The Phorum
The Phorum was formed in response to requests for a meeting place which would allow photographers to be acknowledged for
their work, to have it peer appraised with lively discussion and to learn from others in the group.
Unlike many Camera Clubs there are no competitions and each month there is a set theme chosen by the group,
the results of which are reviewed at each meeting.
Our themes tend to be abstract ideas which allow for a broad range of interpretation.
We find the themes help to focus our ideas and observations to produce better photography, however,
there is no requirement to follow the theme and some photographers regularly present images purely
for the pleasure of having their work seen and discussed.
We have regular talks and workshops covering technique, the history and range of genres of photography and well known practitioners.
One of the aims of the group is for our work to be seen.
We have regular exhibitions - our last show took place in the Southampton City Art Gallery -
April - June 2023 entitled DENIZENS, a collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery's show in the gallery featuring local well
known people and artists.
Our January to March 2017 exhibition was a great success however, our 2020 exhibition, postponed because of lockdown was
finally cancelled.
Our cancelled exhibition "British" is here online:
http://www.photomills.co.uk/gallery/phorumex2020/
We are also keen on the publication of self published photography books and utilising Flickr and our
own websites to display our work.
Our meetings take place on the last Thursday of every month.
The group is made up of very enthusiastic and prolific amateur photographers.
Many attend and present their work regularly and we have a subscriber list of over 180 photographers
from around the area with some as far away as London, Devon, Bolton and the Hebrides, the US, Canada, Australia..
Absolute beginners can find their way with help and advice from those of us more knowledgeable and those
with experience and skill can expand, find new creativity and direction away from the sometimes limited
range of ideas and genres available in traditional clubs. We encourage the naive, the not too sure, the unskilled
and experimenters, artists and the artless. We tend to eschew the slick and the mawkish.
For more information: If you would like to join the group or if you would like to be added to our mailing
list for a newsletter about our activities with a monthly gallery of the photography presented by participating members
please send an email to: