Local Camera Clubs ?

Wow you guys really do reply to questions here on this forum and i very much appreciate it, thank you to everyone above for taking the time to reply. It's been enlightening to read and now makes me want to at least go and see whats going on at my local club.
Thanks very much again for your time and hopefully i will find a good club which will help me become a better photographer cheers all Sam
Thanks very much again for your time and hopefully i will find a good club which will help me become a better photographer cheers all Sam

Join ePHOTOzine for free and remove these adverts.

You'll only find the right one for you when you've tried a few.
I've tried four clubs over the years and each one had a completely different feel to it. I ignored the one that was hell bent on winning gongs, and the one where your equipment was a measure of your talent and if you were female you were patronised or ignored, as well as the one where every member had one foot in the grave, mentally and physically.
My club is small, very friendly, everyone talks to everyone else and there's a good cross section of knowledge and experience. We go on outings, have talks and competitions and club nights where we talk about each other's work.
I've tried four clubs over the years and each one had a completely different feel to it. I ignored the one that was hell bent on winning gongs, and the one where your equipment was a measure of your talent and if you were female you were patronised or ignored, as well as the one where every member had one foot in the grave, mentally and physically.
My club is small, very friendly, everyone talks to everyone else and there's a good cross section of knowledge and experience. We go on outings, have talks and competitions and club nights where we talk about each other's work.

Quote:My advice? give a local club a trial, but stick with EPZ.
Yep go there and come here for the times when they seem dull.
Because everyone belongs a different camera club but all come together here as the biggest and dare i say best. And as I am sure has been said before (Hotel California) phrase.(Junior section please Google) or ask Fran
Graham

LCC (Local Camera Clubs) vary considerably, and the only way to see if it suits you is to try out your local one. Most allow a guest to attend FREE once or twice before they ask for a subscription/membership fees. A lot of activity can be centred around entering photo competition locally and nationally, as well as putting a panel together for submission to something like the RPS.

went to one, had a similar bad experience, including being asked to provide a portfolio of my work to see if I was of a suitable standard to join!
Then found my current club, which I have been with for many years - the difference was incredible, they were sociable, friendly, couldn't care less what kit you have (and always willing to share kit and knowledge) and worked together to improve our skills whilst having fun.
The best bit - we now frequently out-perform the first club in various inter-club and area comps
So - its always worth having a look around and sample a few until you find one that suits you
Then found my current club, which I have been with for many years - the difference was incredible, they were sociable, friendly, couldn't care less what kit you have (and always willing to share kit and knowledge) and worked together to improve our skills whilst having fun.
The best bit - we now frequently out-perform the first club in various inter-club and area comps

So - its always worth having a look around and sample a few until you find one that suits you

I found that a camera club is really just a bunch of people who can get on for a evening once a week, enjoy sharing about photography and are prepared to all get involved and make it work for everybody. I'm now recognising our chairman and the team continually give of themselves to make it happen each week and they do this for the love of photography and their ability to hold a group together. Thinking about it now I'm very grateful for how they integrated me into the group, provided topics each week and improved my photography way beyond my expectations.
Thank you LCC.
.
Thank you LCC.
.