No.

They would not tolerate the clad in stone attitudes here for more than maybe two minutes.

However...there are many young people intetested in photography and interested in doing it right. I am working with a number of them. But you are going to have to go to them and work on their terms. They are legitimately interested in photography, but they don't care much about the attitudes and rigidity of old people. They are not interested in our forums, and they are not interested in our clubs. And if treated the way members here treat each other, they'll be gone in a minute.

Jeffcs!

I was also the President of Park West Camera Club, Manhattan, NYC for 6-1/2 years and we have around 80 members but in our club, the average age is 60+ with one lady in her late 90s. Photography as a hobby is relatively expensive and ongoing. Being retired and drawing a pension sure helps as well as having leisure time, for trips and vacations.

Nowadays, there are so many avocations that compete with photography. And with business as it is, photography is not that attractive as a vocation!

Be well! Ed

It will take:

> An emphasis on the image, rather than the gear. When we do talk gear, they will require:

> Acceptance of smartphones as legitimate cameras, without prejudice.

> Acceptance of all formats, from 1" to medium format digital and everything in between, plus all formats of film.

> A nurturing attitude, rather than a snobby one.

> An understanding that there is no perfect camera, and no perfect camera brand. There is only what meets our individual needs, which will vary, and which include many factors rather than any one vector of performance.

Younger people tend to be less interested in writing lengthy prose. They would rather post on Instagram, TikTok, FaceBook, X, or other social media.

Photography has been redefined by many of us as image making. We now live in a stew of mixed media, rather than a silo'ed world of text here, photos there, videos over there, and audio down there. Throw those all into the pot with graphics and music and anything else that qualifies as communications, and you have the media stew that attracts young people.

I have 1998 twins who grew up entirely in the digital era. They have had mice in their hands since they were old enough to move a cursor on a screen. They had digital cameras when they were 8. They were making videos with them, and iMovie, when they were nine. iPhones replaced them in high school. They now use hybrid cameras like mine. They write all the time. They make short films a couple of times a year. But they are exceptions.

Maybe one day, they will join a site like this.

I'm 78 and just getting back into photography after a 20 year lapse.
Still using film but am thinking of going to digital. I'm a Canon A1 fan with two bodies and a few lenses and still love B&W. My favorite film was Kodak Accufine, 25ASA and extremely fine grain film. Of course that film is long gone, but I've got two rolls of 120 in my refridge. I think that there are more than a few who will aspire to our chosen hobby who will carry it on in the future. Phones and cameras will improve but only so much. There will be more than at least a few who will carry on and aspire to go where some on this forum have gone and will look for this forum.
PS - I so much miss Kodachrome!

I read through this whole thread out of interest as I'm seeing similar issues with other special interest groups.

Some of the problems and issues on here include that we are, with few exceptions and of course everyone will think they are an exception, a group that is not conducive to attracting younger members because we are:

- Equipment obsessed, with most of us having thousands on dollars worth of equipment that we can barely use (judged on so many posted results). With all the financial pressures these days, where is the incentive to spend THAT much money on something that doesn't do that much?

- Highly critical of anything that doesn't match with personal, frequently outdated, beliefs

- Obsessed with the past. Like it or not cellphones ARE the future, which should be obvious to anyone with half a brain. Dedicated cameras are not. Period. Get used to it. This alone kills many people's interest in this dying group of dinosaurs. If someone likes taking pictures with their phone, how about trying to nurture that into a serious interest in photography, instead of the usual super-critical world of sh#t that is dumped on them for having the temerity to use a phone to make an image?

There may be many things "wrong" with younger people, but have a good, really good, look in the mirror.

I'm a mere baby at 69, but less and less do I find UHH relevant to me, which is disappointing.