On 9 January 1897, at the then City Boys' School, today the Italian High School and Elementary School "Dolac", on the initiative of Sándor Alexander Riegler, the headmaster of that high school, and Peter Salcher, a distinguished physics professor at the Naval Academy of the Austro-Hungarian Army, a photography section was established at the Natural Sciences Club that operated within the institution. Much water has passed under the bridge since then, but the art of amateur photography in Rijeka has not ceased to fascinate enthusiasts and today the descendant of that section, the Rijeka Photo Club, celebrates the 125th anniversary of the foundation of its predecessor. An activity that has practically continued uninterrupted, as illustrated by Boris Božić, its president, during a meeting of the current club members in front of the gate of the former High School.

Thanks to Salcher, the same professor who became famous for his photographs of rifle bullets at supersonic speeds, which he took with Riegler in 1886 to confirm Ernst Mach's theory of the shock wave during the breaking of the sound barrier, who already in 1890 held a lecture in front of an interested audience "On Painting and Photography", the section will develop over the years. La Bilancia, the Rijeka daily newspaper in Italian, also wrote about the photography section on 13 January 1897. The foundation of the photography group lays the foundation for the continuity of amateur photography in Rijeka, currently curated by the local Fotoklub.

At that time, photography was a pastime of the privileged classes. It was an expensive hobby and not at all easy because the equipment and accessories were very expensive and it took a lot of free time to educate yourself and learn this art.

In Rijeka at the end of the 1800th century, renowned photography studios (Carlo Zamboni, Ilario Carposio) operated, where photographs of the highest quality, at European levels, were created. Over the years, numerous amateur photography associations and clubs were founded, with uninterrupted continuity even during the two world wars. In the 30s, among the promoters of photographic art we also find the Rijeka Alpine Club and the Velebit Club in the then city of Sušak. At the end of the Second World War, it was the Rijeka Fotoklub that took over and in the decades to come educated and instructed many generations, including numerous names who later made this art their profession.

As specified by Boris Božić, in memory of this important anniversary and in agreement with the city of Rijeka and the competent institutions, a plaque will be affixed to the facade of the Italian High School in memory of the first amateur photography section founded in the capital of Kvarner.

Viviana Car
Source: The Voice of the People – 10/01/2022