Viewfinders: Meeting place for people passionate about photography celebrates 30th birthday

Viewfinders Photography Club of Brussels is celebrating its 30th anniversary with its sight set on the future while reflecting on three decades of sharing skills, building experience and staging exhibitions.

Since its founding in October 1994, the club has been a central point for a vibrant community to share their passion for photography. A place where photographers of all backgrounds, genres and skill levels have met, discussed, shot together, and formed life-long friendships.

As the club celebrates this significant milestone, it looks ahead to an exciting future with even more opportunities to inspire its members and remain open to the wider public. 

With a membership spanning many nationalities, English is the common language, and a wide range of activities inspire and educate members. At the monthly meetings, which are in person and live-streamed, participants can show their work and engage in discussions on various photographic techniques and genres. Often, these meetings feature guest speakers, experts in their field, who share their insights and experience. 

Viewfinders also regularly organises photo walks for members: informal outings throughout Belgium where photography skills can be honed in a variety of settings. These walks are a great opportunity, not only to capture beautiful images, but also to meet and share ideas with fellow members.

The club aims to create a supportive atmosphere where members can learn from each other and grow their skills together, whatever their type of camera gear or genre of photography, be it street, macro, wildlife, portrait or night photography. Viewfinders happily welcomes anyone with a love for photography, from beginner-level enthusiasts to professional photographers. Some members simply like looking at photographs! 

Each season - September to June - photo challenges are set for club members, encouraging friendly competition and pushing participants to explore their creativity. Valuable opportunities for public exposure and professional development come from collective exhibitions, and help is provided to individual members with organising smaller group or individual exhibitions. The club collaborates with a well-established art centre in Brussels to stage shows. 

A bi-monthly magazine is published, providing information about past meetings, upcoming events and exhibitions, offering articles on different photo techniques or genres. Importantly, each issue presents a large collection of member photos. 

Viewfinders has exciting plans to expand its offer to the public. It envisages introducing public photo walks and beginner workshops, allowing photography enthusiasts from the wider community to participate and benefit from the club’s wealth of knowledge and experience. This initiative aims to help cultivate the love for photography beyond membership. 

Going into another decade of continued commitment and new opportunities, Viewfinders is looking forward to continuing their journey as a meeting place for people of all backgrounds who are passionate about photography.

If you are interested in receiving more information about upcoming events, membership, and how to get involved, visit www.viewfinders.be. 

Photos: (main image) © Collage by Erick ESPINOZA; Peter LOEFFLER; Peter LOEFFLER; Damiano RINAURO; Erick ESPINOZA