Camera Clubs - Discuss !

bigsean

4

16 Apr 2008 - 1:55 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

camera clubs are strange places, each one is different. My club is Newport photographic club, i have learnt a lot from fellow members but it takes time to get to know them. we are starting to get in to the 21st century by offering tutorial evenings for beginners, and the age groups is approaching senior citizens, and things need to be done to attract younger members, or camera clubs will die out as we know them. (and all the knowledge taken with it). but i still love it there

Helpful Post!

rowarrior

4

16 Apr 2008 - 2:10 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

I've only been in mine for 6 months, but here's my experience:


Quote: 1) What are the good things

We have subgroups that all meet once a month: Digital Group, Projected Image Group, Instruction Night, Studio Night and Contemporary Photography Group, all of which are useful to learn things at. We also have lots of different speakers come in, most very interesting, a few that would bore the pants off you, but they tried!


Quote: 2) What are the bad things

I had a minor irritation that because I joined in the middle of the year no-one gave me an up to date set of rules for competition entry, but they're going to try and sort that for next year (not that I was in any danger of winning anything lol) Also our webmaster keeps getting sent overseas to work, so the site's not as up to date as it could be


Quote: 3) Should I join one

Dunno what your local ones are like! The outgoing president was telling us last night at instruction night that most of the speakers and judges that had visited this year had commented on what a great atmosphere we had, but I'm not sure if that means the other clubs they visit are downright miserable or not lol

Helpful Post!

franken (e2 Member)

9

16 Apr 2008 - 2:19 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

Camera clubs are strange places, I understand that when I joined mine about a year and a half ago I was the first new member for quite some time.
My findings are:
A bit Clique.
You have to ask about club rules re submitting prints to comps etc, nobody will tell you otherwise.
It runs from September to the end of April (what's wrong with the rest of the year?)
There doesn't appear to be field trips?
There's a monthly compotition, I won the first one of the year and several since; A comment from one of the members went something like this " You're showing all us established members up winning these comps!"

I've learned nothing, I'm not returning in September.

Ken

Helpful Post!

flash783

6

16 Apr 2008 - 2:56 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

Here's my tuppence worth, as a 29yr old committee member of Norton Radstock Photographic Society (near Bath)...

1) Good times:
We have quite a varied programme of events including studio nights (inc tutorial), outings/visits, monthly comps, Photoshop tutorials, Critique, AudioVisual, Show your Own work, Knock Out comps, Speakers and more. Plus a bar for drinks

2) Bad times:
Slowly year on year trying to get new ideas put in place at our club - it is a drawn out process but we get there eventually.

3) Should you join:
Definately, it can on occasion be frustrating but I have learnt loads since joining about 8 or 9 yrs ago and we have a good laugh whilst there and visit lots of places worth taking pictures of. If you don't get on at the first one after a few weeks try a different one I imagine they are all very different.

Other info: A range of ages but leaning toward being more senior at present although we are trying our best to encourage younger members. We meet every Thurs at 8pm all year round for the scheduled activity/visit and anyone can e-mail me for more info if they wish.

Wayne

Helpful Post!

sherlob (e2 Member)

6

16 Apr 2008 - 4:49 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

I've been a member of my local club for the last two years, but I doubt I'll make it three. The club is small and it took some time for folk to break their cliques enough to make me feel welcome - to be completely honest I'm not sure I have achieved that even now, and I'm no shrinking violet. I am the youngest member of the club - perhaps this has something to do with it. Although some new (younger) blood has joined this year and brought some welcome fresh air and enthusiasm.

I can't say that I have learned a lot from the club either - although in the past two years my photography has improved. The competitions are interesting, but I have found the numbers of those entering the large print class have dropped over the year and to be frank I'm left wondering how my prints truly compare to other photographers.

The club doesn't have tutorial evenings as such, nor do we have meets. It's just the same crowd, and all too often the same images, week in week out.

So what can you gain from this scathing account of my experience? Well believe it or not I am not dismissive of clubs - but I have learned it is wise to choose carefully. I know that there are a couple of much larger clubs within a 30 mile radius and I am thinking of trying one of these. In short - do your homework on the club you want to join and make sure the activities they offer meet your needs. Experiment and have a go, but don't have too high an expectation.

Regards,

Adam

Helpful Post!

dark_lord

8

16 Apr 2008 - 6:39 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

You've already made the best move by joining this site

I tried clubs a number of years ago and couldn't get on with them, for many of the reasons already mentioned, although there were some people I got on with well.

If you get one that's not cliquey, doesn't look down on you becuase of your equipment or because you haven't took aa trip to the US to photograph Yellowstone (or wherever else is on the 'tick list', and where the average age isn't a multiple of your own, then fine.

Alternatively if you like that thing then you're like a pig in s**t (as it were)

I didn't particularly learn anything photographic but I have learn't things by talking to others in photography, outside of a club environment, especially in recent years such as on epz.

Keith

PS join Horse's club

Helpful Post!

MeanGreeny

6

16 Apr 2008 - 6:59 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

Each club can be very different to one just 5 miles away. Similarly, you are different in character to everyone else here.

Therefore, how can you believe what we say ?

It'll cost you nothing to go to 2 or 3 of their regular evenings and one years subscription to find out over a whole year.

No other method of investigation will suffice since most of us are biased one way or another and the others have never been to a club in their life but have an opinion anyway.

Helpful Post!