Top 5 Benefits of Joining a Local Camera Club
by
Karl Peschel
What do you think is the best way to learn about digital photography? From a book or DVD? From a class? Trial and error? Why not surround yourself with people who know more about the subject than you do? A local camera club is the perfect place to gain more knowledge about digital photography.
When I was managing a Wolf Camera store one of my associates kept telling me about the camera club he belonged to. He talked about the different speakers and presentations they had each month. He showed me the beautiful prints he entered into the competitions. After over a year of prodding I finally attended a meeting. I wish I would have done it a lot sooner.
What I found was a great group of photographers, all willing to share their knowledge. There were professional photographers and very creative digital artists. There were nature, landscape, portrait, macro and product photographers. There were newbies looking to glean as much info as they could. All in all, there were lots of people to teach me new things and a few that I could help to learn more.
Although your local camera club may operate differently, here are five benefits I’ve discovered.
1. Talk with like minded photographers – Most clubs have the full range from newbie to pro, and all with varying shooting styles. Don’t be afraid that you won’t fit in. You will.
2. Competitions and Critiques – Monthly competitions will usually have a theme; Macro, Flash, Transportation, Portraits etc. These will get you to shoot things you perhaps never would. You’ll get inspired by the work of others. Through the critiques and judging you’ll hone your skills and improve your pictures.
3. Educational classes – You’ll be able to learn new techniques and methods from people in the know. Whether the class is taught by a club member or an outside source, you can learn about software, how to use your camera, studio lighting and more.
4. Trips and Excursions – You may find professional photographers who run Photo Tours or club members may lead little day trips. You’ll get the chance to explore new places and have an experienced guide to show you the best techniques and vantage points to shoot from.
5. A Shared Library – Many clubs have lending libraries, where members donate books so others can benefit. You’ll be able to learn new things without having to buy the book.
To find a local camera club you should start with local camera stores. They should know what’s available. Many times, the staff are members of one or two of the local clubs. Doing a Google search will too, provided the club has a website. Start searching with “camera club +YourCityName” (remove the quotes and put the name of your city instead of YourCityName).
Karl Peschel runs TeachMeToShoot.com, a website for people who want to learn about digital photography. Karl loves to teach people about photography and can explain things in plain English instead of techno babble. Visit the
TeachMeToShoot website
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Top 5 Benefits of Joining a Local Camera Club
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