Comments and feedback

Thanks to everyone who provided written feedback on the event.
Here is a response to each point…
(Some of your responses are edited – but this is just for clarity)

Any other comments on the sessions?

1. On arrival we were not told that the workshop lists were up on a wall. So, we had seconds to choose when it all kicked off! I legged it to a workshop, which was good… but found I’d missed the portraits one. It would be better if the intro session included a brief synopsis of each workshop.
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   Some more description about the session beforehand would be better. On many occasions I took a chance.
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   Typed schedule that is clear to read and let’s me know what each is about – this could be shown on the wall doesn’t have to be given out.
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   The only comment I have is the session descriptions could have been better. To have a little more info on the content would have made picking which session to attend easier. Would be handy to have more info on sessions up front such as hands on/discussion etc.
   In planning we constantly battle with making the event fresh, exciting and surprising with ensuring delegates get the most from it. At the next event we will pre-publish short summaries of each session in the delegate pack – with clearer information on their content.
   
   
2. The sessions were excellent, to the point where it was very hard to choose between them. Perhaps there’s an argument to make certain sessions “plenary” so that everyone gets to see them. Perhaps there are some topics that would be of general value to everyone.
   For those that don’t know – plenary means there would a single timeslot with only one session planned .
   This is something we’ve considered – and it was looked at when planning the event. The first consideration we make is to whether the session is universally of interest and then whether it is appropriate for everyone to sit through it. At current planning stages there will be either one or two plenary sessions at Photocamp Bradford; we’ll see how they go down.
   However one thought springs to mind – if everyone commented clearly on the sessions they attended a lot of the substance of that session would be captured… just a thought!
3. A little more hands-on stuff would be good
   We will mention the hands-on request to those volunteering to run sessions; however some times it’s a little difficult to do practical sessions with so many delegates – a victim of our own success.
   
   
4. I like the idea of the projects based assignments.
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   It would also be nice to have themes or challenges in the various workshops that encourage participants to feed back their images to some kind of on-going slideshow or display
   Again this is something we will consider for the next Photocamp. If you like the idea of project-based assignments; you should look at Leeds flickr group theme of the week or consider joining the Photo Project Sub Group of Exposure Leeds…
5. Brilliant to take things in the direction of creativity (rather than technical geeky stuff) It might be worth devoting a whole photocamp — or a whole section of one — to a theme like “portraiture” that obsesses everyone….
   Oddly enough – we’ve just done this at Exposure Leeds; and this was ‘unofficially’ aimed for in planning sessions at the February Photocamp.
6. There were a few sessions I would like to have attended but they clashed with other ones. That was the only downside for me.
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   Just that I couldn’t attend a couple that clashed.
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   Good variety. All too often, there were two sessions running simultaneously that were both of interest to me, which was a shame, but is unavoidable. The discussion threads and photos posted to Flickr after the event at least provided some information on what I had missed.
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   Try not to put two sessions on that I wanted to attend at the same time, just kidding, seriously, I enjoyed all aspects of the day.
   Our biggest complaint – we try to avoid putting ‘similar’ or apparently competitive on workshops on alongside each other but sometimes it’s just unavoidable. I suspect a less diverse Photocamp would be less enjoyable on the whole! We’re also planning to re-run some of the more popular sessions at Exposure Leeds and the next Photocamp.
7. Was disappointed with the sessions that just did a slide show/portfolio of their work. Want tips/tricks not these are some of my shots. I can see a slide show of examples at home on flickr etc…
   Interesting comment – verbal feedback I got was there wasn’t enough presentation type workshops! However – I understand your concern; maybe this is a case where audience participation may have uncovered these secrets! Photocamp is a sharing experience and the presenters are rarely ‘pro’ – so it is great to get to answer pressing questions form fellow delegates!
   
   
8. While not all the sessions gave me something concrete to take away, what they did all provide was something less tangible, inspiration and weeks later I’m still feeling the ripple effect of the things I picked up on the day and also evangelising to friends about the day.
   Excellent news – and brilliant feedback. This is exactly what Photocamp is about.
9. I’d be tempted to attend more of the technical sessions than I did this year.
   Go for it! If Photocamp has one underlying aim for the individual is that they develop – skills, experiences and contacts/friendships!
   
   
10. Enjoyed the type of content more than the first Photocamp, (as it was more centred around projects, ideas and concepts than technique and equipment – or at least that is how it felt).
    It was – thanks for noticing!
11. Just a personal choice thing but found one or two of the sessions less detail than on the first photocamp and learned less – but I did share more and so see it is about passing on stuff as well as receiving.
    Another nail, hit on the head!
12. Another enjoyable event. Plenty on offer in the sessions and a different range of topics compared to the first Photocamp
    Thanks!
    
    
13. I did find the closing session a bit of a drone, mainly because, as someone with difficulties hearing, following a room full of speakers is the most challenging situation, but also perhaps because as a newer photographer, I’m more into art and technicals than ‘issues’.
Whilst we try to keep events as accessible as possible it’s not always possible.
    I found that end session very stressful; so it may not be repeated for that very reason! I think you also identified a difficulty with plenary sessions!
14. Maybe try and invite a Star expert person to do a talk. Even if the price has to go up to cover it and we have one person who is a real recognised expert in there field. A whole day of recognised experts is not in the spirit of Photocamp and wouldn’t work but I think one guest would really add to the day.
    This is something I would love to offer – but have no ideas who we should invite (and whom is ‘affordable’. Any suggestions?
15. Difficult to get the level right on photoshop sessions – some people do some things all the time while others have never come across techniques, but generally always something for my level of ignorance – don’t assume too much knowledge …
    I mentioned before the importance of audience participation – I think it really has to be up to the delegates to ask if a session is going over their heads. However, I will try to attempt that summaries for technical sessions give some indication of prior experience required.
16. There were so many sessions I wanted to do which clashed, so I missed out on some great stuff.
    Yeah – me too, crap isn’t it?

And finally…

• The event was good value for money. I enjoyed the sponsored cakes too!
  I’ll let David at Imagenomic know!
• You should find a better way of giving out the freebies. Even if it’s something completely random like a raffle. Those of us who were off to one side and weren’t in your field of view didn’t really have a chance.
  Ok..!
  
  
• Mind-blowing that such a thing has come about…
• It was my first Photocamp and it was awesome! I was inspired to start a 365 project and I liked meeting new people and old friends.
• Keep up the good work.
  
  
• If I had any criticism of the event it would just be that the online information about it in the lead up was a bit fragmented, with the flickr group, upcoming event, facebook, website and so on. It left a feeling that you might be missing something. It was easier to find out the latest at Click’n'sup and do it that way. It’d be great to pull all these bits together into a hub, maybe a simple wordpress blog with widgets showing the latest flickr pics in the pool, upcoming info etc etc… Am happy to help if needed…
  Yeah – it was a bit fragmented; in part due to feedback from the prior Photocamp – I’m going to take you up on your offer and between us we should be able to relaunch photocamp.org.uk for the July ticket launch!
• Keep up the good work! It’s great to find something like this, for such a low cost, in the country, let alone in my home city. I feel privileged to have been able to attend, was amazed at the price, and was sorry I hadn’t found Leeds Flickr earlier. Thank you!
• Really enjoyed the event. Thanks for all the hard work organising it.
• Mate you deserve so much praise for delivering these events! they are very cool and have defs pushed me forward!
  { Blush }
  
  
• Can we have better coffee?
  Sure… but you didn’t really come for the coffee, did you?

• Just great stuff and we all owe you a lot for getting it together
  Ta; maybe you could club together and get me a Leica?
• Thank you for organising it. I’m sure that setting the event up involved a lot of hard work, and your efforts are much appreciated!
• A big pat on the back and ^5 for all those involved.
• I thought the event was fantastically well organised, friendly and a great chance to network, meet new people and attend some fascinating sessions. Thank you so much.
• Well done every one involved in organising it. It was a real success )
• I feel I am still thrashing about a bit in terms of my progress as a photographer. I need to meet more people to share ideas, and also to collaborate on projects. I plan to attend further Photocamps, and follow Exposure Leeds remotely, so I’d appreciate it if it was kept in mind that remote Flickrites enjoy following the latest output from friendly photo experts we’ve met in person.
• Good job, looking forward to the next one.
• a great sharing experience
• Twas a fun day
• At the end when you gave out the prizes it would have been nice if everyone’s name had been in a bucket and then drawn out. Some of the people around me were interested in prizes but as an observer it felt like they went to people that were already known to you. 
I found the event really enthused me to get back into an be more serious about my photography – I have my little badge on my bag as a reminder! Thanks for all the time and effort everyone put into it – Leeds should be proud to have such dedicated people.
  Ok, hand’s up – a lot of the prizes went to people who had gone the extra mile in helping before and on the day. The prize giving fell a little in the planning stakes this time – and wasn’t seen as a priority. I almost just gave them as a ‘super prize’ to the ‘best workshop’. It’ll certainly be considered for the next Photocamp!

• With respect to the question on ‘has Photocamp changed your photography’. I am sure it will improve my photography but, since the talks I attended were more conceptual that technical, the impact of what I have learnt will take longer to show themselves in my photography. The main lessons learnt were to free myself of the old school photography constraints and learn to experiment more with technical and creative aspects. The need to use projects as a way to further develop my photography. Thanks again for organising the event.
• Looking forward to the next one
• Hope there are many more.