As someone who avoided camera clubs for years, because of their stereotype reputation for being cardigan, slippers and pipe groups, and for me even more importantly, obsessed with competitions, I eventually found a club that had broken away from the stereotype.
The three clubs local to me, are absolutely obsessed with competitions, wanting to be the top club in the area, and little else. One club actually states "members are expected to enter competitions".
If that's what amateur photography means to you then fine, but to me its not a competitive sport, but an enjoyable and rewarding hobby, that I wanted to share with other like-minded people.
After much searching, I eventually found a club over in the next county, albeit not that far. It had only been in existence for two years, and had a programme that was varied and interesting. A "breath of fresh air".
I went along to a meeting as a visitor, where I was made to feel very welcome. I found a good spread of both male and female members. Ages varying from teenage, thorough middle-age, to retired, and no evidence of a clique culture.
The programme comprised just three competitions, throughout the meetings period early September to the end of May, when they break for the summer. Practical hands-on evenings, talks/demonstrations, visits to local photogenic locations, and social evenings.
I joined last September, and have just come to the end of my first meetings season with the club, and have to say that it has proved very worth while, and most enjoyable.
A nice bunch of people, from novice to very experienced photographers, willing to share their knowledge and experience. I will of course, be renewing my membership in September, of what I consider to be a 21st century club, and not one that's been stuck in a 'time warp' for decades.
Dave
