The Benalla Camera Club has been inspiring local photographers for the past 72 years.
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In that time, a lot has changed in the world of photography, but the camaraderie and friendships formed are the same as in 1954.
Current president, Joe Bourke, said his passion for photography started in the early 1970s when he met a cadet photographer at a local newspaper.
“He and I became friends and I used to go out on jobs with him,” Joe said.
“That got me interested, and I started to do darkroom work with him.
“I ended up buying a second-hand camera from one of the other photographers at the newspaper and just went on from there.”
Judy Barry is the club’s treasurer, and she started out with a Polaroid camera when she was 21.
“I was given that by my parents,” Judy said.
“And I’ve just kept taking photos since then. It’s grown into an obsession in some places.
“So at family gatherings, like Christmas, I take lots of photos.
“I did have to tone it down a bit, in case people think I’m a bit too enthusiastic.”
When Joe and Judy took up the art of photography, it was in a time when film was king.
Long before the digital age allowed budding photographers to take literally thousands of photos in a day, and the instant feedback of seeing the image on a screen, they were limited to 24 or 36 shots.
Joe said that while some people see elements of modern photography as ‘cheating’ with the ability to edit images, for example, the reality is that it is simply the evolution of the art.
This is something Judy agreed with.
“I think with the digital age, it makes it a lot easier for me and also for any photographer to take photos,” she said.
“Then they can pick which ones they like. Otherwise, if you're using film, you're limited because you can’t to take a lot of photos.
“You've got to be discriminatory as to how you take your photos.”
Joe also pointed out the ability to edit photos on a computer has also changed the way modern photographers approach their work.
“There was always little tricks and methods you used in a darkroom to get the photo looking how you want,” he said.
“Editing on a computer is just about improving or enhancing the photo, in the same way.”
The Benalla Camera Club currently has 32 members, and it’s always on the lookout for more.
“When we get together, we do different aspects of photography,” Joe said.
“We do landscapes, we do birds, we do portraiture, we do still life.
“And different members have different interests, so we spread it around a bit.”
Judy said the club also runs regular workshops.
“We invite members, and people outside of the club, who have an interested in learning how to improve their skills,” she said.
“We can step in and help if you like, but it isn’t quite right. We can tell you what you need to do to fix it.”
The club also has an annual, friendly, competition with the Albury/Wodonga Camera Club.
“And we occasionally get together with other clubs,” Joe said.
“We've had nights with the Wangaratta Camera Club, and we’re planning, later in the year, to have a night with Shepparton Camera Club.”
You don’t need to have a state-of-the-art DSLR camera to join.
“A lot of people still take photos with their phone,” Joe said.
“Some of the modern phones can do just as good a job as a job as a high-end camera, in some circumstances.”
The club also holds competitions among its members every second month.
“We have an anonymous judge who judges the images,” Joe said.
“They will present their findings to the club, and offers judgments and critiques each of the photos one at a time. We usually have up to 90 images.”
Judy said often the high-scoring images were taken on a smartphone.
The Benalla Camea Club meets on the first Wednesday of each month at the Performing Arts Centre at Benalla P-12 College’s Faithfull St campus.
To find out more, you can find them on Faceboook @Benalla Camera Club or via https://benalla.myphotoclub.com.au/