FLCC New Member Guide
Welcome to First Light Camera Club! You’ve joined a community of like-minded individuals who are just as batty over photography as you are. Congratulations!
Okay – I’m in. Now what?
We know it can be a little confusing at first, and different people can be confused by different things, so we’ll start with the basics:
We meet every Thursday from the first Thursday after Labor Day in September until the last week in May (except for Thanksgiving and a 2-meeting break at Christmas). All meetings are at the Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum. Doors open at 6:00; meetings start at 6:30.
We have different types of meetings. Sometimes we will feature a speaker on a subject of interest; sometimes we will have a chance to go one-on-one with other members to discuss processing or images that you bring in; some meetings are hands-on, where you bring your camera; some are on location at a photogenic spot, and others are reserved for judged critiques of your images.
How we communicate ~
At the beginning of the month you will receive, via email, that month’s Newsletter. It will have information on upcoming meetings, how to submit images for critique, and anything else of interest. On the Tuesday before each meeting, you will receive a reminder – called the “Mini-Flash” – so that you won’t forget to put your meeting on the calendar. Occasionally you will receive a Special Notice, also via email, which is something of importance (such as a meeting cancellation) that can’t wait for the next Newsletter or Mini-Flash.
Our website, as you may have seen, features images from critiques and info about the club. If you initially contacted us via email, you’ve probably been to the site.
We also have a Facebook group and a critique group (more on that below).
How you can participate ~
First, come to meetings. If a speaker asks if there are any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. Bring in some of your images for the one-on-one critiques. Join the fun when we’re all photographing different setups in the room. Take a ride or carpool to our meetings on location.
Ah, Facebook!
You may think that Facebook, aka FB, is only teenage girls taking selfies, cat videos, and political opposites yelling at each other. You’re right, but in all that cacophony there is an oasis called “FLCC.” It is a private group, only open to paid members of FLCC. Just go to FB, put FLCC in the search box, and the dropdown menu will have us listed (sometimes we’re even first). Click on the “Join” button, and once one of the admins checks your status, you’ll be good to go.
Once on Facebook….
…. you can participate in any of the group discussions going on, ask a question, browse through the Files section for photography tips and items of interest, and participate in Project 52, which is a weekly photo assignment. You can find all the info about that exercise in the group’s Files section.
There is another group on FB you may want to investigate, called “See the Light Image Critique,” which is for getting advice and critiques on your images from a wider range if individuals. This group is also private, open to FLCC members, members of the Portland Camera Club, and other respected photographers whose advice is well worth receiving. Put “See the Light Image Critique” in the Search box, click the Join button, and there you are….
And speaking of critiques ~
One of the best ways to improve as a photographer is to solicit others’ advice on your images. As a club, we are all about education, and there are always knowledgeable people willing to help if you have a question about camera operation, technique or aesthetics. We know that you also have valid opinions, and we encourage you to speak up, either at the one-on-one critiques, or perhaps as a judge for one of the judged critiques (don’t worry, we’ll teach you how to do that).
And then there are field trips ~
These are more informal than meetings, are held on weekends, and usually involve food at some point. We’ll pick a destination, photograph to our hearts’ content, and then stop somewhere for lunch or dinner.
We hope you’ve found this guide useful. If you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at the email address below.