Photography Club Munich

those people are interested (get to know it via mailing list) so far:
Stuart, Sherry, Radu, Lucas, Yishai, Mollym

Who else? Any suggestions? Termin? etc..

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Btw. anyone interested to help me bring alive my old topic ?:
Photography exhibitions in Munich, Where, what, when - all about photography events

Thanks

Daniel

okay, good idea daniel. i'll start posting here.

i'll throw out some dates when i'm available.

next tuesday, oct. 10
monday, oct. 16
wednesday, oct. 18

or sometime after?

if other days are more convenient for you all, that's fine too... just let me know how the meeting went. : )

cheers,
pinky

I'm available monday, oct. 16.

I think a cafe is a good idea, somewhere central. Any suggestions? Somewhere that's big and not too smokey.

Daniel,
I am always interested in photography, but what would you expect to achieve with this 'club'?

This is not a criticism, but a genuine question as to what direction you envisage the meeting taking and what benefits or direct actions you expect to come out of it.

I could possibly be available for Monday 16th or Wednesday 18th, but most certainly not for Tuesday 10th as I am required for a rather excellent whisky tasting event.

Well, that you would have to ask someone else.. I am not the Organiser and I have actually not even visited any of the previously organized Photography Club … I have subscribed my email address in Photography Club’s mailing list last year .And after receiving 2-4 emails every day for last few days; I have suggested to arrange it via Forum here; instead using email (which was quite bothering – as every email is forwarded on my Mobil via SMS) ..

I personally do also question myself what could be achieved with such a meetings..
Would it make you a better Photographer* or is it just a cofee chat with people who share same hobby as you?

*if this is the reason; wouldn’t it be more effective to learn direct from professionals (via Internet or get inspiration trough the exhibitions, books, magazines ..etc..) ? ?

That's exactly why I asked, if it is just a coffee afternoon / evening, then I would not really look to attend.

But I now have a further question as the organisation of this 'club' is not clear to me:
Is this a general Munich club, or a TT 'Club'?
Furthermore - in which language?

Needless to say, I would be more interested in something based and run around TT in English language.

MT

@Malt-Teaser, Prag78m: IMO I think it's enough of a goal to just meet up for a chat about common interests.

If it's helpful I'd like to exchange info and ideas on:
- digital photography: e.g. how to do portrait work without expensive lighting (there seem's to be a lot you can do with white balance in DSLR, stuff you couldn't do in analogland)
- gearhead chat: 'is that 500 euro macro lens really worth it?'
- finding out about exhibitions
- getting feedback on my long exposure swirly images of the Isar.

Also: it's TT etiquette to use online name only. Please don't use real names.

cm

The club isn't specifically TT, but as the language is english it tends to be expat centric.

At the end of the day it's what you make it. If enough people attend and contribute ideas and discussion it'll work, if not it won't.

And you don't have to drink coffee
cm

hi all,

i'm personally interested in seeing what other people are doing out there, and i'm in it more for an exchange of ideas and to get feedback on some of my work.

if i wanted professional help i'd take courses somewhere. i see the TT club as a venue to get together with those who have similar interests.

(sorry my faux pas for using real names, i don't post very often)

my two cents.

p

The 'club' could also do simple activities, like going to an attractive location to take some pictures.
Naturally ending up in a cafe or pub to discuss the results or any topic. You could also check out other peoples cameras and lenses to see what might be worth getting.

If there is enough interest a competition might be a good thing. A competition gives people the motivation to go out and shoot specific subjects. A challenge. Something to strive for now youve bought that expensive equipment.

quite true. photo scavenger hunts are always a good time. you could meet up, pass out the list of subejcts and send people off on their merry way. its always amazing to see what people come up with.

g

I see you've blended the idea of a competition and a photo-stroll to make an interesting outing.

I was actually thinking of them separately. The wander with cameras was more a casual thing where you can see how the others like to take photos, how they use their kit in the field. Get to know some new parts of Munich and get to know the other members.

The photo competitions can be run by choosing a few subjects and setting a deadline for entries.
Subjects like:
- Autumn in Munich - November
- Misty weather - December
- Water - January
- Action, Candid, Macro, Lady in Red, etc...
You'll need to pick a judge(s) who can give an assesment of each entry and also pick a winner. The prize being having your photos shown on Toytown. You could even do the whole critique online so that everyone gets the benefit of any suggestions.

Now that is a good idea!

Some decent ideas are surfacing now - well done all and yes, I am certainly interested as these are the directions I would be hoping for with a local photography club.

MT

The photo competition is a good idea!

I would suggest a more democratic voting system - i.e. everyone cast in a vote (but not for their own photos) and the photo with the most votes wins the competition.

And I also like the photo-competition/stroll combination.

Consensus voting does have the advantage that you do not need a judge. However it puts the focus on "winning" and not on "learning". A suitable judge would give a lot of useful ideas and suggestions. However anyone could post suggestions for improvement anyway.

One would have to decide how much should be done online, and how much should be done at any meetups. We all know what happens when everything is online. The respect level drops and insults start flying. So a certain amount of face to face meetups would keep it all on a friendly basis. And it would also help the membership to grow over the coming months.

@codemonkey - I'd like to make a suggestion too, but you might not like it ..

when is the first meetup?

I suggest that, IF EB agrees to it, that we all mail him 2 of our favourite Pictures from the trip, he then uploads them and the whole of TT can vote! Poll Style!

Hi everyone,

I used to be in the old version of the photography club. It died away for reasons that are too long to describe here, but I was really sad it did and I hope we can revive it. I don't think I'll take much part in the organization as I did before, but I will be more than happy to join along, take part in competitions or trips and come to meetings.

I'll be away until the 18th, but after that, aside from a tight schedule, I'll do my best to join in. My best days during the week are Mondays and Thursdays, in case anyone is trying to put a meeting together.

Hope to see you soon,

Genie

It's good to see that there is lot of enthusiasm and ideas.
But I think we need to decide on a location and a date and for the 'reunion' meetup.

Suggestions so far:
monday, oct. 16
wednesday, oct. 18

Location:
a cafe somewhere central?

@ruapehu - lol, you are a touble maker

i'm up for wednesday, oct. 18th.

coffee shop suggestions:

starbucks across from the post office on residenzstrasse 7 (between marienplatz and odeonsplatz)
cafe puck on türkenstrasse 33 (http://www.cafepuck.de/)
one of the many cafes in the Fünf Höfe

cheers,
pinky

If there are no other suggestions, I propose:

cafe puck
7.30 next wednesday, 18th Oct.

Can those intending to come please confirm on the thread.

cm

i'll be there!

I think I can make it, but can anyone tell me in very simple terms where it is and how to find it.

MT

Take the U3 or U6 to Universität (the stop between Odeonsplatz and Giselastrasse).

Take the exit to Schellingstrasse (towards the city center). Go up Schellingstrasse to Türkenstrasse (2nd cross street). Turn left.

Cafe Puck is somewhere down the street on the right hand side.

Or check out the Stadtplandienst and type in the address

http://www.stadtplandienst.de/spd20/map.as...99c77058e76e074

cheers,
p

Hello, I'll come.

So that's 4 of us for tomorrow night?

@pinky - I've not been there before: should we book a table?

I still aim to try and be there, so long as I find the place.

MT

um, actually never been there at night. but there is usually a place...

though i guess it wouldn't hurt? and also so that other people know where the others are sitting...

Can't make it today (Wednesdays...), but eager to hear what went down.

Count me in will be there about 8 tho

Hi,

I am new in the field of photography, but very much willing to learn.
Do you think I can join your company? Though it seems that tonight I can't make it.
Let me know your opinion.

Hi Ensegna,
I think we are all still learning and I am sure that all levels of skill, experience and knowledge are more than welcome.

Sorry you can't make it today, but hopefully next time!
MT

Thanks for the welcome!
I will defintely make the next meeting.
How often would you like to meet?

I booked a table under 'Toytown' for 19.30

Look forward to seeing you all there

hi,
if any of you need a "subject" to practice on...
the band i'm in needs a photographer to take a few "band fotos" for promotional purposes. we can't afford to pay a lot (at least not what professional photographers here in munich charge) but we could cover costs and maybe throw in a few other perks

background on our band at www.thejiggers.com

pm me if interested

jason

This is the manifesto of the Photography Club. We are at Cafe Puck drinking beer and making big decisions.

We are: Codemonkey, Malteaser, Pinky, Gills

Here’s the plan:

1) Hold a meeting somewhere in central Munich every two weeks. Once we find a spot that we like, it will become our regular meeting place. The next meeting will be at Starbucks, across from the old Post Office on Residenzstrasse at 7:30PM on Monday, October 30th.

2) Make this thread on Toytown the central focus of the photography club for ongoing help and discussion.

3) Set a monthly theme for member's photography. Photos submitted to the theme can be discussed online here and also at meetings. Members will post their photos wherever they want (their own site or on flickr) and will post a link on this thread to start the discussion. Print can be brought to meetings for discussion.

4) In addition, members are encouraged to submit photos for ongoing critique, help, and discussion outside of the theme.

5) Ideas for photo locations and/or group photo outings are encouraged.

Please let us know a couple of days before if you plan to come to the meeting so we know how many to expect.

"Members will post their photos wherever they want (their own site or on flickr) and will post a link on this thread to start the discussion."

I dont consider it as a good idea; it would become very chaotic later on; with more participiants ... All photos should be placed on one spot :

It is possible to craete new Flick account (only for Toytown Photo Contest) with generall upload/access right (login password would be emailed to each member*)..

Even better would be if Toytown Administrator would give us privilege to upload photos (a little bit bigger/with higher resolution as usualy is here allowed) here; in special dedicated forum..

Daniel

*or (to avoid misusage/sabaotage) the login password would be known only to 1-3 of us and whoever would like to upload the photo/s would have to do it trough (send them email with photo attachment) those 1-3 persons who would upload it for him/her ..

A lot of discussion went into our ideas yesterday evening and at the end of the day it was agreed that things should be as easy, free (meaning open not 'kostenlos') and wide-ranging as possible.

The main idea is that the photography club is primarily based around TT and TT will remain the main discussion place, alongside the two-weekly meetings which people may or may not be able to attend.

We liked the idea of running one "Theme" per month with participants' pictures being available for discussion and critique. Some people work only with digital, others expressed an interest in using traditional film.
In order to implement this, the digital pictures should be available somewhere online so that links may be provided into TT.
We understand the bandwidth and storage limitations around pictures on TT, so we don't expect TT to provide the hosting, just the discussion forum.
Does it matter where the pictures are stored?
No!
If you want to use flickr then do so for your pictures, but don't force everyone to use it!

In addition to the "Theme" for pictures, we felt that people should also have the opportunity to show other examples of their efforts where they perhaps want specific questions answering.
For example:
They may have taken a photo which didn't work out as they had hoped and require some advice as to what may have been done wrongly. Maybe they want help on how to improve a certain shot ... etc. These pictures should also be hosted and discussed.

Holding 2-weekly meetings means that in general, there will be 2 meetings per theme. The submitted pictures may be discussed at the meetings either by bringing prints along, or by Laptop and CD / DVD and/or internet. Exactly as we tested yesterday evening.
Yes, we had internet access in Cafe Puck and access is also available at the venue for the next meeting.

So everyone, can we have some suggestions for the first theme which I suggest runs from ASAP until the end of November.

MT

The natural light is great this time of year. What about a theme of backlit subjects or shadows?

Or go for something more general and interpretable, like "fall".

"If you want to use flickr then do so for your pictures, but don't force everyone to use it!"

Do I force anyone!? I was suggesting the concept/the upload place for the competition only; I am not interested where do you store your other, private photos or another photos you would like to discusse with others..

In my opinion this concept (send it wherever you want) is chaotic and time consuming (for the "jury"/observers*)..

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My suggestion for the first theme is ( even more general) "Munich" .

* In the end of the month you might end up with 30 links (might be bit exaggerated) scattered all over the interent which you must go trough; if you want to compare and give objective vote for your most favourite/the best photo..
Wouldnt it be much simple; if you have just one place where all coments and photos for competition are stored? Place where you very quickly see all uploaded photos from previous months competitions etc?

Can anyone submit photos for judging and/or general comments or do you need to be going to the meetups to be part of this. I'd like to have a go at the themes but generally cannot commit in advance to certain evenings for meetups.

@Keydeck sure you can. The meet-ups are to give a focus to the club and a point of face-to-face contact for newbies. It's also a way of continuing the discussing of the online submissions in person - it was generally felt that face-to-face discussion is often more constructive.

So it's not essential to come to the meetings all the time, just now and then would be good.

As to the idea of competitions - maybe we should just get the online posting and critique/feedback going first. A competition requires more organisation - someone has to set that up and run it. Given the experience of the last time we tried to get a club off the ground (this is in fact the 3rd reincarnation of the club) I think it's a mistake to try to do too much, too soon. Hence the simple manifesto.

That's just my 2 cents, but I think we should walk before running.

cm

I do agree with codemonkey; just get the online posting* and critique/feedback going first..

*preferablly all in one place (not scattered throughout the Internet); as I previouslly mentioned

I like the "Fall" theme. There was another thread by some TT'ers (including moi) who are missing the spectacular autumn colours of the East Coast at this time of year. How about a theme capturing the fall colours around Munich. They ain't so bad.

I don't think we need to get too hung up on where pictures are posted to start with - we only had 4 people at the meeting after all, and with a couple more people interested it's still a small group. Let's just work on TT for now, and then adjust to what makes sense as we grow.

Hard for me to jump at the "Fall" topic--I'm from Vermont! Compared to the color show in Vermont, the foliage here in the Ebersberg area makes me want to shoot black and white...

Scrapper,
I personally like your earlier idea which may be interpreted in many different ways - always good in photography!

So my vote would go to:
Natural Light: Backlit subjects and Shadows

(Meaning any of these points, not necessarily only backlit subjects and their shadows).
MT

how about some people do that fall theme and others do the natural light?

seems like we've got some people interested in both, so it would be a pity to limit it to one thing.

p