Are you a member of a local camera club?

[eoSimon]

As a relative newbie I am contemplating joining a club. I would have hoped that competitions would be an opportunity for feedback, constructive criticism and learning from others. It’s a shame that most seem to have negative experience on that front. I might start belatedly with the “52” on here which would provide a challenging and learning experience.

 

[Dave Canon]

I am a member of a large club of over 100 members. We have lectures, competitions, discussions, training, outings and include a few sub groups. Apart from the social side, there is something for everybody but we cannot please everyone all the time. Just over half join in the competitions so nearly half are content to attend but not enter competitions which is fine. We work with the local community schools and University. We rarely discuss equipment but often discuss pictures. Since March we have operated exclusively using Zoom meeting at least once per week. There have been some advantages in that we have used different speakers (all professional photographers and distance is no problem). We are holding a few interclub competitions one was with a USA club and in a few weeks it will be an Australian Club. In the past these two O/S competitions were held in our own clubs by taking turns to host but now we have been operating live, it is great to speak to these overseas photographers, We are going to have to have the Australian event at 0900 GMT so it will conveniently be in the evening for them in Melbourne. Our Zoom attendance is between 60 and 70 and similar to our physical meetings. It is certain that future programmes will still include some Zoom as the opportunities of obtaining international lectures is too good to be missed. Yes the competitions are an excellent learning experience and I developed my photography rapidly after joining in competitions.

Dave

 

[stumac]

As a relative newbie I am contemplating joining a club. I would have hoped that competitions would be an opportunity for feedback, constructive criticism and learning from others. It’s a shame that most seem to have negative experience on that front. I might start belatedly with the “52” on here which would provide a challenging and learning experience.

If your joining a club mainly for the feedback you will get much better feedback on this very forum .

 

[sirch]

As a relative newbie I am contemplating joining a club. I would have hoped that competitions would be an opportunity for feedback, constructive criticism and learning from others. It’s a shame that most seem to have negative experience on that front. I might start belatedly with the “52” on here which would provide a challenging and learning experience.

Do the 52, it will really make a difference and you will get a much broader range of opinion, styles and experience than you will in a small club. And do it this year, there are some really talented photographers in the group.

Of the very few club comps I've seen (so it might just be my lack of experience with these) there was very little feedback, just points being awarded according to the judges personal taste and if there was any crit it was just so obvious, such as sharpness, rule of thirds, distracting details at the frame edge.

I am a member of a large club of over 100 members. We have lectures, competitions, discussions, training, outings and include a few sub groups. Apart from the social side, there is something for everybody but we cannot please everyone all the time. Just over half join in the competitions so nearly half are content to attend but not enter competitions which is fine. We work with the local community schools and University. We rarely discuss equipment but often discuss pictures. Since March we have operated exclusively using Zoom meeting at least once per week. There have been some advantages in that we have used different speakers (all professional photographers and distance is no problem). We are holding a few interclub competitions one was with a USA club and in a few weeks it will be an Australian Club. In the past these two O/S competitions were held in our own clubs by taking turns to host but now we have been operating live, it is great to speak to these overseas photographers, We are going to have to have the Australian event at 0900 GMT so it will conveniently be in the evening for them in Melbourne. Our Zoom attendance is between 60 and 70 and similar to our physical meetings. It is certain that future programmes will still include some Zoom as the opportunities of obtaining international lectures is too good to be missed. Yes the competitions are an excellent learning experience and I developed my photography rapidly after joining in competitions.

Dave

You are fortunate to have a large club to attend. I think for many there are only smaller parochial clubs where, for example, there is little else going on if you don't join in with the comps.

 

[Deleted member 34016]

I went to join a local camera club- a year or so back- I soon left as it was run by Nikon Camera owners and asked me - did you really shoot that image on a SONY - I actually came 1st in the competition- Needless to say I did not go back, the following week

Les

 

[darkroom12]

I was a member of at least 3 local camera clubs but left for various reasons.

1. When it came to competitions they changed the rules almost weekly without consultation of the members.

2. This was one of the largest in the country with a list of member perhaps 190 strong and the weekly meetings would nearly always have over 100 attending. To be honest it was a gathering of equipment collectors. If you didn't have the latest electronic marvel you were an outsider. Out of all those members I was the only one who used to submit dark room created prints. The judges(??) were simply unsure how they were made and didn't quite know how to comment about them. It was also quite unfriendly.

3. This one had a problem where it was located, there was simply no parking readily available. So I got fed up driving 7 miles and then returning home because there was no where to park.

I have given up and found an outlet where keep taking meaningful pictures on an industrial museum where I volunteer and do their site photography.
I am still a member of the RPS but that is not a 'local'club. I was also a member of a large club for nearly 18 years when I lived in Sussex but left when I moved back up north. Now that was an excellent club.

 

[Snapsh0t]

I used to belong to Ealing & Hampshire House PS but it was one of the few ways to learn and meet other photographers in the pre-internet days. I joined in '75 or '76 and was by far the youngest member at that time. I was exhibition secretary for a few years, met my wife there and did reasonably well in competitions. I wouldn't join one now but at the time it was a good option.

 

[darkroom12]

Not a member. I have considered joining but the generally negative comments on forums and the focus on competitions have put me off. I haven’t completely ruled out joining as I expect I would learn something.

I wish you luck! What I have printed below is my personal experience and for you it may be different.

Recent experience has indicated to me, unless you have good computer skills and access to a good adjustment programme, you may well be struggling. Some are more friendly than others, Perhaps I have been unlucky or it may be me. I find the chat was how to get the best effect out of Photoshop is somewhat boring. Some can be very cliquish and if you don't have the latest piece of kit you could find yourself a rank outsider. Don't get me wrong, there are some very good photographers and they produce outstanding work which in the days of film I could only have dreamed about - but that may be down to modern failsafe equipment

I cut my photographic teeth in the darkroom age and so did all the active members my 1st Club . Help was at hand whatever you asked, always happy to help and slow to criticise because they had all been there at some time. They knew what it was about. B&W was king and by jiminy there were some cracking printers, where the only digital assistance was via the ones attached to the ends if their hands.
,
To a some extent forums like this have replaced the source of information for those just starting out.

 

[Nostromo]

As a relative newbie I am contemplating joining a club. I would have hoped that competitions would be an opportunity for feedback, constructive criticism and learning from others. It’s a shame that most seem to have negative experience on that front. I might start belatedly with the “52” on here which would provide a challenging and learning experience.

Join up to the 52. As @sirch said, there are some very talented photographers there, but it's not an elitist group, just people that like a challenge. The feedback you will get, will be much more helpful than a judge spending 30-40 seconds looking at your photo, and you'll be getting the views of 20-30 people.
As for camera clubs, they can be good, but it depends on the club. I would find your local club, go to a couple of meetings as a guest and make a decision on how it was. Obviously it's best to wait until clubs open again and back to a more normal situation.

 

[tyrannosaurus_rex]

No, not even sure there is any local club like this

 

[MartynK]

I've never belonged to any sort of club, or had any desire to. It just doesn't appeal to me.

My photography is personal. It's reminders of people, places and things that have some meaning for me, and that I might want to write about.

 

[Dale.]

Yep, I'm a member with Kilmaurs CC. I also used to go to Lesmahagow PS when we lived out that way, I won the league there 3 times.

Kilmaurs has a high standard, they do well at national level too and generally speaking, most people are very nice, it's one of the better clubs in that respect. There is one group that I'd call a clique but they keep themselves to themselves in the main.

The Kilmaurs year runs from September to April and we have a key speaker every year, the highlights for me were Dougie Allan (David Attenborough's camera man) in 2018 and Mark Hamblin in 2019.

Every time I go, I learn something, mostly small little nuggets that have a significant effect on my photography and processing. I enjoy and do enter the competitions, I've had a couple of 20 pts but my marks are normally somewhere between 17 and 19 pts, it all depends what the top guys there put in too and of course, the subjectiveness of the judge, who is always a non member but accredited by the PAGB or SPF.

All in all, it's a very nice club but like others, it's not perfect although definately one of the better ones.

It's all been on Zoom this year and I've taken a sabatical but I intend going back when it's possible to do so.

 

[sirch]

Over the years there have been a number of threads like this and they tend to attract a fair amount of attention and it seems with this level of pro and anti comments. Given that people are motivated to comment on the negative side I wonder if that is because those people want a social meet but not in a conventional "camera club" context.

So what would people who don't feel camera clubs are for them want from a get together?

For me I don't really need speakers unless they are at the very highest level, talks/lectures used to be the only way of hearing about other people's practical experience but the internet now fulfills that role. The other thing that strikes me is that weekly tends to be too frequent and leads to clubs having to fill a schedule with what ever content they can get.

So what would I want? Meet every few months on a social basis to mainly discuss photos, have a chat and may be a beer. Possibly have some opportunity to see some gear, printers, papers, stuff that it is good to get a feel for rather than just looking at on a website. May be also have a chat about post processing etc. but mainly meeting like minded people.

 

[Dave Canon]

It's all been on Zoom this year and I've taken a sabbatical but I intend going back when it's possible to do so.

Perhaps you have taken time off for some other reason but we were concerned to ensure that our club members stuck with us and were happy and able to use Zoom. Some thought that it would be a considerable disadvantage but this has not been the case. I have just produced an advise article for our website on how to connect your Zoom computer to a TV as we had a few members still watching images on a tablet. Seeing the images on a large HD TV is not quite as good as our current projection system but better than we could have projected 10 years ago. Other advantages of Zoom; we plan open the session at 1915 but the presentation will not commence until 1945 so plenty of time for members to log in early for a chat. Being no longer restrained by distance is a great advantage; one of our presentations was given from Georgia by the Black Sea. Overall I have the impression that those who attend clubs are more sociable and value the company of other photographers. Communications is vital and we email a newsletter every week and the Chairman sets a theme for Zoom backgrounds which is usually connected with the subject or speaker. This in itself initiates a lot of the conversations. We do have a welfare officer and do contact those who we have not seen for a while to ensure that they are OK. Incidentally, I did attend a lecture at a local Science Festival presented by Dougie Allan; it was excellent so I will nudge our Programme Secretary. Given how far away he lives a visit is probably impractical but Zoom will be fine.

Dave

 

[Stephen L]

So what would people who don't feel camera clubs are for them want from a get together?

I don’t want a get-together. At most I would go out with maybe one or two (not more) good friends for a walk and maybe let off a few frames. Not “tripod hole” sort of meet-up.

 

[Dave Canon]

I don’t want a get-together. At most I would go out with maybe one or two (not more) good friends for a walk and maybe let off a few frames. Not “tripod hole” sort of meet-up.

This makes an assumption that camera club members only go out in large groups. Yes we do some of that as well and it is more for a social occasion but we typically go out in two's or threes to an event in which we share a common interest probably arranged personally not by the club.

Dave

 

[SFTPhotography]

I don’t want a get-together. At most I would go out with maybe one or two (not more) good friends for a walk and maybe let off a few frames. Not “tripod hole” sort of meet-up.

I agree.

I never understood why photographers go out with other photographers. You see it, groups of landscapers out together. If you go solo you'll take a picture unique to you - you can focus on your composition, your camera craft rather than chimp your mates shots and miss your own. Creativity comes from within - not a group of other lads with cameras.

Photography isn't a social pursuit. If you want to socialise - I would recommend a pub or restaurant or BBQ.

That's maybe just me - but the idea of going with a group of people to Glencoe to take landscapes horrifies me. Going solo - best thing since sliced bread.

 

[Raymond Lin]

The internet is a photography club, I am surprised these local ones are still alive.

The cost of running, going, printing, exhibiting must be expensive.

 

[sirch]

I agree.

I never understood why photographers go out with other photographers. You see it, groups of landscapers out together. If you go solo you'll take a picture unique to you - you can focus on your composition, your camera craft rather than chimp your mates shots and miss your own. Creativity comes from within - not a group of other lads with cameras.

Photography isn't a social pursuit. If you want to socialise - I would recommend a pub or restaurant or BBQ.

That's maybe just me - but the idea of going with a group of people to Glencoe to take landscapes horrifies me. Going solo - best thing since sliced bread.

For me it's a bit of a dichotomy, I like getting together with other 'togs to socialise but not to shoot, I would much rather take m own time when shooting but sometimes being in a group is more fun than the actual photography and other times I want the time and space to do my thing. As for unique photos ...cough Buachaille Etive Mòr cough...

 

[Mr Badger]

That's maybe just me - but the idea of going with a group of people to Glencoe to take landscapes horrifies me. Going solo - best thing since sliced bread.

I thought the reason why photographers go to Glencoe in groups was for safety purposes... so they can mount a rescue when someone falls down one of the tripod holes!

 

[sirch]

The internet is a photography club, I am surprised these local ones are still alive.

The cost of running, going, printing, exhibiting must be expensive.

I think you are quite right that the internet has taken over what many clubs, not just photography, used to provide. But there is still nothing like seeing a good print in real life up close and let face it the whole of photography is expensive, a few quid on a print or fuel and a coffee is neither here nor there.

Clearly some people have less desire to socialise than others but for those who do like to see other humans occasionally, I'm still interested to know what format that would take?

 

[sirch]

I guess there is also an element of self selection going on here, a lot of people heavily into clubs and the social side probably aren't on this forum so the majority view from forums like this is anti-club because we are the kind of people who like to interact more via this means than face to face.

 

[Jeff15]

I used to be a member of my local club but found it to be too snobbish and competitive.

 

[StephenM]

I went on a workshop once on building a portfolio, and everyone was expected to bring prints. Ignoring the main workshop and discussion, when it came to the prints we all took turns to lay them out, and they were discussed. Things like why they were taken, how they could be improved (if appropriate), how cohesive a body they made, how we individually reacted to them etc. etc.

I found it very helpful, and comments on some of mine showed me how I could improve the prints (specifically, some could benefit from slightly increased contrast - they did).

This sort of discussion was both interesting and valuable, and I'd be happy to be in a group that regularly did something like this. It would both encourage the production of new prints, and hopefully raise my standards.

 

[benc98]

What would be good is to find a local group of 6-8 people with a similar interest, so for example street photography / or landscape - meet up once a month or so and shoot the breeze... discuss projects, critique image, showcase work, ask questions, general encouragement, etc.. and involve beer

 

[benc98]

I agree.

I never understood why photographers go out with other photographers. You see it, groups of landscapers out together. If you go solo you'll take a picture unique to you - you can focus on your composition, your camera craft rather than chimp your mates shots and miss your own. Creativity comes from within - not a group of other lads with cameras.

Photography isn't a social pursuit. If you want to socialise - I would recommend a pub or restaurant or BBQ.

That's maybe just me - but the idea of going with a group of people to Glencoe to take landscapes horrifies me. Going solo - best thing since sliced bread.

A really enjoy shooting with other photographers - but I'm more interested in chatting and I'm not very productive, but I enjoy making social connections and seeing how over people work. 95% of the time i'm on my own - far more productive that way.

 

[superpippo]

.. and involve beer

The best way of chatting about things.
When lockdown is over I am going to be buying a lot of beer.

 

[Raymond Lin]

These workshops sound like my Architecture degree/post-grad.

You design something, draw it, bring it in twice a week for seminars. You present it in front of a tutor and a small group of classmates. You explain your idea, method, and philosophy.

Not for me, been there, done that, got the T-shirt (or a piece of paper).

I think you are quite right that the internet has taken over what many clubs, not just photography, used to provide. But there is still nothing like seeing a good print in real life up close and let face it the whole of photography is expensive, a few quid on a print or fuel and a coffee is neither here nor there.

Clearly some people have less desire to socialise than others but for those who do like to see other humans occasionally, I'm still interested to know what format that would take?

I don't mind sitting down over coffee to chat about photography, gear and the profession. Done that before and I like it. It's not the socialising thing I dislike, it's the format of these workshops. These presentations, and correct me if i am wrong, sounds like you are justifying and explaining why you have made certain decisions for the photo, from framing, cropping, timing, processing and even printing/paper selection.

Which brings back old memories on my degree, sometimes I designed the slope angle of this building at 88 degrees rather than 87 degree is simply because i like the look of it. Call it PTSD lol. I dunno, I am not looking for praise either, but I also don't want to be judged, which i feel like these workshops are. Like I said PTSD!

Also, I get a feeling the type of photos shared at these clubs are not the kind I am interested in, which is mainly weddings, travelling, portraits, fine arts portraits and some street. If it's endless macro shots of bees and flowers or birds, thanks but no thanks.

 

[Dave Canon]

I went on a workshop once on building a portfolio, and everyone was expected to bring prints. Ignoring the main workshop and discussion, when it came to the prints we all took turns to lay them out, and they were discussed. Things like why they were taken, how they could be improved (if appropriate), how cohesive a body they made, how we individually reacted to them etc. etc.

I found it very helpful, and comments on some of mine showed me how I could improve the prints (specifically, some could benefit from slightly increased contrast - they did).

This sort of discussion was both interesting and valuable, and I'd be happy to be in a group that regularly did something like this. It would both encourage the production of new prints, and hopefully raise my standards.

Stephen , I know we have discussed this topic several times in the past on other forums. My club does arrange a few sessions similar to that you describe but we could not survive on that alone. The most popular items are lectures and competitions. A couple of the local clubs in my area focused solely on workshops and print discussions; these Clubs ceased to exist many years ago. Given that my club is over 150 years old, we must be doing something right as membership is increasing.

I thought the reason why photographers go to Glencoe in groups was for safety purposes... so they can mount a rescue when someone falls down one of the tripod holes!

At my club, I have attended a number of Photoshoots but never landscape as I think most our members would also not wish to be with a number of others for landscapes. Small groups are good for street photography and studio work (helps spread the cost of hiring a studio and models). A few years ago before the NT allowed public photography, we would hire an NT property for half a day and have exclusive access which would be rather expensive for an individual. We do get together on some nature shoots (e.g. visit to Slimbridge) but most nature photography is undertaken by individuals or pairs. We often attend sporting events in pairs.

Dave

 

[SFTPhotography]

For me it's a bit of a dichotomy, I like getting together with other 'togs to socialise but not to shoot, I would much rather take m own time when shooting but sometimes being in a group is more fun than the actual photography and other times I want the time and space to do my thing. As for unique photos ...cough Buachaille Etive Mòr cough...

All my photography chat/socialising is met on here, the other UK photography forum and a medium format pentax one....and instagram/whatsapp

As for uniqueness. Come and try find unique takes. There are a lot of unrealised shots, not frequently taken angles and all the lovely usual suspects. For UK landscaping Glencoe is bloody hard to better - it's just a wonderful place to be and when I go I like to have the experience all to myself - it makes it mine and no-one elses.

 

[Dale.]

Perhaps you have taken time off for some other reason but we were concerned to ensure that our club members stuck with us and were happy and able to use Zoom. Some thought that it would be a considerable disadvantage but this has not been the case. I have just produced an advise article for our website on how to connect your Zoom computer to a TV as we had a few members still watching images on a tablet. Seeing the images on a large HD TV is not quite as good as our current projection system but better than we could have projected 10 years ago. Other advantages of Zoom; we plan open the session at 1915 but the presentation will not commence until 1945 so plenty of time for members to log in early for a chat. Being no longer restrained by distance is a great advantage; one of our presentations was given from Georgia by the Black Sea. Overall I have the impression that those who attend clubs are more sociable and value the company of other photographers. Communications is vital and we email a newsletter every week and the Chairman sets a theme for Zoom backgrounds which is usually connected with the subject or speaker. This in itself initiates a lot of the conversations. We do have a welfare officer and do contact those who we have not seen for a while to ensure that they are OK. Incidentally, I did attend a lecture at a local Science Festival presented by Dougie Allan; it was excellent so I will nudge our Programme Secretary. Given how far away he lives a visit is probably impractical but Zoom will be fine.

Dave

Very interesting.


I do intend to go back, although my reasons for a 'sabatical' this year are not just reasons of wanting/needing a break, some logistics come into it as well, being the dad of a 9 year old and Wifey working long hours. The pandemic has made taking a year out easier though and I've concentrated my energies elsewhere.

I have also made some lifelong friends at clubs, people I would never have known, bonus.

I'm all for clubs, they bring photographers together and provoke conversation and I always pick up something new everytime I go. I don't do the outings though, I'd rather go landscaping by myself or with a trusted buddy. That said, there are 2 outings per year on average but I don't like the commitment of doing what everybody else does, having to follow them around and more often than not, take the same picture. I'm sure there are those who enjoy that aspect but it's not for me.

When things settle back down, I am looking forward to going back.

 

[Contax]

For me, photography is a solitary hobby. I take (or try to take...) photographs that I like, of things which interest me.

If I'm looking for information on equipment, then there's no shortage of it on the internet. The internet also throws enough varied images at me that I'm never at a loss for inspiration for new things to try.

Many, many years ago I was chairman of the Photographic Association at university, but that had more to do with getting unlimited access to the darkroom than anything else!

 

[viewfromthenorth]

Snip

Stephen , I know we have discussed this topic several times in the past on other forums. My club does arrange a few sessions similar to that you describe but we could not survive on that alone. The most popular items are lectures and competitions. A couple of the local clubs in my area focused solely on workshops and print discussions; these Clubs ceased to exist many years ago. Given that my club is over 150 years old, we must be doing something right as membership is increasing.

Interesting, Lancashire Monochrome where I go is primarily focussed on discussion of work, with no competitions at all. This is maybe why there are quite a few ex-camera club members as well as a few who wouldn’t set foot in a camera club (plus some active camera club members as well in fairness). The other monochrome groups that I’ve lectured at tend to have a monthly speaker and discussion of members work. But all meet monthly rather than weekly - partly because of the geographical area covered (mainly county based), but also because of the fairly niche specialism I guess.

 

[Asha]

In two words, No and Never!

 

[ancient_mariner]

I find the chat was how to get the best effect out of Photoshop is somewhat boring. Some can be very cliquish and if you don't have the latest piece of kit you could find yourself a rank outsider. Don't get me wrong, there are some very good photographers and they produce outstanding work which in the days of film I could only have dreamed about - but that may be down to modern failsafe equipment

I cut my photographic teeth in the darkroom age and so did all the active members my 1st Club . Help was at hand whatever you asked, always happy to help and slow to criticise because they had all been there at some time. They knew what it was about. B&W was king and by jiminy there were some cracking printers, where the only digital assistance was via the ones attached to the ends if their hands.

These 2 details of your post are very closely linked. In the old days you either learned to print well or paid someone for their skills. Now, thanks to the convenience of software and the wider dissemination of knowledge, more people can carefully craft images. Nothing has really changed except for opening the field.

There is also no such thing as modern fail-safe equipment, and someone who couldn't take a good picture then wouldn't be able to take a good picture now. Yes, the AF, decent metering etc *helps* but that's all it does - the skills of seeing and creating great photos are just the same.

FWIW I love a good traditionally produced print, both mono and colour, and have a couple still hanging at home that I printed more than 30 years ago.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Over the years there have been a number of threads like this and they tend to attract a fair amount of attention and it seems with this level of pro and anti comments. Given that people are motivated to comment on the negative side I wonder if that is because those people want a social meet but not in a conventional "camera club" context.

So what would people who don't feel camera clubs are for them want from a get together?

For me I don't really need speakers unless they are at the very highest level, talks/lectures used to be the only way of hearing about other people's practical experience but the internet now fulfills that role. The other thing that strikes me is that weekly tends to be too frequent and leads to clubs having to fill a schedule with what ever content they can get.

So what would I want? Meet every few months on a social basis to mainly discuss photos, have a chat and may be a beer. Possibly have some opportunity to see some gear, printers, papers, stuff that it is good to get a feel for rather than just looking at on a website. May be also have a chat about post processing etc. but mainly meeting like minded people.

I'd want to do meet-ups like we've done a couple of times wandering round Oxford or London, take some pictures, enjoy company, maybe see some places I'm not familiar with, then share the work back later. Basically acting like a group of mates, rather than anything else.

 

[Daven707]

Went along once to test the water, so to speak, Very clique, the "committee" all acted like demi gods, I don't think I would have fitted in very well, I am a bit rough around the edges
"know what i mean like"!

 

[justinminns]

Yes, I'm a member of Bon Accord CC here in Aberdeen.
We have zoom meetings every Thursday which includes guest speakers, monthly competitions and general chit chat with like minded members.

I'm going to be one of those guest speakers at your club next year

I go to a couple of camera clubs... I enjoy the speakers, it can be inspiring to hear about others' work and how they go about it, even if it isn't a genre that I would do myself

 

[DG Phototraining]

I agree.

I never understood why photographers go out with other photographers. You see it, groups of landscapers out together. If you go solo you'll take a picture unique to you - you can focus on your composition, your camera craft rather than chimp your mates shots and miss your own. Creativity comes from within - not a group of other lads with cameras.

Photography isn't a social pursuit. If you want to socialise - I would recommend a pub or restaurant or BBQ.

That's maybe just me - but the idea of going with a group of people to Glencoe to take landscapes horrifies me. Going solo - best thing since sliced bread.

It's defo just you lol

I love being out with others, chewing the cud, helping, seeing from another's eyes, and yes a beer or 6 too

I'm guessing you hate being with your own clients then? Soz, couldn't resist

Dave

 

[DG Phototraining]

One of the (often many) joys of a club for me has always been trips with others to shoot Landscapes together

I relish seeing how others choose to shoot the same area, even subject, and I love to 'see' through other's eyes too. This ALWAYS helps me, even if only reaffirming I like my own way of shooting best, and I always try to help others too

I guess I kind of feed of the enthusiasm of others I'm out with, and I'm certainly not afraid to admit when they are lining up a shot better than me and for me to then shoot it in a similar way too

The club I helped start & run was primarily active on Facebook, where you could see a call for a shoot that morning and be off with 2-3 others within an hour at times; or just decide to meet up later in the evening for a night-time shoot and a pint

Quite why anyone would prefer to avoid other photographers I can't imagine, but then I've always struggled to understand why you'd buy a Canon too

Just another example of why photography is such a great hobby (and job) to so many of us as it offers everything we all need in so many different ways

Dave