Our Background and Objectives


The Practical Camera Club was formed by a small group of local enthusiasts to provide mutual support in developing knowledge and skills in their chosen hobby.

Today, although technology has moved on, the aims of the club remain the same.

Before browsing the site the information below may give you an overview of how we operate

Our Mission Statement

The The Practical Camera Club (of Southampton) is a club that is uniquely focused on helping its’ members develop the skills that they require to enjoy their hobby through practical meetings that focus on hands on learning in a friendly and inclusive environment 

Objectives:

-Through weekly meetings provide facilities and skills for the members, as a group or on a one-on-one basis, to develop the skills that they require to enjoy their hobby

-Provide a program of evenings and events that are driven by the needs and wishes of the members.

-Provide professional advice to members on the selection and use of digital equipment and software including cameras, photo printers and personal computer equipment.

-Provide equipment that would normally be beyond that justifiable by an individual.

-Provide high quality interactive skills workshops on the use of Photoshop and similar software for image enhancement and old print restoration.

-Provide practical workshops on taking photographs of a wide range of subjects and lighting situations.

-Hold occasional field trips to allow members to practice their capabilities and to get experience in new situations.

-Hold internal competitions that are judged and analysed by the club members as a peer activity.

-Provide a one month ‘try us for free’ for potential new members.

-Maintain a club website for provision of information to members and potential members.

-Provide the occasional social activity for members and friends to enjoy one another’s company. 

Typical activities that support achieving our objectives are, but not restricted to:

-Studio evenings   These are held to allow members to try portraiture, object recording, close ups, table tops etc. We have both a comprehensive studio flash system and a continuous lighting set up and various backgrounds and other studio support equipment.

These evenings allow for the understanding of lighting and how it can be used. We hold studio evenings for the taking of individual portraits and groups of family members and friends. If any member has a specific wish to use the studio for another different purpose we will support that activity.

We have the ability to display the images as they are being shot using an overhead digital projector and screen. This allows all the members present  to evaluate the images, lighting and posing as it happens.

-Photoshop workshops   These workshops are held based on the needs of the members and can vary from very basic operations through to advanced techniques. We are privileged to have a country leading exponent of Photoshop in the club.

If required, we can run beginners classes and more advanced classes in parallel.

We believe this approach provides significantly better value to the individual than attending adult classes with fixed courses.

-Camera Usage  The use of camera settings and how to take better photographs by controlling your camera is inherent in all that we do but specific aspects of the camera’s operation and controls are also covered.

We also believe there isn’t a correct camera just cameras with different limitations that may or may not be a problem for the user. We can help with how to manage those limitations and sometimes how to by-pass the limitations.

-Field trips   These are local trips taken by the club (normally taken on a club evening sharing transport) that are aimed at stretching, a little, the members ability to take photographs of slightly abnormal subjects and/or conditions. These have included Old Southampton at dusk, Romsey at night, various parts of the New Forest, Ocean Village, inside Southampton’s Red Lion Pub, The Hawk conservatory, Gatwick Aircraft Museum, The ancient vaults of Southampton etc.

-Competitions and Picture Evaluations   The club holds three different competitions in each of the first 3 quarters of the year. The competitions are:

-Monochrome Prints
-Colour Prints
-Projected digital image

For each individual competition each member can enter up to 3 images. Entry is voluntary but we ask everyone present on the night of the judging to take part in the scoring process

It is the belief of the club that looking at other people’s pictures and analysing them is a way of teaching people to analyse their own pictures both after and before taking them. To this end the club has an occasional evening critiquing photographs that have been published by non-members. This is complemented by our internal competitions where each member of the club gets the opportunity to score each entry (except their own). After the scoring is completed the scores are averaged and the club discusses the merits of all the entries.

No prizes are awarded apart from peer recognition

-Social Evenings     We hold several social evenings each year that may include BBQ’s, Cheese and Wine, Dinners, Skittles and Ten-Pin-Bowling.

-Service to Others       The club will take on photographic work for other organisations and individuals. Although we are not professionals our aim is to produce services to those high standards in a professional manner. The work can vary from individual or family portraits to school proms to sports events and functions. The club works on a cost recovery or cost+ to help with club funds.                                                                       

In certain circumstances (usually when the club is trying something new to develop skills) We will provide a portfolio of photographs to the subject at no cost.

-The Club Website is a window to the heart of the clubs activities. It is maintained to provide the latest information to the membership, the public and anyone showing an interest in the club's activities. Here the current program can be found along with breaking news and a changing gallery of member’s photos.