May 7, 2009 @ 7:35AM

Show Us Your Camera Club

By Damien Franco

The better to see you with...

One of the things I miss most about school (yes, I actually miss a couple things about school) was the collaborative element of learning.

As visual artists we often look at photographs to find inspiration and to learn more about our craft. While that’s a great way to do both I find that meeting other photographers, (off-line), and perhaps taking on projects together, is probably one of the most intuitive ways to learn about photography.

Of course you get this benefit in school as you talk with your peers about projects and critique each others work, but what do you do when you’re no longer in school?

You join a camera club!

Unfortunately I don’t have one here in my hometown, but I’m sure many of you who live in bigger cities have camera clubs available to you. So are you involved with a camera club in your city or town?

Why not share your experiences and links to camera clubs in the comments section below. Let’s see if we can’t get some more participation in these wonderful learning environments. Show us your camera clubs!

Photograph The better to see you with… by NetDep

Comments

Anonymous

2 years ago

When I lived in SC I couldn't find a Photo Club either - so I started a brand new one. It's kind of tapered off, but they are still chugging along after I left over at www.scphotogs.com (in SC). Looking to join the Broomfield CO photo club here next month as we're getting settled back into a routine!

Anonymous

2 years ago

In Ottawa we are fortunate to haave sveral camera clubs.

The one I belong to is the oldest (north ameraica) camera club 1894. about 120 members
http://www.cameraclubottawa.ca/

I have been the presidernt and help other excutive roles for many years.

If you do join a club do take the time to be a member of the executive as it is important that volunteers take the time to help the club. Many past members will be more than happy to assist you in the role.

Thera are serveral other clubs that we have interclub activiites with other clubs in Ottawa

The RA Center over 300 members
http://www.racentre.com/

The Le Club de Photo PolarisÃ© de L'Outaouais
http://www.clubphotopolarise.org/

The Orleans Photo club
http://www.orleansphotoclub.com/ (link broken today)

Anonymous

2 years ago

3 years ago, a friend took me to the opening of the NYC Photo Club's annual show at the LGBT Center in Greenwich Village. I was really impressed by the quality and diversity of vision of the work on exhibit. I've been photographing for many years, but had never shown my images except to friends. I started attending the monthly club meetings, which typically have a speaker (topics range from post-production software, lighting techniques, art history, self-promotion, etc.) and then allow members to share their own work. There are occasional gallery visits and field trips. Membership is open to all; we have a great mix of age and experience - amateurs and pros, digital and film users. There is an atmosphere of support and mutual respect, and it's been great to meet other photographers.
I showed 2 photos at last year's members' show, and will have 4 displayed this year. The opening, which will be on Thursday, June 11th, this year, is a festive event, with wine & the typical cheese sticks, and it's a real gas to see strangers viewing my work (especially when they seem to like it.)
The NYC Photo Club has Yahoo & Flickr groups, as well as a dedicated website with full information (http://nycphotoclub.com/). I'm very glad to participate in it...

Anonymous

2 years ago

In the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas there were 20 or so photography clubs started through meetup.com, however none of them were dedicated to off-camera flash. So i started a strobist meetup group.

Much to my surprise in 33 days we have 100 members and we've only had one meeting.

Should be interesting.

Anonymous

2 years ago

I live in Barbados and we have a vibrant organization here, you can find us listed at http://bps.smugmug.com.