Internet Photography fora & land-based camera clubs

[Alex1994]

Is it me, or are both photography clubs and forums almost completely deaf and blind to analogue image capture? They have completely forgotten it, no-one uses it any more, and whenever the subject is brought up they all laugh and reminisce about the huge inconvenience and give remarks like 'well, now with digital we can do so much more' 'why would I use a darkroom, digital is too easy'.

It's shameful. And to think that I still can't locate a darkroom open for public use within 60 miles of Reading, UK. The camera clubs just say 'yeah, we dismantled it, no-one was using it'.

Meanwhile on the internet, discussions are all about Photoshop, HDR, Topiaz adjust, cloning, and all that digital crap. It just seems that whenever someone posts a photo there they are advised to do all kinds of crap to it in PS so that the resulting image just looks like an artificial load of rubbish. Just about everything looks oversharpened, overcontrasted, oversaturated (any combo of the three). Often when posting a film image you get a comment like 'could use some sharpening' or 'run it through noise reduction' - it's grain!

I think the sad reality is that APUG remains the only community where analog photographers can discuss and share their craft.

(rant mode off)

 

[Dan Henderson]

That's APUG: a safe harbor from the digital storm. Just be glad we have it and ignore the rest.

 

[Rick A]

And that, my friend, is why we are here. Next time you visit a "photo club" and they tell you they've dismantled the DR, ask them to give you anything left of it so you can have your own DR. How about posting in the local ads for like minded photogs with 'film' interests to join you for a pint (might meet some nice folks).

 

[Ricus.stormfire]

Oh I can relate to this so much, the local club here in Potchefstroom states clearly "members can submit 5 images (DIGITAL ONLY) per month" in the little leaflet thingy they leave at their member-exhibitions, that's why I've decided not to join them. I don't even want to know what nonsense they talk about there. I don't think scanning my prints (to get them "digitized", so that the club can project them) will do the prints ANY justice (well all my scans of prints look like poop in comparison to the original print). And they call themselves an "Art photographic club".

Internet forums, well the Internet has a bad habit of attracting trolls and other jerks, well, to be just that.
The whole anonimity of the web is a big factor, I quess...

That's why I came here...(and someone on Fickl err Flickr once said that "No-one APUG nobody likes digi cams and are mean, grumpy old luddites". That made feel better )

I second Rick's Idea above of placing an ad for like minded photographers in you're area (I did this once, but only got snotty, snide remarks back )


Ricus

 

[Terrence Brennan]

Slightly off topic, but most of those clubs are "camera clubs," as opposed to "photography clubs." I find that kind of interesting.

Here's an interesting link: http://www.fredsphoto.on.ca/camclub.htm

 

[debanddg]

Valid observations!

I can report the scenario in India -- E6 / B&W development done only in a handful of labs compared to thousands a few years back. Most of the film that I shoot have to mail ordered from abroad including the chemicals to process them.

However, the internet forums have helped largely in one respect - it has helped make new friends. Many of my photographer friends were once net-acquaintances, now they are family friends and we have our weekly outings and gatherings - not organised like in a traditional club but definitely the physical meetings end up as much more meaningful.

Regards,
Deb
-------------
http://www.flickr.com/photos/a_peek_in_my_world/
-------------

 

[Rick A]

Oh I can relate to this so much, the local club here in Potchefstroom states clearly "members can submit 5 images (DIGITAL ONLY) per month" in the little leaflet thingy they leave at their member-exhibitions, that's why I've decided not to join them. I don't even want to know what nonsense they talk about there. I don't think scanning my prints (to get them "digitized", so that the club can project them) will do the prints ANY justice (well all my scans of prints look like poop in comparison to the original print). And they call themselves an "Art photographic club".

Internet forums, well the Internet has a bad habit of attracting trolls and other jerks, well, to be just that.
The whole anonimity of the web is a big factor, I quess...

That's why I came here...(and someone on Fickl err Flickr once said that "No-one APUG nobody likes digi cams and are mean, grumpy old luddites". That made feel better )

I second Rick's Idea above of placing an ad for like minded photographers in you're area (I did this once, but only got snotty, snide remarks back )


Ricus

Maybe run the advert to search for "film camera collectors" to meet. Might make a good ruse to lure in some without the snide and rude remarks.

 

[hoffy]

Interesting. The club I am a member of has never had a problem with what you use to get the pictures. Yes, they do have digital comps, but they also have prints and slides (unfortunately, the slides are dwindling). I have told them, though, that the day they only do digital display is the day I hand in my membership.

I am also, though, thinking of trying to start a film based club. The other thing that I would introduce in such a club is "No Photo Contests". That is another side of photographic and camera clubs that is IMHO not right

 

[Ole]

... (and someone on Fickl err Flickr once said that "No-one APUG nobody likes digi cams and are mean, grumpy old luddites". That made feel better )...

Hey - I resemble that remark!!

My local club is a little bit different - while I'm the only one who shoots film, the others are appreciative of the difference and have no difficulties with looking at a silver gelatine print (or a 5x7" colour slide on a light box).

 

[R gould]

Jersey is much the same, I was considering joining the Jersey Photographic Club untill a member told me that my film and darkroom work could not possibly come up to the required club standard, and if I was any sort of photographer I would give away my film equipment and get digital, otherwis it simply was not worth their while allowing me to join, needless to say I did not join,I also hear on the grapevine that the local club has now got very low membership and struggles to recruit,Richard

 

[dbonamo]

Jersey is much the same, I was considering joining the Jersey Photographic Club untill a member told me that my film and darkroom work could not possibly come up to the required club standard, and if I was any sort of photographer I would give away my film equipment and get digital, otherwis it simply was not worth their while allowing me to join, needless to say I did not join,I also hear on the grapevine that the local club has now got very low membership and struggles to recruit,Richard

With such an arrogant attitude no wonder there struggling to recruit!!!

 

[hoffy]

Required standard? Who do they think they are? Arena?

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I remember there were small camera shops where you bought cameras and supplies, now you go to these big box electronics stores to buy your digicam next to washers and dryers.

Jeff

 

[bsdunek]

My Wife and I belong to a fine art association. All mediums are represented, although I'm the only film photographer. No one cares what the medium is, other than passing interest. We bring work at each meeting, which has to be able to be displayed = no projection or laptops are used. The discussion is about the ART, not what kind of camera, brushes or whatever is used. Everyone is very upbeat; any criticism is constructive and helpful. It's really refreshing.
Maybe this would be a thought for you.

 

[yeknom02]

Fortunately, my local camera group is open to everything from HDR to any type of film camera. I even got one person to put down the 5D one week and pick up an old-school Minolta SRT-something. I've also taken a page from that philosophy and been pretty accepting of digital - it's just not for me. Then again, I'm still in my mid-twenties.

There is a local photo club that's more competition- and contest-based. I don't know how welcoming they are of film.

 

[Steve Smith]

I was considering joining the Jersey Photographic Club untill a member told me that my film and darkroom work could not possibly come up to the required club standard

That's hilarious. What do they think was used for most of the best* photographs ever made?


Steve.

 

[bblhed]

Isn't the internet a digital medium so technically this is digital photography (ducks before stones hit).

Anyway, I had gone digital for some time mostly for convince, but I'm back now so it's ok now. What I learned from going from film to digital is that my camera skills were alright, but my photo storage system was lacking at best. Digital taught me how to store photos so I could find them later. I still use digital for vacation snaps, and learning, I can do hundreds of digital photos while learning how to get a particular shot, then go take the shot on film with confidence, and without annoying others by taking 30+ frames to get one photo. Digital is also a lot easier to share. Aside from storage of photos the biggest lesson I learned is that weather Digital or Film everything you learned about how to frame and capture an image at the focal plane of the camera, and how to present it in a hard copy format is the same just the media and transfer methods

Film on the other hand is so much nicer to use, you can pick the film you want to shoot for the image it tends to produce, you don't have to rely on the camera sensor reproducing something that you have to rework in whatever software to achieve the desired result. With digital about all you can do with the camera is add filters. While both film and digital are capable of producing very similar final results, the road to that result at least for me is a lot longer with digital. The point of photography for me is to capture the image as I view it in my minds eye, film does that for me in a shoot, process, print workflow with maybe some fix adjustment. Digital does it in a shoot, look at, tweak with software, realize I screwed up, re-tweak, print, realize the color of the monitor is off, reprint kind of way. Film is a tool to produce art, digital is a tool to document reality, they both can do the job of the other, it's just more work that way.

Maybe when they figure this out they will become more welcoming to film and all it can do without Photoshop or whatever else they are using on their photos.

 

[benjiboy]

I remember there were small camera shops where you bought cameras and supplies, now you go to these big box electronics stores to buy your digicam next to washers and dryers.

Jeff

That's right Jeff, cameras have become an electrical and computer accessory, and just as disposable.

 

[M.A.Longmore]

When I gave up on the Digital thing, I was interested in joining a camera club.
My schedule didn't allow me to make any meetings.
Luckily I found APUG, there are a lot of scheduled events posted, but still
haven't been able to participate. Unfortunately, after being whipped at work
all week, I am lacking the energy to throw the 4X5 Box in the trunk, and drive
three hours to get to a location.
So, I set up the Long Island @ Large Format Group, right here on APUG.
For Islanders using LF, and even MF.
We Are Now Three Strong, On The Island Of Long !
I Consider Long Island, to extend from the beginning of Brooklyn to the very end of Montauk. Not from the Nassau County line and points East. So No Excuses.
Join The Group, and send me a PM. Lets shoot some sheets, and shoot the breeze !

From Ron The Long Island Of New York, and

Long Island @ Large Format, APUG Group
.

 

[MattKing]

For the last year or so I've been involved with a local photo club, and it has been a pretty good experience. For one thing, I've been able to learn a fair bit about the digital side of things, without having to actually use it myself.

Primarily though, the benefit has come from the fact that there are a good number of people there who take interesting photos. There are 80+ members, and some of them have been members since before digital.

There is at least one "print" night per month, and while there may not be any others there who are submitting darkroom prints, at least most of the other prints are done on (colour) photographic paper, by commercial printers.

I just filter out most of the digital tech-speak, and enjoy the discussions about light and locations.

They are mostly very good people, who have the same sort of enthusiasm for photography as I do.

It occurs to me that one of the ways that people might evaluate these clubs is to determine how often they look at prints.

 

[tlitody]

Is it me, or are both photography clubs and forums almost completely deaf and blind to analogue image capture? They have completely forgotten it, no-one uses it any more, and whenever the subject is brought up they all laugh and reminisce about the huge inconvenience and give remarks like 'well, now with digital we can do so much more' 'why would I use a darkroom, digital is too easy'.

It's shameful. And to think that I still can't locate a darkroom open for public use within 60 miles of Reading, UK. The camera clubs just say 'yeah, we dismantled it, no-one was using it'.

Meanwhile on the internet, discussions are all about Photoshop, HDR, Topiaz adjust, cloning, and all that digital crap. It just seems that whenever someone posts a photo there they are advised to do all kinds of crap to it in PS so that the resulting image just looks like an artificial load of rubbish. Just about everything looks oversharpened, overcontrasted, oversaturated (any combo of the three). Often when posting a film image you get a comment like 'could use some sharpening' or 'run it through noise reduction' - it's grain!

I think the sad reality is that APUG remains the only community where analog photographers can discuss and share their craft.

(rant mode off)

I don't think you've looked very hard cos the ilford site lists 17 within 60 miles of reading the nearest being Kingsclere which appears to have a darkroom for its members use.

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

I remember there were small camera shops where you bought cameras and supplies, now you go to these big box electronics stores to buy your digicam next to washers and dryers.

Jeff

Not in Indiana. We have a VERY nice camera store here in Fort Wayne, a midsize city of 250,000. The store sells a good selection of film, paper and chemicals for us film users while also stocking the latest digital stuff including the high end professional bodies and lenses that the big boxes do not carry. They don't carry any new film cameras, but thats ok, as they have a good used dept and they carry a lot of new lenses that work on film or digital.

There is an even nicer camera store in the relatively small town of Muncie, Indiana (60,000 people) and a very nice one in Indianapolis too. All three stores I have mentioned are doing well and still selling film and chemicals.

 

[Bullseye]

To be honest with you, I find that the colours are so much more realistic with film than with digital, I use digital also but.. I still find that film is by far the superior medium!

As many of you may know I'm now getting set up with my DR stuff, but I've had people nagging me saying things like... 'why don't you take your negs to the chemist to be printed'

Some people just miss the whole point of printing your own stuff, in my eyes, I can get the image to be what I want it to be rather than leaving it to the whim of someone else!


The way I see it, digital still have a long way to go to beat film! JMO!

 

[paul_c5x4]

None of the highstreet chemists will dev & print 120, and if you want anything larger processed, it isn't going to happen in Norfolk.

Perhaps you should hang out with the mid-Norfolk Film Users

 

[tlitody]

ilford lab will dev and print 120 onto silver gelatin paper. Not the cheapest but what do you expect, it is a small nich market compared to colour.