An insider's view of UK photography and camera clubs

[DPNow]

Camera clubs and photographic societies... have you asked yourself what they have to offer? Long time DPNow patron, Patrick Hickey, introduces us to the world of the UK photographic club scene. What can clubs offer you and how have they evolved in the advent of digital photography? How can you find out about your local club? Patrick has the answers.

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[Ian]

Re: An insider's view of UK photography and camera clubs

Camera clubs and photographic societies... have you asked yourself what they have to offer? Long time DPNow patron, Patrick Hickey, introduces us to the world of the UK photographic club scene. What can clubs offer you and how have they evolved in the advent of digital photography? How can you find out about your local club? Patrick has the answers.

More...

I'd like to congratulate Patrick on his first article for DPNow. His insight into photographic clubs and societies in the UK is fascinating. I certainly learned a lot.

One of the interesting points that stuck with me is that clubs are embracing the digital projector for viewing digital photos, following in the footsteps of the traditional slide projector.

Is anyone else here involved in a club or, perhaps, is considering a club membership?

I'm also curious to know if clubs follow a similar pattern in other countries

Ian

[Tom]

Re: An insider's view of UK photography and camera clubs

Many thanks to Patrick for taking the time to produce this piece on camera clubs.
The operations of his club are more or less similar to the way my club goes about things although ours is on a smaller scale. LOL but I dislike "society" and club for me is more down to earth.
Our club is struggling for survival, simply due to lack of membership. I am a member for over a year now and I have a feeling there wasn't a new member for a long time before me. I look forward to the weekly meetings because it means I have a nice night out with people I like. So it's a social thing to be sure.
But why are we fighting for survival? The usual reasons; lack of membership, lack of money, lack of interest. The usual story of old men in M &S cardigans and slippers is a load of rubbish.
The key question is why there is a lack of interest especially by young people.
More people have cameras than ever before and digital has been the reason for this, so this can only be good you would think.
The problem I feel is caused by the manner in which digital is marketed. It is sold as a new toy that does everything for you and all you need to do is sit back, no skills necessary, you dont even have to be able to use a camera. Just perch it out in front of you, look at a screen and click. So a digital camera is not being sold as a photographic tool and it is not being sold as a photographic skill to say the least. Even some of the entry level DSLR's are being advertised on TV as stocking fillers.
So if it's all so easy ...?
It has been mentioned on this forum sometime in the past that the competitive atmosphere in clubs just puts people off. This simply does not exist. OK there are competitions but we are all aware that a judge's decision is only one persons opinion no matter how many letters he may have after his name. But competitions are fun and if wer'e honest we all like to win.

When I look down at all the contents of DPNow discussion forum I see an area covering everything that we cover on a Friday night.
So I see this forum as an online camera/photographic enthusiasts club in a way, doing everything and talking about everything just as we do at the club. We too have our competition here and with a decent prize at the end. And are we trying and hoping to win? Damn sure we are.
Only problem is that it's a pity that we cannot garner the same membership on our Friday evenings as we do here at DPnow.
I have rushed this down so I hope I've atriculated my feelings in a way that can be understood.

[Stephen]

Re: An insider's view of UK photography and camera clubs

When I look down at all the contents of DPNow discussion forum I see an area covering everything that we cover on a Friday night.
So I see this forum as an online camera/photographic enthusiasts club in a way, doing everything and talking about everything just as we do at the club. We too have our competition here and with a decent prize at the end. And are we trying and hoping to win? Damn sure we are.
Only problem is that it's a pity that we cannot garner the same membership on our Friday evenings as we do here at DPnow.
I have rushed this down so I hope I've atriculated my feelings in a way that can be understood.

Many thanks for your comments Tom. I had no idea you too were an active club goer. I do know of one other regular here that is a club/society member and I'm hopeing they will have an input here too.

I have personally never been a club member though I once did attend an evening class for a C&G qualification, I felt it was much the same.

I think you raise an interesting point in your observation above and its one I hinted at to Patrick privately. Surely its true that places like online photo forums are to some extent taking on the role of the camera club. They allow enthusiasts to express themselves both in discussion and sharing their images. We can reach a much wider audience and range of knowledge than perhaps we would at a weekly meeting. Perhaps its sad that the one to one social interaction is missing, but hey its immediate and I'm sat in the comfort of my home, blah blah blah

It could also be argued that the web has also spurned other alternatives to the 'club' and I'm thinking of other online communities like Flickr, My Space, and the many web galleries that people use today. These are places that perhaps the older generation are less comfortable with, perhaps appealing to the younger element more. At the end of the day its all about communicating, and we do it in a way that we feel comfortable with. Still though I can't help feeling the web is only a 'substitute' for real life social interaction, and not a replacement.

[Ian]

Re: An insider's view of UK photography and camera clubs

Many thanks for your comments Tom. I had no idea you too were an active club goer. I do know of one other regular here that is a club/society member and I'm hopeing they will have an input here too.

I have personally never been a club member though I once did attend an evening class for a C&G qualification, I felt it was much the same.

I think you raise an interesting point in your observation above and its one I hinted at to Patrick privately. Surely its true that places like online photo forums are to some extent taking on the role of the camera club. They allow enthusiasts to express themselves both in discussion and sharing their images. We can reach a much wider audience and range of knowledge than perhaps we would at a weekly meeting. Perhaps its sad that the one to one social interaction is missing, but hey its immediate and I'm sat in the comfort of my home, blah blah blah

It could also be argued that the web has also spurned other alternatives to the 'club' and I'm thinking of other online communities like Flickr, My Space, and the many web galleries that people use today. These are places that perhaps the older generation are less comfortable with, perhaps appealing to the younger element more. At the end of the day its all about communicating, and we do it in a way that we feel comfortable with. Still though I can't help feeling the web is only a 'substitute' for real life social interaction, and not a replacement.

I like to think that sites like DPNow are a complement to clubs. Online we can do a lot of things that club meetings can't, but you can't enjoy a pint with friends or a good face-face discussion online. Indeed, I think here at DPNow, we could - of someone could give us a hand with some ideas - help to promote clubs.

Ian

[lumix]

Re: An insider's view of UK photography and camera clubs

I did in my younger days join a photographic club and the social side was very enjoyable. Now days I look to this forum as a club. Best part about that is convenience, I can pop in when I like for as long as I like etc. and I feel the friendliness of the members here is just as good as the social side of clubs. The variety of members here from foreign lands also adds to the experience, something you cant get from a local clubs. Long may DP Now prosper and grow. It's good to be part of it.

[Ian]

Re: An insider's view of UK photography and camera clubs

I did in my younger days join a photographic club and the social side was very enjoyable. Now days I look to this forum as a club. Best part about that is convenience, I can pop in when I like for as long as I like etc. and I feel the friendliness of the members here is just as good as the social side of clubs. The variety of members here from foreign lands also adds to the experience, something you cant get from a local clubs. Long may DP Now prosper and grow. It's good to be part of it.

Awwwww, Ron, we may have spirited debates sometimes, but, well...

Ian

[Patrick]

[lumix]

Re: An insider's view of UK photography and camera clubs

What you have said there is very true. When I joined my club I was lucky to join the same night as 3 others. For months we where the new boys and did not fit in. Glad we stuck together and eventually made our presence known. Once the Ice was broken things improved.

[Tom]

Re: An insider's view of UK photography and camera clubs

Patrick; I know exactly what you are saying about rudeness and club members who basically are up their own *****. When I came over here from Ireland I joined and left a club due to the rudeness and pretentious attitudes of its members. Thankfully I found my current club.
We are actually having an EGM next week to discuss the future if any of our club. Being a sort of newbie up to now I will not be too silent at this meet as I feel the club itself can help itself to some extent out of some of its problems.
Patrick I would be interested to hear your thoughts on my comments on the marketing of digital.

[Patrick]

Re: An insider's view of UK photography and camera clubs

Patrick; I know exactly what you are saying about rudeness and club members who basically are up their own *****. When I came over here from Ireland I joined and left a club due to the rudeness and pretentious attitudes of its members. Thankfully I found my current club.
We are actually having an EGM next week to discuss the future if any of our club. Being a sort of newbie up to now I will not be too silent at this meet as I feel the club itself can help itself to some extent out of some of its problems.
Patrick I would be interested to hear your thoughts on my comments on the marketing of digital.

[Tom]

Re: An insider's view of UK photography and camera clubs

No Patrick you have missed my point. As I said in my first post I am blaming the way the companies market digital cameras as being a reason for lack of interest in real photography and camera clubs by young people.
Your points 1-6 are what I would like to think any decent club would use as fundamental requirements for success and they practically mirror the manner in which we operate.

[Patrick]

Re: An insider's view of UK photography and camera clubs

No Patrick you have missed my point. As I said in my first post I am blaming the way the companies market digital cameras as being a reason for lack of interest in real photography and camera clubs by young people.
Your points 1-6 are what I would like to think any decent club would use as fundamental requirements for success and they practically mirror the manner in which we operate.

[Autumn]

Re: An insider's view of UK photography and camera clubs

Worksop Photographic Society - http://www.worksop-photo-society.co.uk/

[Patrick]

Re: An insider's view of UK photography and camera clubs

Worksop Photographic Society - http://www.worksop-photo-society.co.uk/