Camera Clubs

[acidhouse]

So is any one a member of one?
and if so what do you gain from it?

The reason i'm asking, I was thinking of joining one but the one I visited before was in year end competition mode and this would last for a month or two. which was a bit of a turn off. as my main reason for going was to try and learn something.

[RichardtheSane]

Well to be honest I did a few onths at the local camera club but decided to stop going

I gained very little from it. Apart from dissaproving comments from photograpy purists who think digital is fake photography and only use leica or similar quality film gear. maybe my experience was extreme - although the attitudes are similar at other local clubs who occasionally visited and also a friend from a different part of the country said the same thing. Maybe I was looking for something different to what club photography is about.
There were a few digital photographers there, but not many. See if you can get a copy of their programme to see what they have on offer?

[lostdoggy]

So, did they drink their tea with the pinky up???

[LadyHawk]

Well, in defense of Camera Clubs, I just joined Castle Craig Camera Club in CT. They are nice people, some film, some digital... 20D owners included. Their competitions include digital photography and digital art (heavily PS'd) photography. On non-competition nights they'll have guest speakers, and there is always an upcoming field trip.
It's a great way to meet others who share your interests, if you find a good one...

[aam1234]

So, did they drink their tea with the pinky up???

You are bad :lol: :lol: :lol:

[RichardtheSane]

Well, in defense of Camera Clubs, I just joined Castle Craig Camera Club in CT. They are nice people, some film, some digital... 20D owners included. Their competitions include digital photography and digital art (heavily PS'd) photography. On non-competition nights they'll have guest speakers, and there is always an upcoming field trip.
It's a great way to meet others who share your interests, if you find a good one...

Sounds like camera clubs in the states have the capability to move on, glad you have a good one :)

[RichardtheSane]

So, did they drink their tea with the pinky up???
*cough* *splutter*
:lol:

Actually, they did!

[psk4363]

Hi Acidhouse,

As I'm from your area I can fully appreciate your experience when you visited that club during its year-end annual competition. Some clubs can be very stand-offish re prospective new members and particularly digital ones.

After some 12 years with my last camera club, no names (but initials are OK - ADAPS) - they are only 2 miles from home, during which I personally got for them a GBP5000 lottery grant to set yp and run a digital group, ran it for 12 months, was on the committe for 7 years, and got them to change the divisive categories in their rules re advanced/beginner/trade-processed, etc, - all against the 'dinosaurs' wishes. I left in disgust at the prehistoric attitude of a small, but very influential clique.

I have now joined another, which I had been contemplating for 2 or 3 years, where, apart from the beginner/advanced sub-section, all images are judged as just that - images, immaterial as to how they were produced (i.e. darkroom, inkjet, trade, etc) and have a very good mix of ages, sex, and methods. The turning point was when I judged at a couple of their events (I'm an 'official' photographic judge for the NW area) and saw their work and how they supported new workers.

You don't say in which area you live around Manchester - there are some equally good and bad ones. PM me if you wish and I'll give you some ideas for clubs in your area.

Barry