Circle of Confusion Camera Club is affiliated with these camera club associations:

Southern California Council
of Camera Clubs

 Photographic Society
of America 

It all started in 1929, when several Whittier College students began making treks to photograph local scenes, including the Californian deserts and the Pacific Ocean.   They traveled in four-cylinder Chevrolets, Model A or Model T Fords and Essex automobiles, recording their jaunts on film.  Afterwards, they would get together to compare and critique the photographs they had taken.

In 1934, the group formally organized as the Whittier Camera Club, and invited others interested in photography to join the organization.  Later, the club renamed itself the Circle of Confusion Camera Club (What's in a name?  See note, below).  In the early days, members were interested in producing photographic prints.   The technology of photography advanced and color slide film became available, so slides were eventually incorporated into Club competitions and shows.  And now, of course, the club includes images from digital cameras in shows and competitions, as well.

The purpose of the Circle of Confusion Camera Club is to promote appreciation of the art of photography and understanding of the science of photography.   This is accomplished through competition meetings, special instructional programs and workshops, and field trips designed to encourage members to take those perfect photographs.

At competition meetings, qualified judges from outside the club are invited to critique and score the photographic entries.  Competitive entries are divided into four Divisions: Color, Nature, Photojournalism and Photo Travel.  Competitors in each division are divided into two classes, based on the level of skill and experience of participants.  Awards for outstanding work are given at the end of the year.  

At program meetings, special programs are presented to help members improve their camera skills.  Past program meetings have included the PSA Recorded Lecture Series and instructional talks by visiting photographers. Other program meetings have included Photo Shoots of items furnished by club members to be photographed, for example, models, animals, black light, glass setups, etc.  Travel slide shows by club members are occasionally shown at program meetings.

The club has conducted workshops and field trips to places like Anza-Borrego Desert, Yosemite, Death Valley, Joshua Tree National Monument, the Ancient Bristlecone Forest and the kayak races in Kernville.  Fall-color photography outings to locales like Lee Vining, Mono Lake and Bishop have been past favorites.   Outings to photograph hot air balloons, hang gliders, sky divers, zoos, fountains, tall buildings with interesting geometric lines and night photography have also been popular.  

The Circle of Confusion Camera Club is renowned for having produced an annual International Exhibition of Photography.   The year 2002 marked the club's 65th consecutive Exhibition.  In some years, entries came from over 40 foreign countries, in addition to domestic entries.  As many as 5,000 slides, submitted by over 1200 individuals, were judged at these public Exhibitions.  (Recently, resource constraints have put the International Exhibition on hiatus.)

Everyone interested in photography as an art, as a science, as a mystery or as a miracle is welcome to attend meetings of the Circle of Confusion Camera Club and participate in Club events.   Photographers at all skill levels are welcome to join the Circle of Confusion Camera Club to enjoy the comaradery of fellow photographers and experience the thrill of photographic competition.

Bill Tegeler  
(Updated Jan 2007 by R. Kreis)

NOTE (What's in a name?):
Every point of light captured in a photograph is actually rendered as a small circular area called a "circle of confusion."  The diameter of these circles depends on the quality of the lens and the accuracy of the focus.  Smaller circles of confusion produce more clearly defined images.   When artists of the Renaissance spoke of circles of confusion, they were referring to the luminous effects of the camera obscura, a forerunner to the modern camera that used a tiny pinhole for its lens.   The camera obscura was used by artists to help them create perspective in their paintings.  Vermeer was perhaps the best-known artist to use the camera obscura. Many of his paintings show the effects of circles of confusion.  (Adapted from the preface to Circles of Confusion, by April Henry)