photo credit: Cayusa

A few years ago I hit a stagnant patch with my photography.

I was busy with lots of other things in my life (changing job, moving house), and finding the time and motivation to take photos just got pushed to the bottom of the list, after all the day-to-day stuff that had to be done. On top of that, I had moved to a new part of the UK, and everyone I knew who I shared my enjoyment of photography with was over four hours drive away. I was in a rut.

While Googling for photography in my area, I found a local photographic club, and went along to their next meeting.

The old adage “there’s always someone who knows more than you” was proven many times over that evening.

• Clubs have a regular program of talks and lectures. I listened to a talk about black and white printing that evening, seeing the best work from a real expert.
• Clubs have great facilities. I enjoy developing and printing my own black and white film, but as I do it so infrequently, I can’t justify the space and equipment at home. The club had it’s own darkroom, with a ready supply of chemicals and equipment.
• Clubs enjoy sharing information and teaching technique. I had only ever dabbled in Photoshop, but the club ran a regular series of hands-on tutorials, with an expert who had the time to answer my individual questions.
• Clubs are full of people who love photography – just like you! It’s easy to make contacts and develop friendships when you have something in common you are passionate about. Many of the members knew the local area well, and were glad to suggest great locations for photography. They held regular photographic trips and assignments together, which was a great way to break the ice.
• Clubs are great motivators. The club held fortnightly competitions, based on a different subject each time. Having a topic to work to and a deadline got me taking photographs regularly, and tackling subjects that were out of my “safety zone”. Getting helpful critique meant I improved my technique.

Visiting (and then joining) the photography club was a great way to kick-start my love of photography again. Give it a go, and let me know how you got on.

Useful Resources

The Photographic Society of America
The Royal Photographic Society
The Australian Photographic Society
The Canadian Association for Photographic Art