Photo club, O photo club...
March 10, 2006 1:12 PM Subscribe
A few friends and I are kicking around starting a photo club, both to keep us shooting as well as to help each other with critiques and whatnot.
I proposed it recently, and have been thinking along the usual lines..."shoot metallic," "photo an hour for a day," "blue," etc. Yes, pretty dull. Anyone have any fantastic ideas, websites, resources? A quickie web search turned up pretty much the same stuff.
I proposed it recently, and have been thinking along the usual lines..."shoot metallic," "photo an hour for a day," "blue," etc. Yes, pretty dull. Anyone have any fantastic ideas, websites, resources? A quickie web search turned up pretty much the same stuff.
I don't have experience with photo clubs, but I have taken a number of community college classes, and our weekly assignments were often the type you're describing. An instructor might tell us to photograph trees, or to photograph the rain, or to do multiple exposures. These were fun after a fashion, but what was more fun were group field trips. It was a blast when a few of us got together (or the entire class) and headed downtown to all photograph the same thing, or went to the train station together, or whatever. We were less self-conscious when we were in a group, felt more freedom to photograph other people, for example (which is a huge barrier for most amateurs), even if our "support" was all the way at the other end of the block. One of my favorite episodes occurred on an organized class field trip: we stopped in front of an antique store, and we all spent about ten minutes taking photos through the window. It was amazing how everyone got such different images from the same spot.
posted by jdroth at 2:22 PM on March 10, 2006
posted by jdroth at 2:22 PM on March 10, 2006
Photo essays are probably a better test of talent. Either pick a topic or have a 10 image limit to cover a subject in-depth. Use the masters of the essay for inspiration by checking NPPA annuals or World Press annuals. You are obviously in a great location for opportunities.
Or try to all go out together and try to capture the spirit of a place. Maybe pool some money together and hire a model for an afternoon and shoot him/her someplace in the city.
The whole point of having some sort of competitive spirit is to improve your photography to pro levels or at least to a higher level. So you have to play as a pro and try have typical assignments they may have, whether it be as photojournalism, fashion, or art.
posted by JJ86 at 2:31 PM on March 10, 2006
Or try to all go out together and try to capture the spirit of a place. Maybe pool some money together and hire a model for an afternoon and shoot him/her someplace in the city.
The whole point of having some sort of competitive spirit is to improve your photography to pro levels or at least to a higher level. So you have to play as a pro and try have typical assignments they may have, whether it be as photojournalism, fashion, or art.
posted by JJ86 at 2:31 PM on March 10, 2006
Game and critique groups aplenty on Flickr. If a local Meetup exists, you and your friend should be able to find some more members for your club there.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 2:55 PM on March 10, 2006
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 2:55 PM on March 10, 2006
Look no further than DP Challenge. Have your friends join up too, participate in the challenges, and the person from your group with the lowest score buys the beers.
posted by BruceL at 2:59 PM on March 10, 2006
posted by BruceL at 2:59 PM on March 10, 2006
I'm going to third the photo essay idea. Not only is it a better showcase of talent, it's a lot more interesting to look at.
posted by jedrek at 6:06 PM on March 10, 2006
posted by jedrek at 6:06 PM on March 10, 2006
to help each other with critiques
in this line - it can be really interesting to pursue an assignment in the style of one of the other people in your group. It's amazing how two people can be in the same place at the same time and end up with such different perspectives on the same event. Take advantage of that, and use it to learn more about what they are doing and what you are doing...
posted by whatzit at 4:10 PM on March 11, 2006
in this line - it can be really interesting to pursue an assignment in the style of one of the other people in your group. It's amazing how two people can be in the same place at the same time and end up with such different perspectives on the same event. Take advantage of that, and use it to learn more about what they are doing and what you are doing...
posted by whatzit at 4:10 PM on March 11, 2006
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If you really don't know what to shoot, go to the library and look at photographs until you see some that make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. Inspiration will follow.
If you REALLY want exercises, let me suggest three. The first three are my own, the last is adapted from Charlie Harbutt.
1. Go downtown and pretend that you have been given complete permission to take any pictures you want of anyone you want. (Obviously use discretion to avoid getting beaten up). Act like a professional and if anyone asks you what you're doing, tell them "I'm a photographer".
2. Photograph your neighbourhood in the most boring way possible. Do not try to make interesting pictures. Try to make the least interesting pictures you can, answering the question "what does this place really look like?". Avoid composition like the plague.
3. Photograph the same street corner for a month. (I did the same street for a year).
4. Tonight you will be abducted by aliens and removed from planet earth forever. You are allowed to take one hundred pictures with you. You have to take them this afternoon.
Good places to hang out:
Streetphoto
Utata
posted by unSane at 1:28 PM on March 10, 2006