Why's and Wherefore's?

[Cathus]

We don't have any restrictions and everyone enters whatever their experience.

Our vice-president joined the club in a neighbouring town, ostensibly to get ideas & see how they did things, they have a beginners class into which he was promptly put. Not sure how they arrived at that conclusion unless it was based on sexism - they had him down as Denise instead of Denis!

[AndyStevens]

For my recent exhibition, I put brief notes about the image - more a caption really. Like mentioning that a lot of people ask me how I got a particular sky colour but the reality was this is what the sky looks like 45 mins before sunrise. Or how one particular image was taken as a result of my wife being away in Moscow and I couldn't sleep so I got up and took some photos (and that one is still my best seller). This approach seemed to engage with the public/viewers and even became discussion points amongst groups of viewers.

This exhibition was also my first public showing of B&W images having invested in Silver Efex Pro. I was pleasantly surprised that B&W sold as well as colour - and even more pleased that those I shot with B&W in mind were the best sellers. My audience was 99% Joe Public which was even more pleasing.

So, my findings would be;

A whimsical few words made people stop and look for a while (as against an explanation of the image).

Pastel coloured landscapes sell well.

High contrast B&W sell well.

Work that out

Interesting what you say about clubs too. I've though about it before but think I may actually take the plunge in September. I would now but they're about to break for the summer so will wait until they're back so I get a full season. I'd be interested to see how I get categorised (if I do). Not saying I think I'm great, kore I'm just interested what they would think as most have letters after their names and I don't (can't afford RPS membership etc).

Cheers
Andy

[GeoffWessex]

Andy
Good idea with the accompanying words to an image.... that's something we could ask for with our next exhibition. Location, time of day and anything else interesting (but not the exif!). I'm pleased to hear the B&W sell well - I keep trying to get the club members to try more of it.... so maybe we could have a B&W corner at the next exhibition..... whether I could ask for all prints to be the same size, in the same white matting and black frame remains to be seen!

ABERS
I think if we ever had 'Divisions' in the club I wouldn't see any harm in asking all members, new or existing, to decide for themselves which division they think they should be in ..... but to give a few recommendations!

Anyway, before last night's AGM I'd been giving it more thought and came to the conclusion that divisions may only work well if a club has a couple of extra rooms available (at no extra cost) so the groups would meet together, do their own things and then re-group later in the meeting. Having different nights seems to risk literally carving the club into two or three sections. I aired both the suggestion and my misgivings about it last night and everybody seems to agree.

What I'm very pleased to have got the members' support for is extra meetings - almost double the number in a season - so we can try to fulfill more of the photographic requirements and wishes of the 80 regular members. While I was on a roll, I got them to agree to start each meeting half an hour earlier. They're fanatical!

[ABERS]

Originally Posted by AndyStevens

High contrast B&W sell well.

Interesting what you say about clubs too. I've though about it before but think I may actually take the plunge in September. I would now but they're about to break for the summer so will wait until they're back so I get a full season. I'd be interested to see how I get categorised (if I do). Not saying I think I'm great, kore I'm just interested what they would think as most have letters after their names and I don't (can't afford RPS membership etc).

Cheers
Andy

I seem to have given the impression that there are divisions within the club that people are dragooned into, and that's not the case. It's just that in order to encourage the newcomers/beginners to enter into the monthly and annual competitions, or just show their work, there is a section for them. If they choose not to enter in that category they can enter wherever they like. Our annual exhibition is not categorised or selected in any way, everyone is invited to participate, and experienced and not so experienced photographers have panels side by side.

All club members are photographers and none are categorised in any shape or form.

As far as members with letters after their name are concerned it is more of a handicap than an accolade. You would expect a low handicap golfer to play to his handicap, so those with an RPS distinction are expected to produce work all the time that reflects that distinction.

You are only as good as your next picture!

True the RPS subscription is a bit on the pricey side, but a couple of extra print sales should cover that.

[AndyStevens]

Hi ABERS, don't worry, you're not giving wrong impressions about clubs - it's something that's been in my mind since I went to join a club years ago and was asked to present a portfolio before my application was considered. I kind of got sneered at as I only had an entry level 35mm SLR and no really large prints - not very welcoming shall I say. The club I'm thinking of have a decent reputation though - only one way to find out really

Cheers
Andy

[AndyStevens]

And Geoff, yes, same frames and mounts looks fantastic - find a framing company that will give a good discount for bulk purchases - that's what I did and got trade prices for 20 frames/mounts.

Cheers
Andy

[dan123]

This is a Great disscusion... nice to see how clubs operate, i went to my local club once and havent been back since, thats how good it is, some people were nice and friendly and others not, if i get round to it i might go in on the next season,

dan

[Cathus]

dan,

I had a not dissimilar experience, not that people weren't friendly, though I still don't know everyone's name yet, it was just that 95% of the members were retired & I'm sure some are founder members when the club formed 90 years ago, i.e. not very forward thinking.

After the first year few months I thought the best way to change things was from the inside, so I became the secretary at the AGM, now I have a say in changing things, we are attracting younger members & have changed the programme from the old stuffy competitions & slideshow talks on tape.

[karenoliver]

Originally Posted by AndyStevens

Interesting what you say about clubs too. I've though about it before but think I may actually take the plunge in September. I would now but they're about to break for the summer so will wait until they're back so I get a full season. I'd be interested to see how I get categorised (if I do). Not saying I think I'm great, kore I'm just interested what they would think as most have letters after their names and I don't (can't afford RPS membership etc).

Cheers
Andy

Just been looking at the RPS page and I can obtain the licentiateship without having to submit any images because of my previous photography studies. The fee is expensive however and I am just wondering would it be worth my while?

Karen

[dan123]

Yeah a few did, like the people who run it, but jsut annoying when i made the effort to try to talk to others and snubbed, but ill probly be joining in the new season, oh and dont wanna offend anyone but i was the youngest by around 40 years there too, felt a bit out of place, but ill see what i can do in the compos, thatl solve it,

dan