Joining a Photography Club as a Beginner | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Joining a Photography Club as a Beginner to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ich denke darüber nach, einem Fotoclub beizutreten, aber ich fühle mich unerfahren.

ikh DEN-kuh dah-ROO-bair nahkh, EYE-num FOH-toh-kloob BYE-tsoo-TRAY-ten, AH-ber ikh FOO-luh mikh oon-air-FAH-ren. I am thinking about joining a photography club, but I feel inexperienced.

Such dir einen Fotoclub, der Anfänger willkommen heißt und klare Anleitungen gibt.

zookh deer EYE-nen FOH-toh-kloob, dair AN-feng-er vil-KOM-men HIGHST oont KLAH-ruh AHN-lye-toong-en GEEPT. Look for one that welcomes beginners and gives clear guidance.

Dieser Fotoclub bietet Fotowalks und Feedbackrunden an.

DEE-zer FOH-toh-kloob BEE-tet FOH-toh-wawks oont FEED-bek-ROON-den AHN. This club offers photo walks and feedback sessions.

Das ist hilfreich, weil du die Technik durch echte Praxis lernen kannst.

dahs ist HILF-rykh, vyle doo dee TEKH-neek doorkh EHKH-tuh PRAHK-sis LAIR-nen kahnst. That is useful because you can learn technique through real practice.

Ich mache mir Sorgen, dass alle anderen hochwertige Kameras haben werden.

ikh MAKH-uh meer ZOR-gen, dahs AH-luh AHN-der-en HOHK-vair-tig-uh KAH-meh-rahss HAH-ben VAIR-den. I worry that everyone else will have advanced cameras.

Ein guter Fotoclub konzentriert sich auf die Bildkomposition und nicht nur auf die Ausrüstung.

ine GOO-ter FOH-toh-kloob kon-tsen-TREET zikh owf dee BILT-kom-poh-zee-TSYOHN oont nikht noor owf dee OWF-roos-toong. A good club focuses on composition, not just equipment.

Vielleicht stärkt das Teilen von Fotos mein Selbstvertrauen.

fee-LYKHT shtairkt dahs TAI-len fon FOH-tohs mine ZELPST-fair-TROU-en. Maybe sharing photos will build my confidence.

Es könnte dir auch helfen, mit der Zeit ein kleines Portfolio aufzubauen.

ess KURN-tuh deer owkh HEL-fen, mit dair TSYTE ine KLY-nes port-FOH-lee-oh OWF-tsoo-BOW-en. It could also help you start a small portfolio over time.

Vielleicht sollte ich vor meiner Entscheidung über einen Beitritt an einem Treffen teilnehmen.

fee-LYKHT SHOL-tuh ikh fohr MY-ner ent-SHY-doong OO-ber EYE-nen BYE-trit ahn EYE-nem TREF-en TYLE-nay-men. Maybe I should visit a meeting before deciding whether to join.

So kannst du sehen, ob die Atmosphäre zu dir passt.

zoh kahnst doo ZAY-en, op dee at-moh-SFEH-ruh tsoo deer pahst. That lets you see whether the atmosphere suits you.

Word by Word

Ich “Ich” means “I” here and identifies the person speaking. Use it as the subject when stating your own thought, feeling, or action.

denke “denke” means “think” in “Ich denke darüber nach”. Together with “darüber” and “nach”, it expresses considering something. Use this pattern when you are thinking about a decision or topic.

darüber “darüber” means “about it” or “about that” in “Ich denke darüber nach”. It refers to a topic already understood from the context. Use “darüber nachdenken” when considering a previously mentioned matter.

nach “nach” is the separable part that completes “denke darüber nach”, meaning “think about”. It appears at the end of this finite clause. Use it with the corresponding “... nachdenken” construction.

einem “einem” is the article form used in “einem Fotoclub beizutreten”, referring to the club one is considering joining. It appears with the complement of “beitreten” here. Reuse the pattern “einem ... beitreten” when talking about joining a club or organization.

Fotoclub “Fotoclub” means “photography club”. Here it is the club that the speaker is considering joining. Use it for a club centered on photography.

beizutreten “beizutreten” means “to join” in “einem Fotoclub beizutreten”. It is the infinitive used after the idea of thinking about an action. Use it with an organization or club as the thing being joined.

aber “aber” means “but” and introduces a contrast between considering the club and feeling inexperienced. Use it to connect two contrasting statements.

fühle “fühle” means “feel” in “ich fühle mich unerfahren”. It describes the speaker’s current personal state. Use “fühle mich” with a description when saying how you feel.

mich “mich” means “me” and is the reflexive pronoun used with “fühle” in “ich fühle mich unerfahren”. It refers back to the subject “Ich”. Use the matching reflexive pronoun when describing your own state with “fühlen”.

unerfahren “unerfahren” means “inexperienced” and describes how the speaker feels about photography. It identifies a lack of experience rather than a permanent identity. Use it after a form of “fühlen” to describe feeling inexperienced in an activity.

Such “Such” means “look for” in this direct informal suggestion. It addresses one person and begins the advice “Such dir einen Fotoclub”. Use it to tell a familiar person to search for something.

dir “dir” means “for you” or “to you” in “Such dir einen Fotoclub”, showing that the person should find one for themselves. It is used with the informal singular “du”. Reuse the pattern “Such dir ...” when advising someone to choose or find something for themselves.

einen “einen” means “a” in “einen Fotoclub” and introduces the club being sought. It is the article form used before this masculine singular object. Use it when referring to one such club as the object of the search.

der “der” means “that” or “which” in the relative clause describing the Fotoclub. It refers back to “Fotoclub” and introduces what the club does. Use it to connect a noun with more information about that noun.

Anfänger “Anfänger” means “beginners” in “Anfänger willkommen heißt”. These are the people the club welcomes. Use it when referring to people who are new to an activity.

willkommen heißt “willkommen heißt” means “welcomes” as a whole. “willkommen” supplies the idea of being welcome, while “heißt” forms the verb expression that says the club treats beginners as welcome. Use this expression when describing an organization’s friendly reception of a person or group.

und “und” means “and” and joins the two things the club does: welcoming beginners and giving clear guidance. Use it to connect related words, phrases, or actions.

klare “klare” means “clear” in “klare Anleitungen” and describes the guidance as easy to understand. Use it before a noun when describing instructions or explanations that are not confusing.

Anleitungen “Anleitungen” means “instructions” or “guidance”. Here the club provides them to help beginners. Use it for practical directions or explanations that show someone how to do something.

gibt “gibt” means “gives” or “provides” in “klare Anleitungen gibt”. It says that the club supplies guidance. Use “Anleitungen geben” when describing the provision of instructions.

Dieser “Dieser” means “this” in “Dieser Fotoclub”. It points to the specific club being discussed. Use it before a noun when identifying one particular thing in the current context.

bietet “bietet” means “offers” in “bietet Fotowalks und Feedbackrunden an”. It is part of the separable expression completed by “an”. Use it when describing activities or services that a club provides.

Fotowalks “Fotowalks” means “photo walks”. In the dialogue, these are activities offered by the photography club. Use it for organized walks during which participants take photographs.

Feedbackrunden “Feedbackrunden” means “feedback sessions”. Here they are club meetings in which participants can receive or exchange comments about their photos. Use it for a session organized around giving feedback.

an “an” is the separable part that completes “bietet ... an”, giving the expression the meaning “offers”. It appears at the end of the finite clause here. Use it with the offered activity placed between the verb and this particle.

Das “Das” means “that” here and refers to the photo walks and feedback sessions just mentioned. It is the subject of “ist hilfreich”. Use it to comment on a preceding idea or situation.

ist “ist” means “is” in “Das ist hilfreich”. It links the preceding activity with the description “hilfreich”. Use it to state what something is like or how it is evaluated.

hilfreich “hilfreich” means “helpful” or “useful”. Here it evaluates the club activities positively because they support learning. Use it to describe something that makes progress or a task easier.

weil “weil” means “because” and introduces the reason that the activities are helpful. In the clause beginning with “weil”, the verb forms come at the end. Use it to explain why something is useful or true.

du “du” means informal singular “you” and is the person who can learn the technique. Use it when addressing one familiar person directly.

die “die” means “the” before “Technik”. It identifies the particular technique being discussed. Use it with a noun when the thing is specific or already defined by the context.

Technik “Technik” means “technique” here, referring to photography technique. It is what the learner can develop through practice. Use it when discussing the practical methods or skills of an activity.

durch “durch” means “through” in “durch echte Praxis”. It shows the means by which the technique can be learned. Use “durch + noun” to describe learning or achieving something via a particular means.

echte “echte” means “real” or “genuine” in “echte Praxis”. It emphasizes actual practical experience. Use it to distinguish real experience from only discussing or studying something.

Praxis “Praxis” means “practice” or practical experience. Here it is the real activity through which photography technique is learned. Use it when contrasting hands-on experience with theory.

lernen “lernen” means “learn” in “die Technik durch echte Praxis lernen kannst”. It is the infinitive used with “kannst”. Use it with a skill or subject as the thing being learned.

kannst “kannst” means “can” and expresses the learner’s ability or possibility to learn. It addresses one person informally and is followed here by the infinitive “lernen”. Use it with an infinitive to describe what someone is able to do.

mache mir Sorgen “mache mir Sorgen” means “worry” as a whole. “mache” supplies “make”, “mir” identifies the person affected, and “Sorgen” supplies the worries; together they form the expression “make myself worries”. Use it in the pattern “Ich mache mir Sorgen, dass ...” when introducing something that concerns you.

dass “dass” means “that” and introduces the content of the speaker’s worry. It begins the subordinate clause “dass alle anderen hochwertige Kameras haben werden”, where the verb forms come at the end. Use it after expressions such as worrying to state what the concern is about.

alle “alle” means “all” or “everyone” in “alle anderen”. It refers to the whole group being compared with the speaker. Use it with a group expression when referring to everyone or everything in that group.

anderen “anderen” means “other” in “alle anderen”, giving the meaning “everyone else”. It separates the other club members from the speaker. Use “alle anderen” when referring to the rest of a group.

hochwertige “hochwertige” means “high-quality” and describes the cameras as advanced or high-end. It appears directly before “Kameras”. Use it before an equipment noun when emphasizing good quality.

Kameras “Kameras” means “cameras”. Here they are the equipment that the other club members may have. Use it for devices used to take photographs.

haben “haben” means “have” in “haben werden”. It is the infinitive used with the future auxiliary “werden” to express possession in the future. Use it with the thing someone will possess, such as “hochwertige Kameras” here.

werden “werden” functions as the future auxiliary in “hochwertige Kameras haben werden”. It places the possession in the future, with “haben” as the infinitive before it. Use “werden” with an infinitive when describing a future situation.

Ein “Ein” means “a” in “Ein guter Fotoclub” and introduces one good photography club. It identifies the club as an example of a good club. Use it before a singular noun when introducing one member of a category.

guter “guter” means “good” in “Ein guter Fotoclub”. It describes the club positively. Use it before a noun when evaluating that club or organization favorably.

konzentriert “konzentriert” means “focuses” in “konzentriert sich auf die Bildkomposition”. It describes what the club gives its attention to. Use it with “sich auf” to state the main focus of a person, group, or activity.

sich “sich” is the reflexive pronoun used with “konzentriert” in “konzentriert sich auf”. It forms the expression meaning “focuses on”. Use “sich auf etwas konzentrieren” when describing directed attention.

auf “auf” means “on” in “konzentriert sich auf die Bildkomposition”, marking the focus of attention. It belongs to the construction with “konzentriert sich”. Reuse “sich auf etwas konzentrieren” for the thing receiving someone’s focus.

Bildkomposition “Bildkomposition” means “image composition” or “composition”. Here it is the photographic aspect on which the club focuses. Use it when discussing how elements are arranged within an image.

nicht “nicht” means “not” and helps form the contrast “nicht nur auf die Ausrüstung”. It rejects the idea that equipment is the sole focus. Use it with “nur” to say that something is not the only relevant aspect.

nur “nur” means “only” or “just” in “nicht nur”. It limits the club’s focus to equipment when combined with “nicht”, creating the meaning “not just equipment”. Use “nicht nur ...” when adding another important aspect.

Ausrüstung “Ausrüstung” means “equipment”. In this dialogue it refers to photography gear, which is not the club’s only focus. Use it as a collective word for the tools needed for an activity.

Vielleicht “Vielleicht” means “maybe” and makes the speaker’s idea tentative. Here it introduces a possible effect of sharing photos. Use it to soften a suggestion or express uncertainty about a possibility.

stärkt “stärkt” means “strengthens” or “builds” in “stärkt ... mein Selbstvertrauen”. It describes sharing photos as something that may increase confidence. Use it when an activity or experience makes an ability, feeling, or quality stronger.

Teilen “Teilen” means “sharing” in “das Teilen von Fotos”. It names the activity of making photos available to others. Use “das Teilen von ...” to talk about sharing a particular thing as an activity.

von “von” means “of” in “Teilen von Fotos” and introduces the photos being shared. Use “das Teilen von + noun” when naming what is shared.

Fotos “Fotos” means “photos”. Here they are the images that may be shared with other club members. Use it for photographic images.

mein “mein” means “my” in “mein Selbstvertrauen” and identifies whose confidence is meant. It refers to the speaker. Use it before a noun connected with the speaker.

Selbstvertrauen “Selbstvertrauen” means “self-confidence”. Here it is the confidence that sharing photos may strengthen. Use it when talking about belief in your own ability or performance.

Es “Es” means “it” in “Es könnte dir auch helfen” and refers back to the idea of sharing photos. It functions as the subject of the possible benefit. Use it to refer to an action or idea just mentioned.

könnte “könnte” means “could” and expresses a possible, not certain, benefit. Here it introduces the possibility that the activity will help build a portfolio. Use it with an infinitive to describe a possible result or action.

auch “auch” means “also” or “too” and adds another possible benefit to the confidence-building effect. Use it when extending a statement with one more point.

helfen “helfen” means “help” in “dir auch helfen, mit der Zeit ein kleines Portfolio aufzubauen”. It is the infinitive after “könnte” and describes assistance with an action. Use it with the person who benefits and the activity that becomes easier.

mit “mit” contributes to the meaning “over” in the complete expression “mit der Zeit”. Together, the phrase describes gradual development as time passes. Use “mit der Zeit” when describing a change that happens gradually.

Zeit “Zeit” means “time” in “mit der Zeit”. Together with “mit”, it describes progress over a period. Use it in this expression when an effect develops gradually.

kleines “kleines” means “small” in “ein kleines Portfolio”. It describes the portfolio as limited or modest in size at the beginning. Use it before a noun when describing something as small.

Portfolio “Portfolio” means “portfolio”. Here it is a collection of the learner’s photographic work that can be developed over time. Use it for a collection that presents someone’s work or projects.

aufzubauen “aufzubauen” means “to build up” or “to develop” in “ein kleines Portfolio aufzubauen”. It is the infinitive describing the activity that help makes possible. Use it with something that is gradually created or developed over time.

sollte “sollte” means “should” in “Vielleicht sollte ich”. It presents a possible or advisable action the speaker is considering. Use it when suggesting what you or someone else ought to do.

vor “vor” means “before” in “vor meiner Entscheidung”. It places the meeting earlier than the decision. Use it with an event or decision when describing what happens beforehand.

meiner “meiner” means “my” in “vor meiner Entscheidung” and identifies the decision as belonging to the speaker. Use it before a noun connected with your own decision or experience.

Entscheidung “Entscheidung” means “decision”. Here it is the decision about whether to join the club. Use it when referring to the act or result of choosing between options.

über “über” means “about” in “Entscheidung über einen Beitritt”. It identifies the subject of the decision. Use “eine Entscheidung über ...” for a decision concerning a particular matter.

Beitritt “Beitritt” means “joining” or “membership” in “einen Beitritt”. Here it refers to joining the photography club. Use it for the act of becoming a member of an organization.

Treffen “Treffen” means “meeting” in “an einem Treffen teilnehmen”. It is the club gathering the speaker may attend before deciding. Use it for an arranged meeting or group gathering.

teilnehmen “teilnehmen” means “participate” or “attend” in “an einem Treffen teilnehmen”. It describes being present at and taking part in the meeting. Use the pattern “an einem Treffen teilnehmen” for attending a meeting.

So “So” means “so” or “in this way” and connects attending the meeting with the result of being able to see the atmosphere. Use it at the beginning of a sentence to show how one action leads to a result.

sehen “sehen” means “see” in “kannst du sehen, ob ...”. Here it means finding out or assessing whether something is suitable. Use “sehen, ob ...” when saying that an observation will determine an answer.

ob “ob” means “whether” and introduces the indirect yes-or-no question “ob die Atmosphäre zu dir passt”. The verb appears at the end of this subordinate clause. Use it after verbs such as “sehen” when checking whether something is true or suitable.

Atmosphäre “Atmosphäre” means “atmosphere”. Here it refers to the general social feeling of the photography club. Use it when evaluating the mood or character of a place or group.

zu “zu” is part of “zu dir passt”, the construction meaning “suits you”. It marks the person for whom the atmosphere is suitable. Use “zu jemandem passen” when saying that something matches a person or their preferences.

passt “passt” means “suits” or “fits” in “zu dir passt”. Here it asks whether the club’s atmosphere is a good match for the speaker. Use “zu ... passen” to describe suitability or compatibility.

Grammar Points

darüber nachdenken → denke darüber nach

denke darüber nach

DEN-kuh dah-ROO-bair NAHKH

think about something

The separable verb nachdenken splits in a finite form: denke appears near the beginning and nach moves to the end.

German Vocabulary

Anfänger noun

AN-feng-er beginner

Anleitung noun

AN-lye-toong guidance; instruction Anleitungen

beitreten verb

BYE-tray-ten to join beizutreten

darüber nachdenken phrase

dah-ROO-bair NAHKH-den-ken to think about something denke darüber nach

Feedbackrunde noun

FEED-bek-ROON-duh feedback session Feedbackrunden

Fotoclub noun

FOH-toh-kloob photography club

Fotowalk noun

FOH-toh-wawk photo walk Fotowalks

hilfreich adj

HILF-rykh helpful

Praxis noun

PRAHK-sis practice

Technik noun

TEKH-neek technique

unerfahren adj

oon-air-FAH-ren inexperienced

willkommen heißen phrase

vil-KOM-men HIGHSS to welcome willkommen heißt

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

inexperienced

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unerfahren

photo walk

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Fotowalks

photography club

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Fotoclub

guidance; instruction

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Anleitungen