Invite for NEW inter Club Competition

[GordonS]

I have been approached to see if we would like to join an inter club contest seeking to get more clubs involved. The club which made the approach is Lanark CC and the clubs involved are from that area and may or may not include Lanark, lesmahagow, Carluke, Bathgate, Falkirk and a few others I can't remember. The competition will be Digital files only and will take place around this time of the year.
Do we need another inter club or not ?

Views please

[IanMc]

No. In my view there are more than enough comp opportunities for the club (and members). Plenty of other options in magazines and national/international comps for those of us keen to test our skills against others.

[Deb]

Sounds like a good idea - it's a chance to expand our horizon, visit other clubs, and see what they've got! Plus, a few of the advanced members (you know who you are) need new challenges after this very successful interclub year!

[Willie]

Couple of points -

It cost us nothing, as we do not have to submit any additional images  - we have done our 4 appraisals already at this time of year, and the images would come from the appraisals.

If we want we get to see other clubs photographic work. We get to (be nosey and) see what other clubs have for facilities, and see how they are run, and to meet with them, and swap ideas.

We would be up against Carluke CC - Libby Smith and Hunter Kennedy and the like. Either this will stretch and challenge our abilities, or it will be a proper blood bath (judging by the Scottish Digital Finals - it'll be the latter). But if we don't try, we won't develop! (no pun intended)

If this is not important, or you do not like this sort of event as a club member, you do not have to attend, as it would be in addition to any regular club activity.

More work for Gordon, although sending in digital images is a little bit easier than handing in prints.

If Gordon wants to be bothered with taking on the extra work, I say go for it!

I'd like to hear Gordon's opinion on it.

Also, did we get the invite since we have won 3 of the interclub events this year, or are they looking for additional cannon (not canon) fodder! lol

Willie

[otooleg]

My personal views on Competitions are well known to the senior club members. However in the interests of proving the quality of our images against some of the best photographers in Scotland - I have no issues with this.

It is important that we improve the overall standard of photography throughout the club and this remains my number one aim.

George

[Fred]

This Sounds like a good idea - And I Agree with Willies & Debs remarks it's a chance to expand, visit other clubs, and see what they've got to offer - there is no extra work for those who wish to take part, only for Gordon, - But I'm always willing to help out there next season to take the pressure off Gordon.

Fred 

[Grahamg]

I think that we can only benefit from expanding the circles that we work in.  As a club we should be looking at the ways in which we can encourage and grow the talent we have in our ranks to make us all think about what we do and how we do it. 

If we start competing with other clubs who might be better than us, then in the long run, it should hopefully make our own members much better at what we do.  In this way, the club wins, and so do the individual photographers.  To me, it sounds like a win win situation, even if we do start off as the whipping boys! 

[Dougie]

Another competition, but this time against CC's outwith our area, sounds a bit of a challenge. Probably apart from Carluke, who we know about. The other clubs are a bit of an unknown quantity I think. Could be good to see where our standing is within the Central Belt. Go for it.

[GordonS]

Interesting to hear your comments. The biggest plus point from an organisation POV is that because it is digital only then there is minimal organising involved. All images can be sent to organising club via CD or Email .We would only organise once every 8 or 10 years. I do think that it does benefit members when they see our clubs work and I think the feeling so far is to accept the invitation. I will however wait another week or so before replying to my contact.

[jimgreid]

I think this is a great idea. Very little organisation but, as I said on a previous thread, I would suggest that we take a wee bit pressure from Gordon and form a sub committee of 3 or 4 members to pick the entrants to all the external comps. Something for the AGM maybe.

[Steve]

 

My views on the subject of inter club competitions should be well known by now, and I have to go with Ian Mc on this, even though it looks as if we might be in a minority of 2!! I'll support the majority decision, as usual, but I don't think it's a particularly good idea.

While I can see some benefit in competing against new opposition, I can't see how this will be for the benefit of all members, because:
a) if we enter we must surely submit our VERY best images - there is no point in submitting entries that are not potential winners just so we can allow more members to have their work selected
b) these potential winners will inevitably come from a very few experienced members so will not exactly encourage our beginners/ intermediate members
c) if members continually see the work of others selected for competition while their work is not, the effect might be to drive them away. It might of course encourage them to try even harder but can we take that risk?

If we as a club decide to take part in this event, should we pull out of one (or more? ) of the competitions that we already enter? (the East/ Mid/ West Lothian/ Borders event is one that immediately springs to mind).

I would hate to think that the club is drifting away from its ethos of encouraging the participation in photography at the expense of maybe (just maybe ) winning a trophy or two.

[Willie]

Hi All,

In fairness to Steve's comments above which were made last April (7 months ago), I think we are presently doing a good job of selecting images for Interclub Competitions.

In the last interclub competition - Midlothian - Gordon selected one of the begininner images - the Swan. Although it did very well in our appraisal (19) in the begininner section, it only scored (15) in the competition. Which is still very good for a beginner in an interclub competition (no allowance for a begininner section in the competition). I think that Gordon did the right thing by choosing the image (and similarly, images from the intermediate section), as it earned the right to be in the interclub competition with the appraisal score. So along those lines, any images that do well in the begininner, intermediate and advanced sections are eligible and should be considered for the interclub competitions. Thus encouraging participation.

There is a balance to be maintained between choosing a representative selection of all eligible (18 and up) images from the club, and going "all out" with selections only from the advance section, to win. I think that Gordon has been maintaining the former, and the formula has proved to be fair, encouraging and effective, as seen by the club winning every competition for the last year and a half.

Best - Willie

[otooleg]

Nice to see such debate Guys.

George OT

[Linda]

I think I missed this first time round but my views on this are -

a) If the extra workload is not significant and Gordon is happy to take it on we should go for it.

b) We should continue picking the best images from all 3 categories - I am sure that any prints that score well can be submitted as digital images for the purpose of this competition.

c) I think it a great opportunity to see what others do, especially when the standard is so high.

d) I think it is a great challenge to all members, especially those who regularly do well in appriasals.