Get Together

[lizardman]

I decided that I should join a local camera club so that I could meet fellow photographers and go on trips to new and exciting places, it would be a new found source of inspiration.

Except my local camera has quite literally closed its doors to new members as their venue is full to capacity already. Also, none of the clubs seem to be providing trips anywhere, it's all about sitting in some dusty village church and having little competitions with each other - which is fine, but it's not what I'm after.

So I'm wondering if DP can save the day and become a place for arranging days where like minded people can meet up, go somewhere interesting and take some photos, possibly share a beer or two afterwards

I know it's cold outside, but even something like a steam museum could provide inspiration. If you wrap up warm there's plenty of zoos open and there's less crowds - surely there's good pictures to be had any time of year?

So, who's with me? Let's get together and take some pictures! And have a beer or two afterwards of course.

[RedEyes©]

Hi,

i am sure if you post up with a potential location and ask if there is any interest it might start the ball rolling. Telling people who and where you are is a good start and any ideas of locations and what kind of photography you are into, then see what happens from there.

rgds
Dave

[lizardman]

Well for a start I just wanted to see if anyone was listening and into the idea generally. I'm sure there are lots of people all over the country and even world who would like to meet up!

But here we go...I live in Brighton, East Sussex, UK. I'll photograph pretty much anything, but I guess my favourite is wildlife - anything from insects to elephants.

[RedEyes©]

Hi,

welcome to the forum anyway. Wildlife not really my thing, but there is a wildlife centre in Kent that many people recommend, it might be worth a visit for a day out if you can find a few people that want to attend

rgds
Dave

[TPilgrim]

Im moving back down to crawley in the summer and i love wildlife photography!
So i would be up for meeting up with people if anything happens, but im finishing of my final year at uni at the moment so not available for the next few months

[nicolas orillard]

hi!
Welcome to the forum Lizardman!
I'll be in Brighton on saturday afternoon(the 6th feb) and sunday, i'm coming all way long from Munich. I lived in Brighton few years ago but never had the chance to shoot beautiful Brighton(and Hove:-)) as I didn't have a camera in this time...

I will be shooting between the piers and probably in the city, I know it is not wildlife... but the old Pier with a "cloud" of birds could make your day !
If you fancy shooting with me on this week end, let me know and we could have a beer as weel after

Cheers!
Nicolas

[nicolas orillard]

oh and did you look at spectrumphotography? they 're in Brighton and probably have a lot of contact as they're printing and working with photo student from Brighton.
rgds,
Nicolas

[lizardman]

Thanks for all the warm welcomes and all the replies!

Firstly a bit off-topic - RedEyes, I like your work, what software do you use for HDR, Photomatix?

Tom, a great place to go is the British Wildlife Centre in Surrey, they even do special "behind the fences" days for photographers. By the way, I was in Africa in October, in fact we did very similar trips judging by your photos. I loved Sossusvlei, one of my favourites places on the planet.

Nicholas, I think I've photographed every inch of Brighton in every weather - but I don't have any plans and I would love to meet up with you for the day. Let's sort something out. Oh and I did a quick Google for spectrum, but there's lots of different organisations, do you have a website address for them?

Jason.

[nicolas orillard]

Hi Jason,
link for spectrum is http://www.spectrumphoto.co.uk/
I have no idea if they can help you find what you want, but better to try...and they produce high quality prints as well;-)

For the week end I send you a message directly so i can write a bit more info.

Nick

[TPilgrim]

ahh yes, i just flicked through your flickr pages it looks like we did a very similar route just a few months different. i didnt get to see the top of table mountain though i was in cape town for 4 days and it rained all the time (its a good reason to go back!)
I have driven past the wildlife centre a few times but not stopped yet, i will have to check them out when i move back.

[RedEyes©]

Thanks for all the warm welcomes and all the replies!

Firstly a bit off-topic - RedEyes, I like your work, what software do you use for HDR, Photomatix?



Jason.

Hi Jason,

yes primarily Photomatix, but on occassion Dynamic photo as it can give a different feel to a shot. I have moved away from HDR now and am starting to move into portraiture, which goes down like a lead ballon on here

rgds
Dave

[lizardman]

For a lot of people HDR seems to be a novelty phase that you have to go through, few people stick with it for long. I think it's a useful tool (if it's subtle) for situations where the dynamic range of the scene exceeds that of the camera. I think people go a bit hyper-real mad and use it on every shot, whether it needs it or not. Just my opinion!

I hardly ever take pictures of people (except at parties for the blackmail value! ) and working somewhere like Olan Mills would be my idea of photography hell. However, i do admire really good portraits that capture the character, rather than just flatter the subject.

[RedEyes©]

I agree Jason, people that start out really do ramp up the settings with HDR and i think thats why a lot of the purists hate it. Most people however over time do tone it down to something resembling normality, but not all. I still use HDR for a large majority of my landscape work but as i wanted to get into a new discipline i don't shoot it so much as portraiture doesn't require the technique. If i was out on a landscape shoot tomorrow though it would be my primary technique

rgds
Dave

[Nikodamus]

I guess ultimately, if you as a photographer are happy with a technique and your audience is happy with it, then there's nothing to worry about. Wherever there's change, 2 schools of thought always follow: those that embrace it and those that resist it.

[lizardman]

It's interesting that you say that Dave, because I was looking at a site (can't remember where I got the link now): http://www.glennkarlsen.com/

He uses fairly subtle HDR on portraits, I actually think it works really well.

Anyway, back to the original topic - who fancies meeting up in the centre of the universe (also known as London), shall we say one Saturday in April?