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I am considering joining one or the other in the local area, but have no idea what is expected or what such clubs provide. I would be grateful for any advice.
Cyril - your details don't say indicate where you live - it's quite likely somebody on the forum would be able to recommend a group near to you.
I think clubs are good; but so are the forums.
And just like the forums, you need to take an active part to get the most out of them.
Finally... All clubs are not the same! If you have a choice of clubs then visit all of them and see which one suits you best.
I tend to do both, I am a member of 2 camera clubs, one at home and one at work. I am also a member on many forums. As a beginner I want to learn from as many sources as possible.
In my experience a lot of people look for a camera club for tuition and equally, many camera clubs do provide that, usually on an informal basis.
But be aware that there are some clubs who openly say that they don't want beginners. I have little sympathy with them as it's like a football club buying a team and not developing their own players - you may get some quick wins but no loyalty at all.
What I do when I move is to go visit the local clubs and see what I think of them, their attitudes and their ambitions. Lots of clubs enter external competitions and I do think that's a way of getting objective views on your pictures, but please remember that you don't have to agree with such views, especially when denigrating the aesthetics of your picture rather than pointing out technical problems.
It's always good to mix with other toggers and see the results they are getting with their kit, it helps me enormously when choosing new lenses etc to know what results others have gotten and indeed sometimes I've borrowed said lenses too.
In the "olden days" a large number of amateur photographers belonged to camera clubs for two main reasons:
1. They usually had very well equipped darkrooms for members' use - often far more professionally equipped than the average member could afford to have at home (plus some people simply did not have the space at home).
2. They often held an annual model shoot, sometimes nude, and this gave many members their only realistic opportunity to shoot "glamour".
Nowadays there are fewer club darkrooms but some clubs have well-specced computers and software for members' use, although most serious amateurs now have their own home PCs.
Most clubs do have an interesting syllabus of speakers, demonstrations and tutorial evenings, some still have studio nights and virtually all have their own internal competitions plus inter-club competitions.
Subscriptions are generally very low (usually under £50 pa), so shop around. If you don't like what you have joined, no-one can force you to stay. But if you have a receptive mind and a competitive urge, then you will love it.
Half our clubs membership is women; including the chairman - so if we get a glamour night it will probably be a male model - and I don't think I'm ready for that.
Another benefit of our local club is that it organises loads of trips, both local and international.
Being a group means it's budget friendly (economies of scale) and someone else does all the legwork.
The social side, food and booze are always brilliant plus I usually get a few nice photos.
Last year was Riga (excellent) and this year is Portugal. Total cost of the trip is looking astonishingly good value - £170 + food + booze - and that's including all travel and three nights in a decent hotel.
Hi all, thank you for your ideas. The only problem with the directories is that there are no clubs within 20 miles of my postcode. I have visited two 'local' clubs and both were run almost identically, mainly guest speakers. I was hoping for a club with a more practical outlook, organising days out and shoots, but cannot find one like that in my area.
Quote: hoping for a club with a more practical outlook, organising days out and shoots, but cannot find one like that in my area
the members usually do all that on an informal basis as mates. there are several groups formed within our club that go out at week ends taking pics etc. the clubs usually run on a prgramme of prearranged lectures and competitions and practical evenings.
camera clubs have been a central part of my leisure time for over 30 years. and its true you will get out equall to the amount you put in much the same as epz
Phil
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