Photographic Clubs

I noticed that there is a photography club right near where I live (after a quick googling ) and I was wondering if I should go along one night - but as I am still new to photography I'm not too sure if I should or not because of this .

Any suggestions?

This is their website that I found:

link

Go along and try it, many offer something like £2 per night for a max of 3 evenings so you can try them out and usually it comes off your first years subs if you decide to join.

Cheers

Best place for you. Most clubs and club members will be only to willing to help newbies. CHEERS Vic.

Hi Nick.

As Vic said, best place for you to go, my wife and myself used to belong to a camera club, back in the 1970’s/80’s,the club sadly no longer in being.

Can remember the first meeting we nervously attended, but was made to feel most welcome, and soon felt part of the club.

My wife going on to win the south west photographer of the year, sponsored by Kodak, she has a much more of an artistic eye than me.

The morel of that in my case, don’t let your wife use the camera, she may just be better than you.

Take care.

As you live in Manchester Nick google the Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union which will give you a list of camera clubs in the North West. You may consider joining Atherton CC which is where our own John Riley is one of the big wigs. I'm sure he would be happy to advise you.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

I've joined a local club and learned more there in a couple of weeks than I did in months of evening classes, which were a complete waste of time, and cost a lot more. The link you provided shows they have some good photographers there. They say you can go up to 3 times before you decide whether or not to join so you have nothing to lose be giving it a go. You could always try more than one club before deciding which to join.

Thanks for all the great advice everyone . I think I'll go along on monday and give it a go.

I just had a look at the Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union's site and I had no idea there were so many clubs around, it seems there is another 2 not too far from me aswell - sadly Atherton is quite a distance from me though.

Can remember the first meeting we nervously attended, but was made to feel most welcome, and soon felt part of the club.

I've been to a couple of events at one of the Bradford clubs and it seems a very supportive atmosphere...
They were very keen to sign new members up (which as my lifestyle is currently all over the place just wasn't feesable... A pay-per-session would work better for me...) and very friendly towards people of all skill levels...

Most clubs appear to publish a calender of events well in advance which I think is a good move, although some seem to have an obsession toward competition photography which I think can put less competitive types off...

A lot of major cities will have more than one club or group... Make enquiries and join the one that best suits your needs... Or join both!

I noticed the one which I'm going to take a trip to has an events calendar which does seems great as I always like things to be organised .

I've found the club I joined to be very supportive, with a nice varied program. It's main aim is to help photographers learn new/improved techniques.

I've heard reports that the over local club, is very competitive, and that members there are generally secretive of anything that might give them an edge in the competitions...

If this is true it's just as well I didn't try the other one first, or I doubt I'd have felt clubs useful!

Hi Nick,

I joined a local club at the beginning of this year for the first time. A very good move, and I would recommend you go along, and have a look.

Gary

i have been guesting at a local club for a few weeks and will probably join next season. i have found you pick up different things at a club to a college course. the speakers they have had have been very good and have given valuable insight into their chosen field of photography, also the judging of competitions was an eye opener as to what different judges wanted,one picture went into three competitions and had three totaly different appraisals. college you learn the more technical aspects, but i am about to start my 6th term we are well into ps now and we have become virtually our own club and we give and take critique on our work,no holds barred sometimes but no malice, "all done in the best possible taste". so i feel there is a place for both and you can learn from both in equal amounts, just different parts of the same game

Just got back about an hour ago from the first one I attended and it was great , very friendly people and I learnt how to use off camera flash with a soft box for portraits - there was a bar downstairs too (which is always handy :wink