Running a Photography Group

[Columbarius]

I'm afraid I wasn't quick enough to take a smart step backwards when volunteers were called for to lead our U3A photography group. As a result another slowcoach and I are going to be the group leaders from September.

Apart from a lot of administrative work, the main task of the leaders is to arrange a monthly meeting which comprises two parts. Part 2 is always reviewing members' work, usually to a theme set in the previous month. I can get inspiration for monthly themes from this forum and others.

Part 1 is more difficult, and I'd like your feedback & suggestions please. Part 1 comprises a talk or photographic activity of general interest to the membership. Note the membership is very varied and the kit ranges from point & shoot to high end Canons.

I'd really appreciate suggestions for some interesting photography topics that we could cover either as talks or workshops.

Any ideas?

[djguk47]

Re: Running a Photography Group

Russell,
I have a good friend who has run a U3A Photography group for a couple of years in Buckinghamshire.
If you PM me with a contact email address I will pass it on to him. I will let him know what I have done.

[Brian Sugden]

Re: Running a Photography Group

If you are a member of a camera club have a word with the programme secretary. They should have a book of people who give talks on various subjects. The downside is that there will be a charge. When I used to give talks the cost was normally to cover travelling expenses, but that was a few years ago and things may have changed.

If you're not a member of a club there may be someone on this forum who can help.

[Stan]

Re: Running a Photography Group

Not heard of U3A before but googling seems there is no membership subscription, if so then even paying travelling expenses to a visiting speaker could be difficult

Dee is the programme secretary for our camera club and apart from the odd one who just requires a donation (we had a guy who was an ex red arrows pilot), many are looking between £50 and £100 for an evening presentation

stan

[keithd]

Re: Running a Photography Group

I am a member of a local club what happens there is advanced members give little chats on what they look for in a picture. These are wide ranging landscape transport e.t.c. Also if you can get a laptop to project or connect to a tv or screes they can show how they post process which is a weakness of mine. As for discussions are there no local clubs that have members prepared to talk. I hope this pans out for you and the members as a number of us would have stumbled without guys like yourself at hand to help and organise.

[Columbarius]

Re: Running a Photography Group

Thanks all for your feedback. I knew I could rely on the forum!

David, I'll p.m. you. Thanks.

Stan U3A (University of the Third Age) is a national charity promoting "lifelong learning". We're all retired, & the idea is that we share our skills and knowledge with other interested members. So, for example I teach a group wanting to find out about tablets and laptop computers and two ukulele groups. Other groups offer Creative Writing, Art, Science & technology, etc., etc. But you're correct the subscription is minimal, and we try to find presenters from within. So I'm particularly interested in ideas for 45-60 minute "workshops" that we could offer that would be appropriate for our broad spectrum of members with our more experienced members acting as "mentors/facilitators" (sorry about the jargon).

Thanks all for you interest, please keep your thoughts coming.