Question for those who belong to clubs in your local areas (Page 2): Most clubs are reasonable and do try to provide some basic classes for newcomers. On the other hand, I personally...

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

bbqsfarm wrote:

So if I join and start attending a local photography group I found with a bridge camera will they laugh me out of the group? I really have a desire to learn but until I know if I really like it I just don't want to invest the dollars in a DSLR. I have used SLRS before like back in 1980 (LOL) I really remember nothing at this point. I do have an end goal in mind though.

Most clubs are reasonable and do try to provide some basic classes for newcomers.

On the other hand, I personally find that the local club can seem like a clique, and that the image scoring on competition nights can be wildly variable and inconsistent. As with any smaller group, many can tell who made an image as soon as it is shown.

I also find extreme resistance to B&W images. With overblown color far too often rewarded.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

bbqsfarm wrote:

So if I join and start attending a local photography group I found with a bridge camera will they laugh me out of the group? I really have a desire to learn but until I know if I really like it I just don't want to invest the dollars in a DSLR. I have used SLRS before like back in 1980 (LOL) I really remember nothing at this point. I do have an end goal in mind though.

My DSLR is a refurbished sony came with kit lens for $300 directly from sony store (online). It is on the shelf... suggest the Canon 50 that is selling for less than 200... I am using a Sony HX50.. 30x pocket zoom ... on my belt 24/7...

Two years ago, I won 3 rd place in TBCC using a Panasonic TZ3.... Competition the many $1000s Cameras..... Composition is the big thing... along with impact. I won once I learned how to crop tight to tell a story. The judge you must please is you... The club knows my photos will not be "nice" or yuck.. "cute"... Attend and see the winning keys...

It does bother me a bit that children photos are a sure winner... it is a primitive brain response to love babies... especially if you clone the eyes a bit larger than normal... yuck....

sureshot10 Loc: Parker, Co.

Good point Cliff (Paying Dues). I belong to mhwpc.org and have been to a few others (especially the Nikon group) and have not found too many people that are judgmental about a newbie. It is one of the pleasures of the hobby to help another person develop their skills.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

You certainly would have no problem with our camera club. The club is PSA affiliated. We meet twice a month, once for competition night, once for business, demos, speakers, etc. We have members who shoot bridge cameras, and those with top of the line dSLRs, and everything in between. What equipment you use is not a concern. We pride ourselves on being "the friendliest club in the East Bay".

I believe most camera clubs would welcome you and not shun you because of your equipment choice. If they did, that club would be more of an exception rather than the standard.

anotherview Loc: California

I found as well the time to move up to better gear should happen when the photog outgrows the present gear.

Happy New Year!

ncshutterbug wrote:

I joined my club several years ago with my 2.1 mega pixel Olympus with the same thoughts. Everyone was great at helping me figure out what I was doing. I warn you though, you will soon find yourself very envious around newer models with all the bells and whistles! Mine finally went to the camera graveyard and I decided to try the entry level Canon. It didn't take me long to be craving a better one!

Photoman74 Loc: Conroe Tx

Let your images impress not your equipment.

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

Mogul wrote:

I think you'll find most clubs are good about welcoming new members. On the other hand, our local club is one of the oldest in the west and is, to a great extent, an overgrown passel of senior snobs. A lot of it depends on how long the club has been around and the average age of the members (especially in relation to your age).

Do you and I belong to the same club? :lol:

Gabriel Loc: North Providence, RI

Hello,
I Joined UHH this past August because I wanted to expand my very basic knowledge of photography. UHH has been such a wonderful source of information and inspiration. I love this site!
My experiences with UHH gave me the inspiration to join the Photographic Society of Rhode island. We meet once a week. The fee is $ 30.00 per year. I can't begin to tell you how much I've already learned. ALL skills levels are welcomed. There are contests (graded on what level you are at, e.g, beginner, intermediate, etc.)
There are presentations by tops-in-their fields photographers. Several members are still shooting with slide film.
My advise to you is JOIN...there is always something to learn...Remember, everyone at one point was a beginner.
I didn't know anyone there... I made the first move...Put a smile on you face...go over and introduce yourself...
I love the group because I'm hanging out with people who share my love for photography. If there snobs there...sorry for them...Don't let them destroy an opportunity for you to learn and have fun.

GO BOY/GIRL!
Gabriel

Moose Loc: North Carolina

I belong to 2 clubs, one that concentrates on Nature and the other is open ended. You should take that into consideration when choosing. As being accepted using a bridge camera, well that kinda depends on the crowd. I started out with Nikon point and shoot and eventually through envy ended up with a full blown DSLR and extra lenses etc. Its catching so stay strong until you've mastered composition (that's what we all strive for, but still have difficulty) and capability of your camera. We have one guy that uses a bridge camera and has some of the best bird pictures I've seen and he is well respected. You will see many who are starting out with thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment, but may not be able to really take great pictures with it. I've since gone back to a high end Panasonic bridge camera which does pretty much all that I could do with the DSLR. Check out a few clubs in your area by going to their meetings. I tried one club and found it was made up of a group of much younger folks and didn't feel that I fit in. Another club concentrated on areas that I wasn't particular interest in, so counted that one out. It will depend upon just how outgoing you are as to how you feel fitting in. It took me awhile, but I feel comfortable now with the groups. Good luck.

Anne

My club encourages members to shoot what they are comfortable with. We range from point and shoot to professional full frame enthusiasts. We meet once a month, have monthly slide shows to show off our work and 4 competitions a year. We are PSA affiliated and participate in 2 of their competitions. I was a founding member of the club. We started with 6 interested shooters and grew to a steady membership of 90 - 100 members. Our club is 7 years old and we all enjoy the different aspects of the club. we seem to meet a niche for all our members. A

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

robertjerl wrote:

Not my club, we meet once a month in the Senior Citizens Center. Show off pictures, talk about them. Discuss things. Exchange hints, ideas, recommendations etc. Very informal, very unorganized. No dues, more like a group of friends who share an interest. About 10-12 at a meeting, I am the only new member I know of in the last year.

Is that very dignified looking hat you wear part of your club's uniform? If so, cool! If not, why not? :lol: 8-)

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Grew up partly on my Grandparent's farm, hats were a given. Then the army, hats required. Years later had to wear hats outdoors because a medication made me even more prone to sunburn. Back around 2000 or so bought an "Indiana Jones" fedora at Disneyland on impulse. I have been wearing fedoras ever since.
Haven't seen anything but ball caps on the other members, and then only a couple of them, the rest don't speak hat.

davidrb wrote:

Is that very dignified looking hat you wear part of your club's uniform? If so, cool! If not, why not? :lol: 8-)

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

bbqsfarm wrote:

So if I join and start attending a local photography group I found with a bridge camera will they laugh me out of the group? I really have a desire to learn but until I know if I really like it I just don't want to invest the dollars in a DSLR. I have used SLRS before like back in 1980 (LOL) I really remember nothing at this point. I do have an end goal in mind though.

Just go to at least 3 meetings. I am sure no one will laugh at you. They may ask what camera you use, however. At our club there are one or two who may be a little snobbish. But I would say 99% are not. When I first joined, I did have a brand new entry level dslr...and no clue how to use it. LOL

One of our top photographers shoots with everything, from high end dslr to bridge, to cell phone. No one would ever dare laugh at him. (One guest judge did make a comment that if you used a cell phone as a camera, you had no business being in a camera club nor consider yourself a photographer...he then went on to make a fool of himself by judging the best photo of our monthly competition....taken by said photographer with his cell phone. LOL)

So go to the meetings and check them out. You have nothing at all to lose.

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

Mine is kind of like yours. We do have a group Facebook page we use to post pics.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/406919972785439/

robertjerl wrote:

Not my club, we meet once a month in the Senior Citizens Center. Show off pictures, talk about them. Discuss things. Exchange hints, ideas, recommendations etc. Very informal, very unorganized. No dues, more like a group of friends who share an interest. About 10-12 at a meeting, I am the only new member I know of in the last year.

jlf1938 Loc: Acworth, GA

bbqsfarm wrote:

So if I join and start attending a local photography group I found with a bridge camera will they laugh me out of the group? I really have a desire to learn but until I know if I really like it I just don't want to invest the dollars in a DSLR. I have used SLRS before like back in 1980 (LOL) I really remember nothing at this point. I do have an end goal in mind though.

I belong to a club with about 40 members. Less than 20 are active members, but the assortment of cameras owned are many and most are p&s or bridge type cameras. Even though I have a DSLR, actually a DSLT by Sony, I have just purchased a bridge type camera and plan to use it regularly.