Camera Club Category (Page 2): I have been involved, as a member and a workshop trainer, with a senior's photo club for a good number of years now. After attending a great number of...

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

I have been involved, as a member and a workshop trainer, with a senior's photo club for a good number of years now.

After attending a great number of club meetings over the years, I would have to say that this particular club, is the friendliest and most enjoyable club I have experienced. We have members that have only phone/tablet cameras, many point and shoots and a couple sporting top "pro" cameras. There are also two "pro photographer" members as well that share their knowledge and experience with the members.

We have no photographer ratings in the group. There is only one level called happy members!

What we DO have is an annual photo show in the local community center, where members are welcome to display matted or framed prints, all of which are for sale at whatever price they choose to ask. At the end of the show the "levels" of the photographers automatically becomes evident to all members from the results of the numbers of sales and $$$ volume. (These numbers are increasing every year) Nothing tells you better what your photography level truly is, than the public willing to pay good money for your results.

It's kind of a silent acknowledgement and pride of all the members, without the competition, which can sometimes destroy the joy of belonging to a group that shares your interests.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Not much. Camera clubs should be there to foster one's interest in photography. The minute competitions are introduced problems arise. I cannot for the life of me see why there is a insidious desire to have competitions.
--Bob

Martin wrote:

I recently brought up a subject in my camera club. If a photographer is an A photographer in digital and he goes to show prints, the club recognizes him as a B photographer. I feel once you are considered an A
photographer it doesn't matter what venue you enter your photos.

Would like other's opinion.'

Thanks
Marty

CO

chapjohn wrote:

In all this talk about competition levels, my question is, are we speaking of PPA or PSA clubs?

Our camera club is a member of the P.S.A. One of our board members is an officer in the P.S.A. We use their guidelines for our end of year competition. It's all defined in their Uniform Judging Practices document.

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

rmalarz wrote:

Not much. Camera clubs should be there to foster one's interest in photography. The minute competitions are introduced problems arise. I cannot for the life of me see why there is a insidious desire to have competitions.
--Bob

Totally agree Bob . . . there are guidelines in photography but because it is an art, nothing is cast in stone. There are no absolutes, so a "level A" photographer is really only better in the opinion of others. Opinions are like AHs . . . everybody has one!

CO

Weddingguy wrote:

Totally agree Bob . . . there are guidelines in photography but because it is an art, nothing is cast in stone. There are no absolutes, so a "level A" photographer is really only better in the opinion of others. Opinions are like AHs . . . everybody has one!

In our club, level A must be earned. Everyone starts out as a level B photographer when they join the club - even advanced or pro photographers. In the end of year competition, certificates and memorial awards are awarded. If anyone has accumulated at least three certificates or one memorial award, they are then moved up to level A.

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

CO wrote:

In our club, level A must be earned. Everyone starts out as a level B photographer when they join the club - even advanced or pro photographers. In the end of year competition, certificates and memorial awards are awarded. If anyone has accumulated at least three certificates or one memorial award, they are then moved up to level A.

That's nice.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

rmalarz wrote:

Not much. Camera clubs should be there to foster one's interest in photography. The minute competitions are introduced problems arise. I cannot for the life of me see why there is a insidious desire to have competitions.
--Bob

Not everyone has a desire to take part in photography competitions (for any of a number of reasons), but for those that do enjoy it (also for a variety of reasons), local camera clubs can provide organized and inexpensive opportunities. A good club will often offer a variety of activities in order to meet the needs of all of its members; lectures, field days, gear demos, as well as competitions. The more offerings, the more active the club. Members are free to take advantage of whichever offerings interest them, and ignore others. Even those who prefer not to take part in the competition itself, can gain from observing and listening to the judging critiques.

photogeneralist Loc: Lopez Island Washington State

Why the emphasis on judging and competition? In my camera club , we have a a monthly lesson, monthly assignment and we show our photos to match that assignment at the meeting. We then discuss composition, technique, story telling, perspective and other aspects of the photos with an aim to help each other improve. Our members range from Nat Geo veterans to enthusiastic beginners. There is no sense of competition, just everyone mutually trying to help the other members become better. Our Nat Geo guy says that he learns something from a beginner at every meeting he attends. He doesn't make many meetings though because he's usually out traveling somewhere taking photos or lecturing

cmc4214 Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania

If you consider processing, one could be very good at digital, and not in the real darkroom. As for competition, some people improve with it, others get spoiled by it. To each his own

PeterBergh

Weddingguy wrote:

... Opinions are like AHs . . . everybody has one!

While everybody has precisely one rear sphincter, a lot of people have more than one opinion.