Walthamstow’s photographic society, founded in 1894, isn’t just one of the oldest in the country, it’s also one of the most successful. Its free annual exhibition is on this week at St Mary's Welcome Centre in Walthamstow village: weekday evenings and all day Saturday 1 November.

While societies in other areas are closing down, Walthamstow’s is growing year by year, including many newcomers from overseas. The oldest members are in their 90s, the youngest not yet in their teens. This year’s exhibition is bigger than ever, with so many entries that that only the best could be fitted into the venue. They cover a huge range of subjects, from Abdullah Bailey’s studies of local people, to Mick Ralph’s inventive collages, to striking images taken by members on their travels around the world, and back to Walthamstow — the things we love and, in some cases, have lost.

Walthamstow greyhound stadium is celebrated by several dramatic pictures, including David Hall’s award-winning “Dust in the air suspended marks the place where a story ended”. A spurt of sand kicked up by the ghostly form of a racing dog, and goodbye to Walthamstow’s iconic landmark, which was closed this year and sold to developers. (Waltham Forest council could have saved it without any effort by refusing permission for change of use, but chose not to.) Claire Louot’s beautiful “Love of reading” will appeal to Walthamstow’s many book-lovers, still mourning the loss of nearly a quarter of a million volumes from the borough’s libraries.

Like most arts and entertainments in Waltham Forest, the photographic society flourishes in spite of the council. Its exhibitions used to be held at Ross Wyld Hall, which was left to the people of Walthamstow but now houses a private business.

As Waltham Forest council closes one public venue after another, artists have used their creativity to find new places to exhibit – like the annual E17 Art Trail, which puts on displays in member’s own houses and publishes a map inviting the public to drop in. The photographic society now uses church premises, meeting every Monday at 8pm at the Baptist Church Hall, 4 Greenleaf Road E17. New faces are always welcome.

The exhibition is at St Mary’s Welcome Centre beside St Mary’s church, Church End, Walthamstow Village. Open from 7pm weekday evenings, with a film show or photo competition at 8pm. Saturday 1 November, 10.30am to 9pm. Free admission, programmes 30p.

* Walthamstow and District Photographic Society, www.wdps.org.