FatherPie
journeyman
Reged: 18/04/2008
Posts: 91
Loc: West Yorkshire
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Hi, I've always shied away from camera clubs after an experience in the early 1980's where the members seemed to consist entirely of octagenarians with more interest in committee meetings and club protocol than photography. Time moves on though (in my case at an alrming rate if I'm talking early '80s!) and I'm reconsidering. I live in West Yorkshire (between Halifax & Huddersfield) and would be interested in peoples views on 21st century camera clubs in general and of course if any of you have experience of camera clubs in my neck of the woods I'd be particularly interested.
Cheers
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Dave
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hil26
member
Reged: 07/11/2007
Posts: 104
Loc: North Wales
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Been a member of Conwy Camera Club (North Wales) for a couple of years now, and never regretted joining.
I have learnt quite a lot from attending the meetings, they even have an additional meeting for people who want to learn about digital editing using photoshop etc - mainly aimed at newcomers to digital.
Admittedly, the "older" members outnumber the younger ones,
The club is successful and has had to restrict membership as the room the meetings are held in will only take a set number of people, so membership applications had to be closed.
The competitions are always oversubscribed and the judges comments are a great way to learn. They even have an international competition with a club in Australia.
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always in search of that magic moment
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FatherPie
journeyman
Reged: 18/04/2008
Posts: 91
Loc: West Yorkshire
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Thanks hil26. It will be interesting to see if anyone from my neck of the woods has any experience of the local clubs here.
How are you finding the course?
Regards
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Dave
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4BIKER2
enthusiast
Reged: 01/02/2008
Posts: 364
Loc: West Midlands
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I've been thinking about joining a camera club, but how do you go about finding one in your area, I typed camera club in to my browser and it came up with somewhere in Bognor, I live in the Midlands. 
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Nigel 
My Flickr
The learning curve is so steep I keep falling off.
Edited by 4BIKER2 (16/05/2008 16:10)
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GDN
old hand
Reged: 05/02/2008
Posts: 835
Loc: Surrey
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Quote:
I've been thinking about joining a camera club, but how do you go about finding one in your area, I typed camera club in to my browser and it came up with somewhere in Bognor, I live in the Midlands.
Umm.. try Camera Club Midlands in google... 
or click on this link that I got from that search...
http://www.nempf.org/secure/clubs.htm
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Gary - My Flickr Site
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Robby
newbie
Reged: 09/03/2007
Posts: 8
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Just thought I would let you know that belonging to a camera club has really brought my photography on. I belong to 2 Cardiff digital imaging and Newport Photography club. Though they are on the older side they have a wealth of knowledge and love helping the newer ones. In the digital club I have learnt a lot about photoshop. In the Newport club we have monthly competitions which keep you motivated and looking for new ideas. The judges give excellent feed back which you learn from. Talks from well known photographers shows you how it should be done! All in all a very well worth club.
I'm sure there are several very good clubs in your area. Try google for camera clubs.
Good luck and happy photo taking.
Robby.
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Azzi
member
Reged: 08/05/2006
Posts: 195
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Hi Robbie,
I`m interested in the Newport club. How often do they meet, do you need to show them some of your work before being accepted? Do they favor film or digital?
I ventured into another nameless club recently - I had to take a "portfolio" of my images to show the club sec. and another senior member - they didn’t seem to "get" some of my images and one said he didn’t like my style but that I could learn a lot from them. I left vowing never to go near a camera club again - I`ve never been keen to post images and their comments reinforced this feeling.
Newport is about 25 miles from me but if they are friendly and open minded I might try it..
Chris
(Doing the Foundation in Photography course)
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisnj2008/
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Photocracy
The Great Pretender
Reged: 18/11/2006
Posts: 643
Loc: Sunny South Coast
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That sounds pretty mean spirited and I wouldn't allow myself to be put off if I was you. Persist and I am sure you will find a good club where your work is respected at least, if not appreciated or understood. Club photography can be a little formulaic, but that's why new people with new ideas are so important. Jump in, show you work and let your new ideas influence others and perhaps the fossils will end up emulating you!
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Rob
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Azzi
member
Reged: 08/05/2006
Posts: 195
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Photocrazy,
Oh don`t worry, I was quite pleased they didn`t like some of my stuff in some respects as our personalities were quite different. Still not sure if a "club" environment is my scene, I just wouldn`t mind the occasional chat and bit of help sometimes - although I am finding good advice on this forum.
Have a nice weekend.
Chris
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisnj2008/
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GDN
old hand
Reged: 05/02/2008
Posts: 835
Loc: Surrey
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Well I went to my local camera club the other week and it was a competition night where everyone was displaying photos. It was one photo on display after another. The judging and comments were helpful, but I found that the overall marking appeared inconcistent. The photographs being displayed all had to be printed out and mounted. There was no means for easily displaying digital images in the competition without printing them.
The people there were very nice and the photos were all of a very high standard, but I don't really want competition after competition every week. I'm not that interested in printing off all of my images and then mounting them... so it wasn't for me and I didn't go back.
Maybe it was just the wrong week I don't know... 
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Gary - My Flickr Site
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FatherPie
journeyman
Reged: 18/04/2008
Posts: 91
Loc: West Yorkshire
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Thanks Robby. There is a digital imaging group in Huddersfield which is fairly close to where I live so I may give them a try.
Cheers
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Dave
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Photocracy
The Great Pretender
Reged: 18/11/2006
Posts: 643
Loc: Sunny South Coast
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Quote:
Well I went to my local camera club the other week and it was a competition night where everyone was displaying photos. It was one photo on display after another. The judging and comments were helpful, but I found that the overall marking appeared inconcistent. The photographs being displayed all had to be printed out and mounted. There was no means for easily displaying digital images in the competition without printing them.
The people there were very nice and the photos were all of a very high standard, but I don't really want competition after competition every week. I'm not that interested in printing off all of my images and then mounting them... so it wasn't for me and I didn't go back.
Maybe it was just the wrong week I don't know...
Clubs usually have a programme of different competitions for prints, digital and maybe slides, as well as visiting speakers (it sounds like you went on a print night). Some combine digital and 35mm slides and call it 'projected images'. Most clubs today should have a digital projector and hold a series of digital competitions as well as print competitions. If they don't have a digital projector, they should have, as Lottery funding is available for clubs to buy digital equipment (e.g. projector, computers, software etc.). If the club you visited really hasn't got digital equipment, why not get involved and lead their Lottery application for funding? You'd be doing them all a favour. In my experience, having digital equipment draws in a lot of fresh faces full of enthusiasm!
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Rob
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Robby
newbie
Reged: 09/03/2007
Posts: 8
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Hi Azzi,
I have been away so only just read your reply re Newport Photo Club South Wales.
You would be made most welcome there as they cater for beginners and advanced members. They like new ideas and it is encouraged to try out stuff. they have a competition every month. Projected Digital one month and prints another month. They have an open section and a set subject each time.
They meet every Friday evening at 19.30 at the Skip Jennings Scout hut off Caerleon Road.
Hope to see coming along in September when they meet up again. It is the summer break now.
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ImageWales
newbie
Reged: 24/07/2008
Posts: 1
Loc: Cardiff
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Quote:
Newport ... Hope to see coming along in September when they meet up again. It is the summer break now.
Alternatively if you dont want to wait until September to find out what South Wales Camera Clubs are like ~ try Cardiff Camera Club that meets every Thursday including through the summer. We are one of the oldest and currently fastest growing clubs in Wales with a low average age of member.
A full events diary is available at Cardiff Camera Club
Martyn Pinches
President Cardiff Camera Club
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Azzi
member
Reged: 08/05/2006
Posts: 195
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Hello "Imagewales"
Thanks for the info on the Cardiff club - I actually work near Cardiff, just off the M4, the key problem is the timing - my only fixed commitment is on Thursday night (all year!). Still I like the web site so I might come along for a look.
Chris
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisnj2008/
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