Oulu Camera Club is a photography enthusiasts’ community based in Oulu, bringing the perspective of amateur photographers into the Hymyilevä Oulu 26 project and the documentation of Oulu’s European Capital of Culture year.
Oulun Kameraseura ry is a photography enthusiasts’ community based in Oulu, whose activities include photo evenings, excursions, training sessions, and exhibitions. The club offers its members opportunities to learn, share experiences, and photograph together.
Cooperation with Hymyilevä Oulu 26 follows this natural path. The project aims to collect photographs of everyday life and people in Oulu over the course of the year, while the camera club contributes local expertise and the perspective of amateur photographers.
In practice, the collaboration is visible through opportunities for project participants to join the club’s photo walks and excursions. During these activities, participants exchange ideas, share tips, and photograph together in different parts of Oulu. The goal is to lower the threshold for participation and provide support for developing one’s own photography.
The camera club also takes part in the evaluation of the competition. One or two representatives of the club act as judges, bringing local knowledge and experience across different areas of photography to the assessment process.
The 2026 European Capital of Culture year will bring a wide range of events and visibility to Oulu. Photography plays an important role in documenting the year, and the aim of the collaboration is to encourage as many people as possible to record their own everyday lives and surroundings.
Oulun Kameraseura and Hymyilevä Oulu 26 carry out this work together, making photography approachable and helping as many people as possible find their own way to participate. Participation can also continue within Oulun Kameraseura in many different ways.
