Why no interest?

[cosmicma]

a couple of places/forums you could try are..

the digital darkroom
http://www.digi-darkroom.com/

this forum is for like minded people who post their ideas and photo's and i garauntee you will recieve critique from some of the friendliest people i have "virtually" met

another is called canon fodder forums ( CFF ) which is a dedicated canon forum but is not affiliated to canon in any way i think you will find the forum is right up your street with members from your neck of the woods
http://www.canon-fodder-forums.com/content/

have a look around the forums and make your own mind up i think they might be just what your looking for

[Data_Dog]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions guys. I do like the sound of a local camera club and don't get me wrong, there are some around but they don't look particularly inviting. Maybe when I get chatting to some other togs at local events etc, we could look at setting up another group.

I'm off to check ot some of the links you've all provided now. I'll be back!

On a side note, I've added a picture to my gallery of a Highland Cow. One original and one with the reds pushed a bit. If you would like to have a look and leave a comment then it'd be appreciated.

Thanks again!

[ABERS]

Originally Posted by GeoffWessex;16784
[B

Abers[/B] is right to point out those two - but the RPS Scottish Region is, like most of the RPS's regional websites, not the best place to find critique or advice and the 'scotlandinter.net/photography" site doesn't give much help either.

Both sites are useful in their own ways but you're not going to improve your photography with them except just comparing your own work and seeing what 'the competition' is doing.

D&B.

I put those links up to show where there is a possibility of personal contact to discuss photography and find perhaps a one-to-one connection.

The S.E. RPS group have a fairly busy programme where photographers meet up and have the opportunity to discuss their work, I'm not too sure about the Scottish region having the same facility, but asking won't be too arduous.

The Scottish Club link will allow you to see where the nearest club to you is. I'm a member of a fairly large club that caters for all levels of photography and photographers and has sections for beginners, intermediate and advanced workers (whatever that means!), with 95% of the members using digital. In a club there is always help to be found for the vast majority of difficulties you encounter.

Judges are to be avoided at all costs, they will turn you into a 'club photographer', you should aspire to be a photographer in your own right, one that just happens to belong to a club!

Good luck!

[Oly Paul]

Originally Posted by ABERS

Judges are to be avoided at all costs, they will turn you into a 'club photographer', you should aspire to be a photographer in your own right, one that just happens to belong to a club!

Good luck!

Love that Abers!

Do you mind if I quote you at my next clubs competition as I love winding judges up.

[ABERS]

Be my guest Paul. SPREAD THE WORD!

[highlandscenics]

Originally Posted by GeoffWessex

I was going to suggest that DataDog could consider joining the local photo club to get feedback and critique.... until I noticed his/her location

LMAO The Highlands aint a barren wilderness with us all living on crofts...we got towns too

The town where I live, way up here in the Highlands, has a camera club, but its run by dusty old duffers who probably think digital is "witch craft and dark magic".....lol

[GeoffWessex]

No offence, highlandscenics....... but when DataDog gives 'Highlands of Scotland' as a location, large towns don't come to mind. So then when we discuss places for critique, it more or less has to be something online. ABERS - I think the RPS is wonderful organisation but most of the regional groups are really pretty low-profile and, even when they organise events, you'd have to consider the distances required to travel. In North America (US and Canada) there are two regions, Atlantic and Pacific, which is at least something, but if you look at their websites they are very localised on New York and San Francisco.... and there's not much happening outside those locations.

Club Competition Judges...... going by my experiences here in Canada I think that's about half right. However, if you want to improve matters and have an influence on the experience, quality and opinions of the judges in a club competition, you have to stick your head above the parapet and get into a position in a club where you can make a difference...... otherwise nothing changes. But then, what's the important thing that you want from your judges? Obviously you want to get some results for ongoing scores etc, but I'm trying to change my club's competitions to make sure that our newer members have decent critique and encouragement while, at the same time, the top images are discussed at length to reveal a few quality techniques and interpretations. (This, needless to say, has entailed a lot of changes in the judging personnel - if they don't give sensible, constructive critique (without 'putting down' the newer members) they don't get invited back!

[ABERS]

If you have a competitions you need judges, I'm afraid they become a necessary evil!

Our club has its annual/monthly competitions split into two. One section for beginners and one for those 'advanced workers' that I mentioned earlier. Advanced workers are those that have been past winners and those that have an ARPS or FRPS distinction.

Visiting judges are aware of this and hopefully slant their comments accordingly. This allows the newcomers, both to the club and photography in general the opportunity to have their work judged alongside workers of the same level of expertise, and to see what can be achieved by looking and hearing comments on those that have made progress in their photographic endeavours.

The competitive element is a spur to many members and focusses their activity, unfortunately just into getting that top mark of 10 or 10*, it doesn't seem to spur them into looking fot that 12/13/14.... etc.

It's strange that photographic clubs have that aura of fuddy-duddyness about them. Is it because photographic expertise comes with experience and that usually comes with age? And members don't understand the language of the 'bright' young things that speak in a strange language using words like tog, glass, blad and any photograph that has some merit is described using expressions like 'WOW', brilliant etc. with no reasons given as to why it should be given those descriptions. (See what few comments are made on this site).

[highlandscenics]

haha...none taken Geoff....it just made me chuckle You are right though "Highlands of Scotland" can be taken as anywhere and there are some really wilderness places with only a few houses...especially up in the North West of the area.

I had a look a Datadogs gallery and one is of the "Newton Hotel" in Nairn...situated 16 miles East of Inverness (the Highland Capital which has a population of around 65000).

Although there are the odd camera clubs around, they dont really advertise for members or dont seem to be very clear on how to go about joining, plus the one where I live doesn't look very inviting. Its above a shop and has "Camera Club" in blue lettering stuck to some dusty looking windows...and there's never any lights on...maybe it got closed down, but then I dont think anyone knew it existed.

Its seems PR, advertising and a lack of finding new ways to attract members are the main cause of some clubs going to the wall....

[GeoffWessex]

I think there's some truth in the comment above... "Is it because photographic expertise comes with experience and that usually comes with age?". There are, of course, some fantastic young photographers around but, unless they've managed to get into photography as a career, it can take a back seat for financial and job reasons.... then they settle down, get married perhaps, and the photography bug gets them again, only to be snatched out of their hands when kids come along and all the pictures taken are of the baby/kids (and the darkroom's been taken over as a bedroom). Then, later on, people take up the camera again, for their own interests, join a club maybe.... by which time they're pushing 40.... another ten years to get competent and confident enough to give advice to others..... before you know it, they're the old codgers of the club!

Er, like me, really.

Oddly, though, I'm far from the oldest member of my club - and nobody in the membership (of about 65) actively uses film any more..... even if they don't know an f-stop from a doorstop.