Discussion
I'd been asked at work to pull something together to drive forward working in the community, it seems we have a corporate conscience in the 21st century it’s no longer good enough to do a good job in the office but we have to save the world too. Of course my mind turned to photography and the possibility of setting up some lessons at some of the less funded schools or colleges in the area. I set about finding any other photographers in the company to join me on this mission and in the darkest corner of the intranet found some newsletters with articles on the basics of photography. The author turns out to work in a department just swallowed up by my Director so is effectively part of the same team, I decided to drop him a mail.
It turns out that this chap and two other guys at work are members of our local camera club and he suggests that maybe I go along to a meeting and at the same time we can discuss our plans.
Without any basis of fact I've always thought that camera clubs would be rather sad places to go, full of photographers who's film may have gone past it's sell by date still clutching to their tobacco filters and photos of ducks in the park. I decided to put these preconceptions aside and take a trip down to a meeting to find out what it was really all about.
First I checked out the website: http://www.croydoncameraclub.org.uk/
The club is on every Wednesday and each week there is a different type of event such as completions, tutorials, viewing collections and talks by professionals. Last night was a print competition.
On arriving at the club everyone was extremely friendly I got introduced to some photographers, a few had portfolios with them that I really enjoyed looking through. Once of the first people I met was working as an assistant to a Fashion Photographer, ditching his normal job last year. His work was outstanding, top lighting in both studio and location shoots and you could see that the very best models, makeup artists and stylists had been used. I met up with the guys from work and we started making plans to save the world with great enthusiasm.
Then everyone was seated for the print competition judging to begin. An impartial judge is brought in (usually from another club) and each print is critiqued and then scored on an easel lit with daylight bulbs. There are two classes in which to enter, I couldn’t fully distinguish what qualified you for each but they are Standard and Advanced. The first thing I noticed is how fantastic it is to see work being judged as a mounted print in a well lit environment rather than a online image at a maximum of 750 pixels wide. The second thing I noticed was the quality of the work. Even in the standard class there were some stunning shots. The critique was extremely constructive and suitably technical. The recommendations for Photoshop retouching were well thought out and there was no shying away from using all available methods to enhance a photo.
So I came away surprised and enthused. Sure, there were a fair amount of the grey army there but these people are a great source for experience and information and they were balanced by some (relatively) youthful enthusiasm. Do not rule out camera clubs as a source of knowledge and inspiration. I’m looking forward to next weeks talk on Pinhole Cameras and Stereoscopic Photography.
It turns out that this chap and two other guys at work are members of our local camera club and he suggests that maybe I go along to a meeting and at the same time we can discuss our plans.
Without any basis of fact I've always thought that camera clubs would be rather sad places to go, full of photographers who's film may have gone past it's sell by date still clutching to their tobacco filters and photos of ducks in the park. I decided to put these preconceptions aside and take a trip down to a meeting to find out what it was really all about.
First I checked out the website: http://www.croydoncameraclub.org.uk/
The club is on every Wednesday and each week there is a different type of event such as completions, tutorials, viewing collections and talks by professionals. Last night was a print competition.
On arriving at the club everyone was extremely friendly I got introduced to some photographers, a few had portfolios with them that I really enjoyed looking through. Once of the first people I met was working as an assistant to a Fashion Photographer, ditching his normal job last year. His work was outstanding, top lighting in both studio and location shoots and you could see that the very best models, makeup artists and stylists had been used. I met up with the guys from work and we started making plans to save the world with great enthusiasm.
Then everyone was seated for the print competition judging to begin. An impartial judge is brought in (usually from another club) and each print is critiqued and then scored on an easel lit with daylight bulbs. There are two classes in which to enter, I couldn’t fully distinguish what qualified you for each but they are Standard and Advanced. The first thing I noticed is how fantastic it is to see work being judged as a mounted print in a well lit environment rather than a online image at a maximum of 750 pixels wide. The second thing I noticed was the quality of the work. Even in the standard class there were some stunning shots. The critique was extremely constructive and suitably technical. The recommendations for Photoshop retouching were well thought out and there was no shying away from using all available methods to enhance a photo.
So I came away surprised and enthused. Sure, there were a fair amount of the grey army there but these people are a great source for experience and information and they were balanced by some (relatively) youthful enthusiasm. Do not rule out camera clubs as a source of knowledge and inspiration. I’m looking forward to next weeks talk on Pinhole Cameras and Stereoscopic Photography.
I've been a member of a club for about 8 years now.
I had some preconceptions about what I was getting in to, but as I'm still a member 8 years later I'm certain those preconceptions were wrong.
There are certainly some clubs out there that uphold the stereotype you described, but I would say they are in the minority now.
Most clubs are forward thinking, have a good mix of members from complete amateurs to fully fledged pros.
Digital is being embraced too.
Due to the decline of film use slide competitions are on a rapid decline which is a shame, but most clubs are introducing digital slide comps, or projected image comps.
We ran a trial digi slide comp last year to test the water and had one of the largest and most diverse entries we've seen in a while.
So anyone out there pondering, don't let peoples opinions stop you trying your local club, you might find you enjoy it.
(incidentally I do have some grey hair but not much!)
I had some preconceptions about what I was getting in to, but as I'm still a member 8 years later I'm certain those preconceptions were wrong.
There are certainly some clubs out there that uphold the stereotype you described, but I would say they are in the minority now.
Most clubs are forward thinking, have a good mix of members from complete amateurs to fully fledged pros.
Digital is being embraced too.
Due to the decline of film use slide competitions are on a rapid decline which is a shame, but most clubs are introducing digital slide comps, or projected image comps.
We ran a trial digi slide comp last year to test the water and had one of the largest and most diverse entries we've seen in a while.
So anyone out there pondering, don't let peoples opinions stop you trying your local club, you might find you enjoy it.
(incidentally I do have some grey hair but not much!)
Edited by chrisj on Thursday 28th February 12:24
Edited by chrisj on Thursday 28th February 12:26
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