Camera-club experience , Good, Bad, other-wise?? (Page 3): Really? Why would people in the remaining 90% of the world be interested in a purely American society? I am not American...

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

SharpShooter wrote:

My club also started in the 40's but was an early adopter of the Photographic Society of America(PSA). PSA is the umbrella organization of most of the clubs in much of the world.

Really? Why would people in the remaining 90% of the world be interested in a purely American society? I am not American, although I have now lived in the US for 26 years, but I have never heard of the PSA...

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Really? Never heard of PSA. Wow! I certainly don't agree with some of its seeming over-strict guidelines, but it is certainly a force in photography. Look it up, just for fun if nothing else.

Dragonfly Loc: Indianapolis

I found a great club in Indy. I've been going to meetings when I can and they have taught me so much more than I could have learned in a book. The meetings are informational and they do have a monthly photo contest that is done online, but I haven't really posted to the contests yet. I'm still learning, so this group is a great one for me. I'm still confused over lots of the photoshop stuff....they make it look so easy, but it's not! I know I just need to go to more of the photoshop classes. This club isn't one for professionals, but they're a fun group and do go places to shoot. It's great for people like me who are just learning.

agillot

HAM radio clubs have the same problem , mostly OLDER guys .

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

jaymatt wrote:

Really? Never heard of PSA. Wow! I certainly don't agree with some of its seeming over-strict guidelines, but it is certainly a force in photography. Look it up, just for fun if nothing else.

Funny! My Grandfather was a member of PSA and a professional photographer in Oklahoma City from the 1940's until he passed away in 1970. (he was born in 1895). Among the many things I inherited from him were 3 Rolleiflex 2.8 cameras with extra lenses, 2 Hasselblad Cameras with film backs, lenses, etc. a Minox 8mm camera, Dejour 8mm projector, Kodak 8mm movie camera, a Nikon F2 Photomic with motor film advance and lenses, color and b&w darkroom equipment including a roller print dryer and 2 enlargers etc. He also had 6 or 7 three ring binders that were full of the PSA Photography class material. I didn't realize that they were based in Oklahoma City, which probably explains a lot, but he took me out shooting with him from 1957 until I left for the military in 1970 (shortly after he passed away). I would say that they were a serious photography entity back in the day. He also had manuals from the New York Photographic Society? or something like that. My point is that PSA was a big deal back in the 50's and 60's.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

Here in Saint Louis the club that I am a member of (St. Louis Camera Club) has been in constant meeting for over 100 years. We are one of the very few that have done that... Even through the "War(s)".... I am a very proud member - However I do not participate in the competitions and I do not go on every shooting event, I travel a lot and can not make every meeting. However we do have a lecture just about every week. (( We Do Meet EVERY WEEK on Wednesdays )). The web-site that we have is very good... You ( ANYONE ) may wish to check it out...

http://www.stlcameraclub.com/index.php

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

digit-up wrote:

A few years back, I joined a local camera club. It had been around since 1946, and had a fair number of members, when I joined. We met twice monthly in a local conference room of a library. It was a reasonable location, well placed for most members. The camera club members would bring prints of their own photos, & 5 random members(different each month) would "JUDGE" them. rating ONE through five. After the showing and awards, we would all discuss the merits of the prints. We met nine months out of the year and selected nine different "subjects, one per month. Usually, once a month we would put on a "learning/sharing, EVENT, to up-date skills of the interested members. Over the years, we moved a couple of times, to obtain well located mug. sites, that were most importantly free. Our usual format went on, and our membership basically stayed steady. A couple of years ago, due to the snail-paced set-up time for the monthly judging night, we started to consider OTHER ways to accomplish our judging and evaluating procedure. It was suggested by a few "newer=members" to take the club on-line. Some folks got all jazzed for the idea, but most were not all that hot for the on-line sight that had been suggested. I thought that we could have just "tweeted" our old approach, get our own Club-owned lap-top and projector and move on. Since the new concept began, not many of the OLD members have begun doing all the club stuff from home, on-line, and member ship has dropped drastically .. People seemed to prefer enjoying the fellow-ship of the meetings, as opposed to doing the photo submissions and judging at HOME, and over a couple of weeks. Our meetings became pointless, to some, and the club members that have stayed on, have yet to master the ins & outs of this New approach. The new deal is something called "visual pursuits" and even after about two years, few are participating. It's become a disaster, almost like the "affordable care act. Any one on the hogg have similar "camera Club experiences? Any comments.solutions??? Thanks for your time and advice... RJM

A few years back, I joined a local camera club. It... (show quote)

Its sad but thing change and unless we change with them we're left behind. As someone said, the only constant is change. Get used to it.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

I am a member of 5 clubs and lead two of them (two others want me to lead). One of these clubs is a 4C's/PSA club and competition is the whole thing. This club has a hard time attracting new members. Another one is a meetup group where getting out to shoot is the emphasis. Another club meets twice year all day with a well known photog as speaker, I judge prints for them. there is usually about 250-400 that attend these meetings. One of the groups I lead is doing nothing, but all the members are active shooting and doing things for other groups. The other photo club I lead is active and attracting new members every meeting because of work of mouth by members. We have two meetings a month. The first meeting we have speaker and club announcements of events, and a formal critique of projected images submitted for that purpose. At the second meeting we meet at restaurant and we call this ""Conversations and Photo Reviews." At this place we have a rotating display of images that is changed every three months. We have a few other one time displays on the calendar. The key to this club is that it is member driven and as a co-lead facilitator I am more about encouraging others. This group also has an active G+ community. The point is to involve people and make sure they are involved doing what they want to.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Judging by the long responses it looks like this is a topic that has a lot of depth and history.

I am a member of The Photographic Guild (of Detroit), formed in 1933. To address your original issue, we still have meetings in person but we submit our digital images through Photo Club Services online ahead of time. Then we show up at the meeting and the images are projected in front of the membership and judged and commented on. For our print division we bring in our prints and judge them in person in a PSA approved light box. Constructive competition makes you better, stronger.

Camera clubs are great sources of inspiration, feedback, education, growth, mentoring, camaraderie, and contacts. Unfortunately it seems younger people have too much other stimulation to turn to than these old fashioned values.

SSam Loc: Sierra Vista, AZ

Digit-up, I currently belong to two different photo clubs. (We are "rain birds", it doesn't snow on the northern California Coast.) Both clubs have twice a month challenges (different 'subject/intent' each time) that among other benefits get us out and thinking. The Chetco Photographers Association in Brookings OR doesn't allow critiques (other than what do you like about that photo) unless the photographer asks, while their photos are shown on the 1920 x 1080 TV, something like "What would you do differently if you took this photo?" Our "winter roost" co-op always welcomes improvement suggestions. However, a few new club prospects last year felt the critiques were 'hard hitting' and choose not to join the club (even though I explained the next day when we were talking that we know each other so well that those 'deep' suggestions were welcomed by each recipient.) I would suggest that your club consider a policy announcement prior to each showing. Maybe something like, "all of you including guests, are welcome to share what you like about each photo. We know which of our members also like comments that give improvement suggestions so after you join you may request this 'higher level' of critique if you so desire.

The date the picture was to be taken varies with each assignment. Most are taking during the two weeks or so since we have been given a tutorial of how to meet the next 'challenge'. There is alway an "open Category" where we can go back in our archives. That especially helps those that couldn't get out during that 2 weeks or so to take photos that go along with the previous tutorial.

Another member this week asked it we can also start submitting videos. The club was very open to that. I think that I'm going to show a video that I made that combines photography with geocaching. I have to confess that walking to a geocache used to be the 'finding challenge'. However, in the past few years I now have my eyes open to photo opportunities. If that is of interest to you, you might like this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hQ1UBvwbQI

If you'd like to correspond privately with specific questions, I do have quite a bit of experience. One of the clubs credits 'me' with starting their club. I however, give the credit to a 'group effort'.

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

Photocraig wrote:

That's why The Hog is MY camera club.

Me too!

Duane

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

I belong to one photography club and have attended a few others in my area. The club I belong to has one very strict rule; no judging/rating of photographs. Questions and constructive criticism is fine but we don't judge or rate photographs! We've found judging/rating is a sure way of driving new members away because they feel they can never win a contest or match the levels (sometimes) shown by the long time members. Also, competition in a photography club is not normally conducive in what should be a friendly environment.

We pick themes for monthly meetings at the beginning of the year and everyone gets a chance to show a few pictures along the lines of the theme at meetings. We also offer introductory courses to Lightroom, Photoshop, PhotoMatix, Autopano Giga and a few others depending upon demand. We also invite local professional photographers to meetings to give short presentations on what turns them on and how they approach photography. We also try to get out on a few field trips during the year for things like sunsets, astrophotography, landscapes, old buildings, waterfalls, museums, etc.

We do maintain a Facebook page for the club; however, only about half the people in the club contribute to the page.

The goal is to keep the meetings fun, learn something and be introduced to new "things"...

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Without competition it tends to become a social club. Competition makes it a sport and a challenge.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

wattsimages wrote:

... When you fall in love with the "badge on the hood" you lose sight of what's important, the final image.
...

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

digit-up wrote:

A few years back, I joined a local camera club. It had been around since 1946, and had a fair number of members, when I joined. We met twice monthly in a local conference room of a library. It was a reasonable location, well placed for most members. The camera club members would bring prints of their own photos, & 5 random members(different each month) would "JUDGE" them. rating ONE through five. After the showing and awards, we would all discuss the merits of the prints. We met nine months out of the year and selected nine different "subjects, one per month. Usually, once a month we would put on a "learning/sharing, EVENT, to up-date skills of the interested members. Over the years, we moved a couple of times, to obtain well located mug. sites, that were most importantly free. Our usual format went on, and our membership basically stayed steady. A couple of years ago, due to the snail-paced set-up time for the monthly judging night, we started to consider OTHER ways to accomplish our judging and evaluating procedure. It was suggested by a few "newer=members" to take the club on-line. Some folks got all jazzed for the idea, but most were not all that hot for the on-line sight that had been suggested. I thought that we could have just "tweeted" our old approach, get our own Club-owned lap-top and projector and move on. Since the new concept began, not many of the OLD members have begun doing all the club stuff from home, on-line, and member ship has dropped drastically .. People seemed to prefer enjoying the fellow-ship of the meetings, as opposed to doing the photo submissions and judging at HOME, and over a couple of weeks. Our meetings became pointless, to some, and the club members that have stayed on, have yet to master the ins & outs of this New approach. The new deal is something called "visual pursuits" and even after about two years, few are participating. It's become a disaster, almost like the "affordable care act. Any one on the hogg have similar "camera Club experiences? Any comments.solutions??? Thanks for your time and advice... RJM

A few years back, I joined a local camera club. It... (show quote)

I've heard and read more bad reviews than good about these clubs because most are about one-upsmanship... each guy/gal trying to out do the other. That's not for me.