Toronto Camera Club

I was a member of the TCC from about 2010 to 2012 and only quit to concentrate on a huge course load I took from Ryerson (Chang School) during the evenings.
My understanding is that this is the oldest continually operating camera club in North America. It is certainly the most prestigious in the city and perhaps in all of Canada.
So how does it work?
Basically they operate a schedule whereby Monday nights are the contests (or more accurately, the results of the contest) and Thursday night there is a guest lecturer. Sometimes instead of the contest there would be a workshop. Sometimes there would be an additional meeting or workshop. There were also outings, weekend trips social functions. In short, you could easily spend a lot of time at the club or with the club and your fellow photographers.
Contests?
There were a couple of different themes (nature, creative, print, etc.). You submit your images, they are judged by an independent panel (this process is also open to the members) and then all of the images are shown and scores (and comments) read out. A lot of people go but do not submit work, others submit but do not go to the contest. Many avoid this aspect of the club. It all depends on what you are looking to get out of it.
My thoughts on the contest aspect?
I received a few honourable mentions – which are kind of like when you have a tie for third place. I felt my work was judged fairly and that the comments for what was good/​bad really helped my photography. At the end of the day, you have to take it with a huge grain of salt. Photography is objective, pure and simple. You can’t be offended if nobody liked your work – you have to shoot for you. Still, the contests were a great way to see what others thoughts of your work. And of course a great way to get inspired and see what others were up to. NOTE: if you are a beginner, you compete with other beginners but your fellow beginners may be in another «class». See, what makes a judge get excited about an image is when they can see something new. Unless you can provide a fresh image from an exotic place, you will have a hard time winning. (Judges have seen a million images of the CN Tower, of the animals at the Toronto Zoo, of Niagara Falls, etc.) Basically, there are a lot of members who have retired and have all of the time and money in the world to go capture amazing images in far away places with great equipment – if you want to beat them, and you have basic equipment and are stuck in the GTA, you are going to have to work much harder to find that fresh, creative image.
Lectures?
This is the best aspect of the club and is even open to non club members. I almost never left one without being totally inspired and learning a lot. They are able to get really fantastic image makers to speak and select a huge variety of speakers/​photographers working in different styles and with different subjects.
Workshops?
Also a fine reason to get involved – whether it is learning to use your new speedlight or how to use Photoshop, you can learn a lot. There are a couple per year.
Social? Outings? Weekends?
I did some of this including a weekend trip. It was fun. Some people prefer to shoot alone and if this is you then you can just skip this aspect of the club. Many do.
Membership?
People here are very friendly and helpful. It is certainly an older crowd for the most part. Not to write that there was not a mix of ages from 20s-​70s. But it skews older with people who are no longer busy raising families, climbing the corporate ladder, etc.
What else?
Price for a year is a really good deal as long as you get something out of it – meaning, it is up to you. Like a gym, you get out of it what you put into it.
If you are into analogue, there is a lab for your use. (I never tried it).
I will join again for the 2014 – 2015 season or the 2015 – 2016 season. In the meantime, I will certainly make the trip to midtown for some of the lectures.
Highly recommended if you want to get more serious about your hobby.