7 Year Anniversary Of The Group I Set Up

Back in March 2017, I was bored one day, and wanted to do something different. During that time, there were no real groups in the area that met up and met to go taking photographs, but there were plenty of Camera Clubs. I joined a local Club, and really didn’t like what it had to offer, and so created something different. And just like that, before we know it, the group I set up in 2017 is 7 years old!

The first meet was a quiet one, with only 4 of us being present, I was a little dis-heartened, but I learned a lot from the few hours we had spent out with our cameras. The second meeting, a fortnight later seen a similar number of people, and we enjoyed ourselves, but I decided to end the group as it felt like it was going nowhere. But destiny called, and 4 or 5 weeks later I organised another meet, and changed the name to “Great Photography Walks Neath Port Talbot” (its original title, according to the adverts I have was “The Great Aberavon Beach Walk”), that time, things clicked, and we had many more people.

From that point on, it grew, and attracted enough people to warrant me organising the event every fortnight. It was a fantastic time of growth, not just in numbers (which varied from week to week), but in the development of the path I was taking in photography. I had always enjoyed photography, and had periods of earning money with photography, but this was different, I was building a community.

Over the 7 years we have seen probably 100s of people join us on the meets, many of the regular, but many more turning up just the once or twice. It didn’t matter though, as long as people were out having fun, and taking photographs. Within a year or so, we changed the name of the group to “Great Photography Walks South Wales”, and through thick and thin, we were out fortnightly, and then weekly. During the pandemic, we took things online, and kept the community going.

From the start, the idea of the group was to get out, but most importantly learn and take photographs. Of course, we had our ups and downs, and last year I was not well (as I have documented on here many times). Thankfully, a large group of friends were behind me, and kept me going, reminding me that we are out to take photographs and just to get some fresh air. I almost threw in the towel, but they talked to me, and I listened, and I will be forever grateful to them, and the group for keeping me, and the group going.

Today, we are stronger than ever, with re-newed vigur, and a passion for photography that has rekindled thanks to great friends being behind me. We have grown as a group, and become a tightnit group of friends who all welcome new members and enjoy taking photographs. Plus, we have expanded East-wood, with a division and a team-leader in that part of Wales.

As a group, we have had good times, and bad times, we have made friends, and lost friends, but most of all we have continued to grow through it all, and those who join us are staying more than ever before. Hopefully my health will be better now I had a bad year last year, and we can continue for many more years to come!

Feel free to join our Facebook group, and even join us for our meets if you live in South Wales. We rebranded early last year to “Photography Adventures Wales” , a name which more aptly descibes the group and always welcome new members to join our regular 10-12 who always turn up. We generally attract anywhere between 10-18 people every fortnight, and we are all dedicated to helping each other with photography, sharing tips on everything to do with photography.

Who would have thought, a silly little idea would still be going this strong? Its these things in life that keep me going.