Camera Clubs

[pjs2]

I just recently joined a local camera club in the the hope that I might learn something. I have no doubt that I will due to the fact that the club is full of great photographers but I have found myself being slightly taken off course. I have relized that due to the clubs competitions I really am only focusing on the subjects set in the comps. They have two set subjects and one open. Now I realize that in doing this it's making me look at the set subjects in a more detailed manner and that will in time help with my photography in the future. I have noticed some in the club seem to want to win more than everyone else. Is this common in camera clubs will I turn into a win junky, found in a back alley, a camera strap around my arm and my eyesight set at 3200 iso.. Anybody else had similiar experiences in club life.

[ssim]

I have noticed some in the club seem to want to win more than everyone else. Is this common in camera clubs .
This is just human nature, we are competitive by nature. I've seen many posts on forums where the poster is literally begging for people to go and vote for them. It is up to each individual but the point I am trying to make is that it is common for us to want to win. You are in a setting that has regular competitions so you will be exposed to it more.

I have belonged to a couple of different camera clubs over the years and found that there is a small collection of people that will always go to great lengths to win. I don't think that it means that everyone is going to be like that. It has been a number of years since I have belonged to one of these but when I did they were much more than competitions. They brought in guest speakers on a regular basis and had resources available to its members that they might not otherwise have had been able to get. I found that these are what you want to make of them. I personally avoided entering the competitions to avoid the cliques of persons that had that "need to win" mentality.

[gonzogolf]

I have noticed some in the club seem to want to win more than everyone else. Is this common in camera clubs will I turn into a win junky, found in a back alley, a camera strap around my arm and my eyesight set at 3200 iso.. Anybody else had similiar experiences in club life.I was never a member but I got recruited several times to be a judge at their monthly meeting/shows. They rotated amongst a pool of local pros to keep some variety of tastes and styles so things didnt get stale and bias. I noticed that there were a few ultra competitive types there. Luckily they had enough categories each month that good work of any variety could be rewarded. Where things got competitive and tricky was in the awarding of honors. A judge could select what he thought was exemplary from any category to be given special honors which also then went into their annual competition. It was a bit awkward to speak with the hypercompetitive types after the judging and explain why none of their 7 entries all centered semi closeups of roses didnt make the honors category without hurting any feelings.

[Hannya]

Lol! I belong to two clubs and find it great to mix with photogs with bags of experience and enthusiastic newbies alike. Comps are a good way to get peer crit as long as u don't take comments personally. Some competition topics are not always to my taste but in order to support the clubmembers need to submit entries. Inevitably there are members who seem to win a lot. I like the challenge of trying to equal them :)

[Brikwall]

I used to belong to a camera club but found they were focused more on conformity than creativity.

[pjs2]

I have already been to 3 of thier judging nights and listened to the judges comments. Of course I did not agree with all thier comments but over all they seemed fair (mind you none of them were my photo's). My only worry is that I wont walk past a good shot because I'm looking for one of the shots needed for competition.

[gonzogolf]

I have already been to 3 of thier judging nights and listened to the judges comments. Of course I did not agree with all thier comments but over all they seemed fair (mind you none of them were my photo's). My only worry is that I wont walk past a good shot because I'm looking for one of the shots needed for competition.


Unless they have time limits on the competitions a great shot now that seems off topic may be just what you need later.

[JWright]

We have a number of active camera clubs in the San Diego area, and many of them feature competition as a major part of their activities. For that reason, I have never joined any of them.

Instead, I am involved with a group that has no formal meetings and no officers but gathers once a month at different locations for a couple of hours of shooting and then lunch. We can then upload our photos to a gallery on the group's website for viewing by the other members. All very informal and easy going...

[FlyingPhotog]

Your post makes me doubly glad I found the group I did.

We shoot monthly themes but there are no competitions. Just good natured (if sometimes strident and very honest) critiques each month. It has made me a far, far better photographer than I could ever have become all on my own.

Desert Light Photography Group (http://www.pbase.com/desertlightphoto/desert_light_themes) on Pbase.

[KCMO Al]

My experience is that clubs tend to be dominated by a few people that like to hear themselves talk and who think they are the next Ansel Adams. One club I belonged to did not have competitions but instead allowed members to show shots for critique. This was back in the film days so we showed slides and prints.
Another club I briefly attended was dominated by retired individuals and their competitions were primarily who had the best baby or kitty picture.
I guess clubs are not for me.

[pjs2]

We have a number of active camera clubs in the San Diego area
Unfortunatly we dont have that many around the area I live in. But I think I've joined the best one within a hours driving time.


Another club I briefly attended was dominated by retired individuals and their competitions were primarily who had the best baby or kitty picture.I guess clubs are not for me.

I feel your pain, I went to a very small photo club in the suburbs and as you said chockers full of the grey army and bugger it someone said flowers or gardening and that was it for the rest of the meeting I couldn't shoot a rose to save my life but I sure know how to grow them.