So now I know why photo clubs are useless

[paulbarden]

There is a problem if competition within the club is the most important aspect of the club.

I agree wholeheartedly.

[Steven Ruttenberg]

I think the important consideration is, what kind of liquor do they serve at the exhibition openings?

Right!

[Ken Lee]

Yes. This. You can only really compete with yourself.

++

A while back there was an interview linked here which consisted of a warm discussion between John Sexton and others about Brett Weston.

If I recall correctly, they mentioned that Brett did not hesitate to return to the same basic subject, always hoping to improve on what he had done before.

[Jim Fitzgerald]

When I moved north three years ago I joined a Portland based photography club. It was mainly to get the lay of the land and see what was going on. There are some fine photographers in the group and 95% digital I believe. Mostly projected images and sometimes prints and again mostly color. I shoed some of my 8x20 carbon transfer prints one time and blew them away but the comments were that is a lot of work..... why do you do it??? So I don't share my work anymore with the group except after I had a solo show in Astoria they asked me to talk about Carbon Transfer. I showed them my hand made book of carbon prints with original carbon text and they were impressed and I received many great questions. I have found that attending my critique group once a month is more beneficial. I like honest opinions about my work but ultimately I don't care what someone else thinks. If it moves me that is all that matters.

[Keith Fleming]

In Post #32, Graham Patterson mentioned that some club members would research the judge so they would know the best type of image to enter in a club contest. Back in the early 1970's, I was stationed in Maine, and joined a club in Portland. Some of the members were active in PSA national competitions. Their advice was to never, never enter a photo of a lighthouse in a New England competition because in that region lighthouses were clichés. So they entered their lighthouse images in competitions out in the Midwest--and often did well with the judges.

Keith F.

[Jac@stafford.net]

There should be a club that judges judges.
Like a Supreme Court for club judges?
HORRORS!

[Bernice Loui]

Art is not and should not be a contest. Once art becomes a contest, the contest is loaded with intent and those granted the special privilege of "judging" is allowed to impose their intent upon contestants.

Art should be much about what an artist has to say and express based on their experiences with the human condition. Artist who cultivate an audience who understands and appreciated their offering is much of what art is about..

What would be far more constructive for all involved is to take all competition out of sharing art and simply appreciate and try to understand what each artist has to say with their work regardless of where they might be on the continuum of life.



Bernice

[Mark Sawyer]

There should be a club that judges judges.
Like a Supreme Court for club judges?
HORRORS!

I think I'd be well-qualified for that club! After all, I like beer! Don't you like beer? My friends like beer! Sometimes I like too much beer...

[John Kasaian]

And, even more importantly, whether the drinks are complimentary.

Exactly!

[tgtaylor]

Many of the so-called "artists" that I have run into on the internet- especially the "photographers" -are among the most egotistical, back-stabbing, and deceitful people on the planet.

Thomas