As a hobby photographer with not much more than a talent for making my friends click a few more “likes” on my social media posts than your average guy with a camera, I’d never really considered how to further my photography education. The reignition of my photography had really only taken off again, after years in the hinterland of family holidays, during covid and some extra walking. While I enjoyed getting out with the camera I’d not really thought too far beyond that until last September when I was introduced to my local camera club.
First Impressions
My introduction to Nottingham and Notts Photographic Society (NNPS) came via one of those aforementioned social media friends, Paul Cheetham, whom I struck up a friendship with during our mutual posts to a local “wildlife and walks” Facebook Page. Paul had been a member of NNPS last season and had found it really useful for his photography and he invited me to join, given we obviously shared a passion. It was a coincidence, in that only a few weeks previously I’d been posting on Twitter about people’s experiences of more formal photography educations and night school. Perhaps this might help me learn more about photography? Paul invited me to attend a night on zoom to try it out and so, given there was no harm, I joined.
I must admit I didn’t do any research before accepted Paul’s invite, I simply opened Zoom at 7.20pm and entered into the world of Nottingham and Notts. As I glanced over the zoom screens I remember my reaction well, because I was struck by how much younger I was than everyone else (I’m 43) and how male the group was (I’m also male). My heart sank, perhaps this wasn’t quite the group I was looking for? Perhaps it’s generational, or my politics, but I tend to almost expect diversity these days. Perhaps my impression speaks more to my expectations than anything else, but I’d be lying if I said I was a little disappointed [with hindsight this shouldn’t have been a surprise and, I’ve since learned is an issue across the hobby].
That aside, I introduced myself and soon the talk, by wildlife photographer Ben Hall, was underway. It was great. Ben was not only sharing stunning images, but also very generous with his advice. Over two hours I was transfixed by inspirational images, albeit ones I could never reproduce. Moreover, I was pleased to hear everyone else was similarly enamoured with the talk. It was great to hear people share my passion for photography, perhaps it was worth sticking around?
And so, reservations aside, I coughed up £45 for the season’s programme and set aside Tuesday nights to sit aside my computer and join the club watching photographers from across the UK, and across the world, share their images and expertise.
Week Two and Beyond
The nature of a 7.30pm start time for the talks on zoom meant that many members would arrive a 7.28, or later, but the club room opens at 7.00, and being my usual Mr Keen I’d always try and arrive relatively early. This helped me get to know a few of the other members of the club in a smaller, more intimate atmosphere (albeit a remote one). So, while I stay fairly quiet, I enjoyed those early half hours with just a few members prior to the start of the main show. I enjoyed figuring out the personalities involved and the rituals of the members; a wry smile for those that always forgot to turn their cameras off when the talk started, and an admiration for the stalwarts of the club who arrived early, greeting every member by name and helping keep the meetings on time and in line.
I was probably never going to last too long without getting more involved in the club, I’m far too hands on for that. I soon was itching to meet people and get out and unleash my creativity. Covid, especially with an older membership, was always going to be difficult but soon I was contacting fellow members on our WhatsApp group. I met up with Peter Hayter for some trips in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire (joined by Twitter friends Scott and Leigh) and also met Tom Glanz and Bob Richards for street photography in Nottingham, and, in spring, Steve Sulley for some Bluebells. I particularly enjoyed these sessions, interacting, getting tips off people and comparing photographs after the sessions. It’s perhaps what I expected to see more of with a photography club if I’m honest, but I wonder how much Covid19 has interfered with that.
Competitions
Those who know me will know I love a leaderboard and I’ll be the first to say I’m competitive. What was hard, though, was having to put myself into a category for competitions; Intermediate or Advanced? I was surprised to get no guidance on this choice…I’d have loved to share some images with someone who could have guided me towards one or the other but, instead, the decision was left to me. I doubt I was ever going to decide on Advanced – it would take someone fairly confident to self-declare that they were Advanced in their first year at a club. My choice was helped because Paul, who takes much better photographs than me, was an Intermediate and so I settled with that.
My first competition was nerve wracking, dropping your images into a pool of unknown quality was tough. Was I going to shine out as an awkward pearl among a few people sharing some amateur shots, or was I going to be an embarrassing blemish on an otherwise sparkling night of photography? Thankfully, I was neither and my first night in the internal competition I was rewarded with a couple of second places and a score of 19 for two of my images. Ironically, my mono image, Morning Pier, was my best result of the season in the mono category, despite me learning lots more about mono over the course of the season.
I soon learned that the result wasn’t necessarily anything meaningful though. Judges, scoring, and feedback, are all tricky and subjective and garner a lot of opinions. It can be hard, after a competition you’ve done well in, hearing members talk about judges, and offering their opinions on how good they were or weren’t. Did I score well in a round because we had a “bad” judge? Would a “good” judge have done better and weeded out my bad images? It’s hard to be confident when everyone is passing judgement privately after sessions, and it’s no wonder many decide to pass on competitions altogether. That said I enjoyed competing and feel pleased with the results I achieved in my first year. I won a couple of “Best Of Rounds” and, when the winners are announced formally at our AGM, I’m hoping to see my name on a couple of trophies.
Perhaps more than results though, I have enjoyed hearing a judges feedback, and, even where I’ve disagreed, I’ve always tried to consider why judges have liked or disliked a photograph. I’ve learned that clubs, in general, have a “group-think” about good photography, and where judges have gone against the established norms I must admit to raising a wry smile and enjoying the fact that perhaps a little personality has leaked into the process (god forbid).
Competition Think
The hardest part of club photography has been getting involved in external competitions, and learning the dos and don’ts of competition photography. There’s certainly an art to getting a photography ready for a competition.
Clearly, some very basic skills to creating a decent image that can’t be missed, and learning that from judges and members is something I’ve enjoyed. Don’t leave highlights at the edge of the photograph, crop deliberately, detail is king, don’t leave unnecessary space…
But then I’ve observed other, less established “true-isms”. The photographs that do well in regional and national competitions all seem to be sport, or motorbikes, I’ve seen several photographs of Jet-Skis at the NEMPF presentation. They are amazing photographs, but perhaps the accepted subjects, the “group think” don’t cater as much for my tastes.
This last BPE, Robin Hood, an image from Padley Gorge gave me my first taste of acceptance into an exhibition. The temptation to conform and try and find images that fit the bill is high. I’d love to get more acceptances,but I’m keen to stick to what I like. How to do that, while still sticking to subjects and styles I enjoy, is hard. Especially with costs involved in entering BPEs and is something to consider as I find more competitions to enter. For now I continue to simply try a range of photography styles and see what I enjoy and where they fit in the judging.
Diversity of Thinking
I think my greatest pleasure this season has been seeing speakers who don’t necessarily conform. My favourite talks are from the photographers who have shunned competitions and simply take photographs they enjoy.
And, I must admit, I’ve derived greatest pleasure from interacting with fellow members who don’t necessarily just go for the BPE tick box. For example, Peter Bond https://www.peterbondphotography.uk/ takes amazing ICM shots, and has a creativity I can only dream of. His passion for creative shots has inspired me perhaps beyond anything else I’ve seen at NNPS. Incidentally, Peter has won an NNPS internal competition this year, and has had BPE success, and so isn’t ignored by judges but I do enjoy his different style.
It’s perhaps in this diverse approach that the gender split I mentioned earlier comes more into play. My time in NNPS has helped me notice a slightly more nuanced view of the gender split than when I first joined. The men are certainly more numerous, but the ladies are generally more active, on the committee and in competitions (relative to the population). Similarly, and perhaps I’m just biased, but there is more diversity among the female photographers in terms of style and lack of conformity. Clearly I’m generalising, but it’s an interesting generalisation. It’s one, given that the females are generally younger, that I think holds some interest for the future of the club.
Expertise
That said, there’s a wealth of experience at the club and, boy, these ladies and gents aren’t afraid to share it! The club regularly wins very prestigious competitions and we’re lucky to have some expert members, especially Andrea Hargreaves who seems to win everything. There are numerous occasions I’ve picked up the phone or dropped and email to members and been stunned by the response. Where I expected perhaps sentence or two I’ve had paragraphs or pages. Where I expected a 5 minute chat, I’ve had 30 minutes. To say people are welcoming is an understatement. I always say you get back what you put in and I’ve tried my best to help the club in return, but the expertise and advice I’ve had in return has been phenomenal.
Committees
My only wish is that we had more room to cultivate that experience as a club. Covid has changed photography clubs. The programme is overwhelmed by Zoom talks and competitions meaning that, as a group, we rarely get to meet each other and just chat about ourselves. On joining the NNPS committee (something I never expected but was happy to take on) that’s something we’re looking to solve, and so we’re looking to organise meets and “extra-curricular” club nights to actually discuss what we do as individuals. These types of nights are my favourite nights and its been great to help organise them.
As time has worn on this season I’ve found I’ve got more involved with the club and organising the in person club nights and attempting to help the club make hybrid evenings work across our hall and zoom. I didnt expect the challenge and stress that these evenings can bring. We’re very lucky in that we can have 50+ members on a club evening but having all eyes on you as you attempt to bring a small hall of people online, with limited bandwidth, and a tricky sound system and link up with a zoom audience isn’t easy. Thankfully Peter Hayter and chair, Tom Glanz, have led the way overcoming these challenges and provided lots of moral support and I think we’re getting there.
The Future
Next season we’ll have a new chairperson, Sue Woollard. I love working with Sue and I expect the club will go from strength to strength. I’m sure I’ll continue to be involved with the committee and help Sue where I can. My personal aims are:
- help increase the number of extra curricular club activities
- learn from other members and improve my photography on a personal level
- if possible build on the above and get more BPE acceptances
- not compromise on my own style and enjoyment of photography
In Conclusion
I’m not sure what I expected from Club membership. My first impressions were that it wasn’t for me. However, I’m pleased I’ve stuck with it. Club photography certainly isn’t the panacea for amateurs stuck in social media land, and definitely isn’t for everyone. As with everything though you get out what you put in, and I’m pleased to get involved and make some great friends to learn from. My photography has gone from strength to strength as a result of the continued input from talks and competitions and I can’t wait for next season.
