Photography News 11

18

Camera clubs

GROUP CHALLENGE

The Jewellery Quarter in a day In response to seeing PN Issue 6’s coverage of Smethwick Photographic Society’s group project in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, Bromsgrove Photographic Society (BPS) got in touch to share their own project in the area. We talk to members of their newly formed Practical Group to find out more and see how they got on

ROGER TYLER “In an attempt to address some of the problems recently discussed in Photography News on the topic of photography clubs, I set up the Practical Group of Bromsgrove Photographic Society in January this year. We meet monthly on the understanding that everyone brings a camera and comes willing to learn and share ideas. Photographers can be very individual and like to keep their own secrets; I wanted to create a culture of co-operation. “Our first outing was to the New Library in Birmingham with a visit to Hanbury Church for the snowdrop display in February. Unbeknown to us, we had just planned our next visit for Birmingham Jewellery Quarter when Issue 6 of Photography News was published with the interesting article about Smethwick PS and their year-long project in the area. “Of course our aims were different and we planned our single visit around three areas: the shabby architecture around Victoria Street, St Paul’s Square and the Warstone Lane Cemetery with its distinctive catacombs. As an additional challenge, members who were willing acted as models for the rest of the group. This not only provided some insight into the role of the model but was the source of plenty of good-natured banter. Members brought scarves, hats, beer cans, coloured umbrellas and old clothes as props. “It could have been a dull excursion but the combination of good weather, members happy to forfeit a few shots while they became the models and a serendipitous alchemy of personalities made it a success. To boot, the Practical Group has just won its first award: first place for Mike Troth in the BPS Annual Open Competition. I think our efforts contrast interestingly with the Smethwick group project.”

It couldhave been a dull excursion but the combination of goodweather, members happy to forfeit a fewshots while they became themodels and a serendipitous alchemy of personalitiesmade it a success

Photography News | Issue 11

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