Join photo club....?

I was trying to think of other ways to branch out in my photos and thought of a photo club.

Well, I finally found one (not going to mention it). It was the only one in the area. (at least one that had a website)

Problem is.... I took a tour of the member websites and.... *sigh*... Only 1 person of the 15 or so members was any good.

So, now the conundrum...

Do I join a photo club I know is not really going to help me advance my skills... or do I go and ________ (fill in the blank)?

~Eric

[BryanC]

Sure why not.

[BabetteKD]

I'd join the club anyways. The quality of the other photographers doesn't reflect on your own work. Each person learns at their own pace, just like school. Even if you don't learn anything from the class, you can still have fun traveling with other photographers, gain some ideas or teach your own to the group.

[Big Nick]

Just join it, the worst thing that can come of it is you quit because your not going to gain anything from it and you don't care for the people. If you like the people then at least you gained someone to shoot with.

[vandergus]

I imagine that photography clubs are more about creating a social activity around the hobby you enjoy rather than really improving your skills or developing your vision. You know, like flickr, but with real people.

[Jim Bryant]

What's good about joining clubs is that, it helps you measure up to your peers. If you are more experienced, then the others will ask you questions that you might or might not have the answers too and forces you to get off butt to research and learn. Besides.....it might be fun for awhile to go out on shoots with somebody else for a change. It's all about learning, growing and practicing.

Originally Posted by BabetteKD

I'd join the club anyways. The quality of the other photographers doesn't reflect on your own work. Each person learns at their own pace, just like school. Even if you don't learn anything from the class, you can still have fun traveling with other photographers, gain some ideas or teach your own to the group.

It's not a class... it's a club... is different.

Originally Posted by BryanC

Sure why not.

With that logic I can't go wrong!

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

What's good about joining clubs is that, it helps you measure up to your peers. If you are more experienced, then the others will ask you questions that you might or might not have the answers too and forces you to get off butt to research and learn. Besides.....it might be fun for awhile to go out on shoots with somebody else for a change. It's all about learning, growing and practicing.

This is a good point. thought about that as well... Get me away from just shooting the same junk over again for grip fulls of cash.

[beatles2]

I joined one in Calgary about a year ago like you were saying most had no idea how to hold a camera, But I went one night and ran into a member I never met The man is good. Some his Glam. shoots could be in Elle mag. Hey it's all give and take.

Join.

I'm in a couple formal and informal groups. Wanna know how I started into speed photography? Someone in my informal group mentioned "sound trigger", and 1 year later I have hundreds of those photos.

They also arrange a lot of shoots, which is great experience. This week we're shooting macros, which doesn't interest me a whole lot, but I figured I'd learn something...or get inspiration for another shoot. Next month we're going to get a few models and do some in-door portrait shoots...lots of stuff to learn there about lighting and posing.

A lot of photographers are good in specific areas, and it's good to learn for each of their strong points. Plus, networking can go a long way in getting you some paid gigs. In fact, I'm shooting a wedding 3 weeks with a photographer I met in one of my clubs.

[AndCity]

I'd recommend you join. If they are as pants as you say, you'll learn more by their mistakes and just think, further down the line, once you have got to know them, how much you will learn by offering advice to them. ie they might say 'how did you take that?' you will answer and they will reply 'but...' This will then push you further than you went with the original answer.

Plus there is the social side as well...