Camera Clubs

[LouiseTopp]

+1 and uber +1

I got the sam snobbish attitude as well when I went to join a camera club. being the youngest one there I was always blamed if anything went wrong. So I left in disgust never to return. Members says they want younger people, but its never going to happen unless they lighten up and stop being hostile towards the next generation,

[rob marshall]

I got the sam snobbish attitude as well when I went to join a camera club. being the youngest one there I was always blamed if anything went wrong. So I left in disgust never to return. Members says they want younger people, but its never going to happen unless they lighten up and stop being hostile towards the next generation,

Louise

I think most camera club officials would have a fit if they watched this. Especially what he says at 30secs in.

[mariaramil]

My first post , and i would like to know if joining a club can be beneficial to a newbie, as there is one situated not a mile from me to which i could join, thanks.

It depends what you expect from it. Talk to them, meet them, see if you like the people and the pace of the evening...
Then make up your mind. No two clubs (or courses) will be the same.

I enjoy attending mine, but I had modest expectations when I joined: mainly to switch off after work once a week, and being among people interested in photography at some level. My expectations were easily exceeded, and I soon took up doing courses and buying a digital camera, just from being among people who were keen on photography.

If you only want to 'get' something from the club you may end up disappointed, though. It can be much more complex (group dynamics) than a course or an internet forum...

[crisscross]

I go to an extremely friendly club 12 miles away instead of the larger one 2 miles away. Not just luck, Newent to which I belong had me into a summer meet-up, including a lift, within 24 hours of 1st email & out of the usual season. If I wanted more hyperbolic stuff I could go to the nearer Beacon club, but I prefer a friendly sharing of pics to OTT processing and studio work.

Although we have competitions, most of us put in what we like and think will make a good show, not formulaic stuff judges go for and this year most of the places are being won by newcomers.

Not necessarily the best place for technical savvy, as everyone has a different camera and background, but the thing is to share.....and return to CinC for the more high-powered learning

[GrahamH]

Louise

I think most camera club officials would have a fit if they watched this. ...

I only know 20 or so camera club officials (officials from my own club and some members who are club officials of other camera clubs, hence the 20).
None of them would have any problems with the clip or comments he makes.
Perhaps I'm lucky, perhaps you're unlucky. I don't know.
I do know that a lot of people in the club (and any club of any discipline I have been a member of) don't want to get involved beyond taking advantage of the activities the club offers. There are only a few with the drive to actually get off their bums and get more directly involved and organise stuff for the benefit of others. I've been involved with groups in martial arts, dance, science, badminton, religion, various sports, education and so on wherever I have lived (UK and Canada). I have had people critique some of the activities I have been involved in but in general the response has been positive.
I feel that many people take far too much notice of the squeaky wheel and ignore the masses who are also present.
If a club official, or senior member or whoever, makes such comments, there are many different ways to deal with it. You probably aren't the only one who has issues with them.
If need be, find someone who actually knows what they are talking about and get them to come along with you to stand up for you if you aren't prepared to do so for yourself.
If the camera club doesn't do what you want, try to organise your own.
Get on the committee and try to change from within.
Loads of other methods available.
Of course doing nothing and walking away is the most common method.
Graham

[Ravenglass]

I am a member of the local camera club which is very different from some of the horror stories already posted. Perhaps it is because the Chairman, two of the committee members and at least a third of the members are ladies, and incidentally all good photographers, so 'my camera is better than your's' ego trips are absent.

Yes there are a number of competitions throughout the year, externally judged so no problems with one member criticising another, but they form less than half of the meetings. We also have members and outside speakers who give talks on photoshop/printing/mounting etc., display their photographs and talk about the techniques used, and one or two talks not actually on photography where the photographs are a very important part of the talk and things can be learned from them.

One point I would make, not just with camera clubs but any club, is that although you will be welcomed it is up to you to go around at the first few meetings and make yourself known to the existing members. You will find that some people you 'jell' with and some you don't, you will also find that some of them will become friendships that last.

[crisscross]

Great to have another Chris in agreement and putting a few things into better words than I did!

[TonyCooper]

I belong to two camera clubs...one large one small. I find both very
beneficial.

The large club meets twice a month with the first meeting being Competition
Night with 80 to 100 entries in Color, Mono, and Creative. There are three
judges; one outside professional and two experienced members. First place
prize is a modest gift card from a camera store that is a club sponsor. No
other prizes.

The judges give a critique of each image, and this - more than anything - is
what keeps me coming back. Every Competition Night the judge's comments
get me to see photographs in ways that I would not have seen them. I've
learned a great deal from these critiques.

The second meeting is Guest Speaker night. I'm not always interested in the
presentation, but there have been some very good ones.

The smaller club is much more informal with a lot of personal interaction and
sharing of photos, post-processing tips, and shooting locations. The meetings
are not particularly structured, and if a member brings in a thumb drive of images
the group will discuss them.

All-in-all, I think I benefit from both clubs. I'm older, and I'm not looking for
social contacts or building up contacts. My gain is from what I hear and see.

[barrydoig]

Over the last forty years I have been a member of at least seven Camera Clubs or Photographic Societies, and for thirty years I have been a member of the Photographic Society of New Zealand where I have gained the three Honours distinctions that PSNZ confers, namely the Licentiate, Associate and Fellowship of the PSNZ. I have gained immensely from membership of all these Clubs and my modest achievements have occurred because of what I have learned in Camera Clubs. Through all these years I have gained an immense amount of friendship, knowledge and experience in these Clubs. In recent years I have been able to return something of the immense debt I owe by tutoring younger photographers and in the wider community through Senior Net and other ways. Camera Clubs are not perfect and sometimes I think there is too much emphasis on competitions but for me there is no better way to learn photography than to be alongside others who can positively evaluate your work.
Barry Doig

[ap.photo]

I purchased a photography course from Groupon with a well-known photographer for $100 (originally worth $1,000). It would be nice if my residence (Folsom CA) had photography clubs. Although being a part of CRC I find it very beneficial and helpful here.

If I had your opportunity Derek I wouldn't hesitate and go for it!