Photographic societies...

Are any of you in photographic societies? I have been invited to join one or two locally and probably will rejoin my old club again this year. In fact a headsup that many clubs take a summer break and often the first meet of the year is for new members around mid-September after the holidays.

I was in a club many years ago as a late teenager and early twenties. At that time it was all middle aged blokes and a bit snobby - and a bit clicky with it's little groups and categories of members. I'm going to guess it's the same, but now I am for all intents and purposes 'middle aged' I might be welcome! It's customary for all new members to be categorised as a 'beginner' and you simply move up if you can prove you can wipe the floor with other beginners in the club competitions... Generally the system does work but I guess most of us are that enthusiastic and feel we aren't at the very bottom rung...

Anyway, seeing others work in club competitions does give you a good idea of the standard of other amateurs. You can be pretty scared off by some people so I shall sit quietly and pretend I only have a compact for the first 6 months...

Incidentally when I was last there we never knew anything about digital cameras. I had a Nikon FG, then an FE2, and then moved to Canon (AE1 and 1P, A1 and T90). I had a medium format Yashicamat and then a Kowa. I got even better stuff after I left the club but I used to envy the guys with Rolleiflexs, Bronicas, Mamiyas and Hasselblads. i guess i would be quite good by now if I had kept up my photography as a hobby but a big mortgage and girlfriends killed that off. It wasn't fashionable to be out with girls with a big camera bag in my 20's and 30's! One didn't appreciate being taken to the stuffy camera club, or the topless and nudes I shot at the studio club!

Anyway, unless anything significant changes will be going to the club in a few weeks and hopefully it turns out to be a good experience.

No sorry BC, can't even join the pudding club as I am of the wrong gender

Bazza

Sounds interesting BC - I'd like to join one at some point too. Let us know how you get on!

I think Stanokella is in a club - maybe he'll chime in this thread if he sees it.

I was in one in NC, sounds a bit different to the one you are describing, much more informal, met at a local bookstore or coffeeshop, to discuss what we had been up to, arrange where to meet for photoshoots, had a website, so you can upload , review the shots we had taken, also had competitions and work would be displayed in local galleries. The best thing is there was no snobbery over kit, people whose websites I had been drooling over, actually turned out to be members, there was no we are pros, you aren't nonsense. Imentioned to one member I wanted to try weddings, and the next day he phones me up and offered to help me out.

The amount of contacts, feedback, and help I got was fantastic, got to go to some great workshops too. Have just found one locally and one in the city along the same lines, which I am going to join, it's a good way to meet others, plus, you make invaluable contacts along the way.

We have loads and loads in my area - every local town seems to have one and they all meet on a Tuesday night which I can't do!!!
Some are weekly, some are fortnightly and some are monthly.
I would really like to join one as I am having no luck at all finding a suitable course to go so I thought this might be the next best thing. I am a bit worried though about it all being older gentlemen who have their way of doing things.

I've no doubt it would help my photography but I'm the worst person in the world when it comes to committing to anything.

I tend to be quite spontaneous and hate letting people down so I've learned it's best if I just do my own thing.

I intend to drop in to the society on and off a bit as the format tends to be a sit down evening in a community centre with guest speakers or competition judging. I have been asked to join another group which is monthly and they tend to be a small group of guys who have a pint and then head off out to try something. I've always wondered what these groups of about half a dozen togs get up to, all with the same shots almost but it has to be worth a try. I need some inspiration and new contacts. Only problem with the latter group is they are aboout 15 miles away and it's a bit of a trek but hey ho.