photos produced on film which he developed in his dark room.
Nothing can compare with holding an actual printed photo in your hand, seeing the detail and how the light reflects off it, Graham was reportedly fond of saying.
He shared his skills during Covid and beyond in a free weekly Zoom workshop, teaching basic and advanced Photoshop right up until his death.
He used to judge RCC’s monthly digital and print competitions and one club member recalled one of Graham’s idiosyncratic remarks when judging.
“Listen folks, highlights and shadows…when editing take the highlights down and bring the shadows up…and you will see an instant improvement in your photo”.
Camera clubs across east London paid tribute to him.
"Graham had such a lovely, friendly personality with a great sense of humour and we will miss him," said Upminster Camera Club.
"[We are] shocked and saddened to hear this news, Graham was a good friend," Dagenham Camera Club added in a Facebook comment.
Graham, also a wedding and portrait photographer, leaves behind his wife, daughter and family.
A memorial evening will be held later this year to showcase Graham's life and work.
An annual Romford Camera Club photo competition will also be organised in his name.
It will be a print competition in honour of how his love for photography began.
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