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A big problem with photography as a hobby for some people is that it can be a lonely hobby (for others this is an asset!).

Many of us may make connections online through forums and sharing websites but it is more difficult to find people who share your interests locally and in person.

Yes, there are traditional camera clubs, but I’ve been a member of a few and they all seem to share one common issue (and people I’ve spoken to online say this is world-wide thing): they are mostly based around photography competitions. Doesn’t matter whether it’s struggles against fellow members of your own club or battles against rival clubs, it’s all about points, league tables, prizes and trophies.

Many camera club members seems to love the social element and the competition of all this, but for me photography is not a sport, I don’t do it to beat other photographers or to earn extra high scores from judges.

I do it because it is an art form and one which in my small, modest way I can actually do, unlike painting, drawing, sculpting and, um, singing. It’s important to me because it’s self expression. I shoot pictures not because I think the judge will like it, or because some people on social media will give it a thumbs up, but just because I like exploring whatever visual creativity I possess.

Part of this process is seeing how far you can take a particular project or theme and whether you are happy with the result. If someone else happens to like what I do, well of course that is nice and makes me happy, but not as happy as the simple feeling that I nailed the photo. What I don’t like about photo competitions isn’t so much the competitiveness, but the fact that they encourage you to try and second guess a judge’s taste and adjust your work to cater to that taste. This is taking you in the opposite direction to exploring your own self expression. It’s not that I don’t want to take advice or listen to contrary opinion, it’s more that I feel I have to follow my own instincts rather than seeking constant affirmation.

If you feel similarly, there are alternatives to traditional camera clubs. One I came across this year is the u3a organisation.

So what is the u3a?

From their own publicity:

• The u3a (formerly the University of the Third Age) is a UK-wide voluntary community run movement of locally-run interest groups that provide a wide range of opportunities to come together to learn for fun.

• u3a members teach and learn from each other, but there are no qualifications to pass – it is just for pleasure. Learning is its own reward.

• There are over 1000 u3as with around 400,000 members. It’s open to everyone who’s not working full-time.

So, that’s it in a nutshell. The u3a is an umbrella organisation the brings together local community groups under a single banner. Each group is self run, but sticks to the ethos of the u3a movement. It’s for people no longer in full time work to explore their interests, have fun and contribute to the community. Interest groups can be about anything – the u3a has a wide variety of groups for almost any interest or pastime you can imagine. Your local u3a will have lists of the available groups, and you can even start your own.

Links for more information:

• u3a national website: https://www.u3a.org.uk/
  
• u3a Bromley website: https://www.u3abromley.org.uk/index.html (my local u3a group).

u3a Bromley Photo Group

I live in the Bromley area in the UK, and I joined my local u3a photography group. In my next article, I’ll talk more about what the u3a Bromley photo group is about; and there is lots to talk about…. and, yes, a sneak preview, I can confirm there are no competitions! More next time.