Camera Clubs

punkuate

punkuate

Messages
285
Name
Spiderman
Edit My Images
No
I've always been quite anti camera clubs, but I've done the unthinkable and promised to go along next week.

I've just been given friday nights off, so thought I may as well do something, and since they have a studio for hire, darkrooms etc, its definitely worth being a member.

I have been at the camera club as a model, and I'm actually really nervous now because I would probably be half the age of the youngest member. (well, maybe not quite)

But anyone else go to camera clubs?

thoughts, experiences?
 
Im the same, I've always thought of camera clubs as a load of old duffers sitting around watching four hour slide shows of macro flower shots and landscapes, only stoping to make tea and empty colostomy bags.

Im probably wrong though.
:)
 
punkuate said:
I've always been quite anti camera clubs, but I've done the unthinkable and promised to go along next week.

I've just been given friday nights off, so thought I may as well do something, and since they have a studio for hire, darkrooms etc, its definitely worth being a member.

I have been at the camera club as a model, and I'm actually really nervous now because I would probably be half the age of the youngest member. (well, maybe not quite)

But anyone else go to camera clubs?

thoughts, experiences?
Click to expand...

I'm actually off to one tonight, hope they treat me OK, I'm a virgin, as far as camera clubs go :lol:

Danny_Two said:
Im the same, I've always thought of camera clubs as a load of old duffers sitting around watching four hour slide shows of macro flower shots and landscapes, only stoping to make tea and empty colostomy bags.

Im probably wrong though.
:)
Click to expand...

Will tell you when I get back, thats assuming I last the 2 hours ;)
 
punkuate said:
Anyone else worrying that he didn't last and got beaten up by Nikon users?
Click to expand...

Didn't see anyone wearing Nikon T-shirts :lol::lol:

artyman said:
Or even worse, drowned in an acid fixing bath :lol:
Click to expand...

Nah. was a pint of Kronenberg :thumbs:

Wasn't all that bad really, much better than I expected, really informal and I had a good chat with a few members about PP. There was also another prospective member there also. Going back next week :thumbs:
 
I tried my local club, but it wasn't really for me, too cliquey and to much sitting around...
that said the quality of the photographs were amazing, so I learned quite a bit even from that one visit.

:)
 
I'd only join a camera club if they had facilities I could make use of, like studio space and/or lights.

Besides, working shifts as I do would mean I couldn't attend on a regular basis.
 
Lynnie
What club were you thinking of? I was in a local one and was secretary for a year. Nice bunch of people but I lost interest and just never went back - although I still shoot with one of the guys met there.

Depends what you're looking for from it.

JD
 
Hi. I belong to a cc. Personally I like the opportunity to chat with like-minded people and the challenge of competition and peer review. I'd bet all clubs would like some younger members.
 
EOS_JD said:
Lynnie
What club were you thinking of? I was in a local one and was secretary for a year. Nice bunch of people but I lost interest and just never went back - although I still shoot with one of the guys met there.

Depends what you're looking for from it.

JD
Click to expand...

Paisley photographic society. I wouldn't bother going if I had to travel but since its just round the corner, I'm likely to turn up. :)
 
Photodiva said:
Hi. I belong to a cc. Personally I like the opportunity to chat with like-minded people and the challenge of competition and peer review. I'd bet all clubs would like some younger members.
Click to expand...

Nicely put :thumbs: my thoughts exactly

too many of the other post are about take!, a CC is what you put in, there's a wealth of experience at these clubs and there dying for new members, and for some clubs it could be the clicky bits but break through the ice and there usually a great bunch.

i love looking a photo's and having mine critiqued by Togs with more letters after there name than Joe Blogs:D

and practical experience too with a lot of great chat as well.

you would also be surprised at how many wedding togs are members and could be looking for that aprentice to carry round all that heavy gear, the avarage age of ours is about 150 :lol:

off to Focus on Imageing with our bunch in March great day out.


Merc get out there and join, :thumbs:
 
See I hate all that pernickity critique. I take photos because I enjoy it, I have absolutely no interest in becoming a professional photographer. I can take technically ok portraits all day long, but jeebus I find it boring!

So, yeah I'm not quite sure how my style will fit in.

I doubt they'll approve of my blurry out of focus lit by a torch stuff

5343037891_2f2482caf7_z.jpg
 
You will be surprised one of our members takes band pictures and has spring boarded from the club via a few contacts.

but thats it Pictures are personal if you like who cares what other think,

heat and kitchen spring to mind.


but then again not going to a CC you will never know.

Merc
 
Last edited:
POAH said:
don't bother with a camera club then
Click to expand...

I know, I quite like the social thing of it, and the facilities are handy but is it worth it to get into trouble for not playing by the rules? :/
 
There's only one way to find out - give it a go! They say they welcome guests. There are hardly likely to be rules about how you take your pictures; at the worst you might feel your style is unappreciated and you won't win any competitions but they are not going to glass you....

I like the pic you have posted :thumbs:

Let us know how you get on.
 
Hope to make my first visit on Monday
 
punkuate said:
Paisley photographic society. I wouldn't bother going if I had to travel but since its just round the corner, I'm likely to turn up. :)
Click to expand...

One of the best in Scotland I believe! I was at East Kilbride. A good place to pick up a lot but I just lost interest after a while - I do still think about returning though!
 
Just joined one in Jarrow, at Perth Green Community Centre. Very friendly guys, got own studio lights etc. Good equipment for veryone to use and loads of free advice!
 
I'm a member of The Camera Club in London. Very solid membership base (many professionals), two studios, lights, darkrooms, digital processing suite, gallery / lounge, library and kitchen for those all-important cups of tea! It's like a home away from home, and is one of the best things I've done since I got into photography.

Being the first camera club in the country, it also has an enormous archive of images. The talks & presentations I've been to so far have been excellent, and the regular courses and sessions are first-class.

£99 very well spent.
 
EOS_JD said:
One of the best in Scotland I believe! I was at East Kilbride. A good place to pick up a lot but I just lost interest after a while - I do still think about returning though!
Click to expand...

I've just got into photography was thinking of joining a club but was worried they would all be oldies I'm from Motherwell not far from ek :D
 
punkuate said:
Seriously? So Scotland had camera clubs 28 years before England did?
Click to expand...

I have no idea, or even if it's possible to give a definitive history of such associations. From a quick browse on Google, lots of clubs claim to be the "oldest", but several also claim to be "the successor to...[some other club]" - in other words, there isn't a direct line of history. Cheltenham Camera Club claims to date from 1865, but from their website seems to actually be claiming a link with a couple of amateurs who began meeting in someone's house at around that time. Swansea claims to have been founded in the 1850's (and thus be the oldest in the world) but then elsewhere on the website states that "some form of club" was founded in the 1860's, which presumably isn't the same thing. Paisley (which I assume you are referring to), claims to date from 1857, but doesn't provide any form of history on their website.

With the Camera Club in London, the modern club is the same organisation, having simply moved premises a few times. There are still some early 20th century prints on display on the stair galleries - the oldest on display being from around 1906 - and we still have an archive of Victorian-era club material.

But, all that being said & done, there is absolutely no reason why other parts of the UK shouldn't have had camera clubs & societies before England.
 
Last edited:
but was worried they would all be oldies
Click to expand...

How old is an oldie? Ones definition of age changes with our own passing of the years.
Used to think anyone in their thirties was ancient, seem more like youngsters now

Also judge the person, I have met some really boring and staid people from across the generations. Equally so with some energetic and happy go lucky individuals from all age groups.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top