Camera club last night.

[OrmirianResurgam]

Joined a camera club recently. I take some very amateurish shots of landscapes, plants etc. So I joined a club so I could find like-minded people and learn how to do it better. First half of last night was looking at still life shots and landscapes that members took over the summer. Second half was portrait shots - taken at two organised evenings at two attractive locations. Models were all young and female. All dressed up and made up. Nothing pornographic as such. But I was in a darkened room with a load of men (two other women I think) watching young women preening and strutting for the camera.

Why no men, who no older women, why are only young women aesthetically pleasing? Why is it interesting to photograph people doing nothing other than trying to look attractive? Why were almost all the shots taken by the male photographers?

Am I making too much of this? I honestly feel uncomfortable and although I will avoid any portrait shoots (not my thing anyway) it has made me feel a bit unsure about the club as a whole but am I going to run into this whereever I go?

My old camera club used to use male and female models for their sessions. A lot of the time it depends on availability & cost - or indeed if relatives or friends of members want pictures to add to their portfolio.

With regards to age etc, clubs tend to use "buff" models (of either sex) because the muscle definition is interesting & some great effects can be managed, plus - an "ugly" model is surprisingly hard to find.

I've taken pictures of tramps that are much more interesting than pictures of normal models, but a model that looked like a tramp wouldn't earn a living!!

I really think you should be asking your questions to the club committee, or ask other members if what you perceive is really the case. As you say, you've only recently joined the club & as such don't know what the normal score is.

You've come out with a couple of blanket statements that seem to imply things that shouldn't be the case in an established, mainstream, mixed sex club and you may be making too much of it. BUT - you shouldn't be feeling uncomfortable, I'd really recommend speaking to other female members - if you find that you're not alone then there is definitely an issue that needs to be raised with the committee....

Thanks comingalong - I was thinking of speaking to the other female members to see if I was the only one who felt this way.

A lot of the women were not professional models but locals who were asked to come along. So why not ask a few male models? I find older faces more interesting personally.

I certainly won't jump in with both feet.

I've put a couple of pics on my profile of the only studio shoot I ever took part in, don't think it would have looked as effective if it was me & my middle aged spread!

I've seen some fantastic shots of old faces, the lines & marks tell a real story - much more interesting than perfect bods any time!

Plus, it's more fun trying to get those pics, rather than having it lined up on a plate so to speak...

Apart from being a bit that sounds really boring from a photography perspective. It would actually be more interesting to take shots of each other if people were up for it!

Hmmm.

if it's a small camera club, and the models are all members' mates, how would you imagine the conversation to go?
'Model' is a pretty loaded term. (Pardon the pun)

'Oh we need a model'
Which is fine if you are talking to someone conventionally attractive.

'Oh we need a model,'
'oh you! I'm no model.'
'No not a pretty one, someone with interesting features'

They will hear 'we need an aged grotesque to practice our halloween shots'