I think most everyone has heard about the upcoming Worldwide Photowalk put together by Scott Kelby. July 18th will be the second annual event and more than 17,000 photographers will be attending photowalks all over the globe. Photowalks are a wonderful social event for photographers and can also be very beneficial from a networking perspective. Here are some ideas that I have come up with that you can do to ensure you get a lot more out of the photowalk than just a fun time.
1. Come up with some topics and subject ideas prior to the event so that you are not wondering around trying to come up with an idea when you could be shooting. You can even pretend that you are going out on assignment to capture a specific theme. But don’t get too engrossed in this as then you will not be taking advantage of the social aspect of the event.
Look at some photography books and magazines prior to the event to help you get some ideas on things you want to try shooting...
2. Carry some sort of business card with your name, email address, and links to any of your websites or social networking sites. If you don’t have a business card then make a small piece of card stock paper with a printed sticker or hand writing with your information on it. When you talk to people at the photowalk, give them a card! Remember, this event is more of a social event so be social and pass out your information!
This may be a good time to create that Twitter account or Facebook page that you’ve been thinking about…
3. Ask other photographers what it is they see in a scene they are shooting. Everyone has a unique perspective on how they see the world… try to broaden your own vision by asking others what their vision is. I have found that artists love to share how they see the world. So ask! You never know… someones answer may change your own view and put you on a path to great things!
Don’t talk just to your friends… talk to photographers that you don’t already know! Get their perspective and their ideas...
4. At the end of the event, talk to the other photographers and set up a photowalk for August. After the last Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk we set up four or five photowalks in the area and kept most of the group together. Don’t limit the fun event to a single day… let this event grow into a monthly fun event where you and your new friends get together to share in your collective hobby.
5. After the event is over, get your best images processed and uploaded to the Worldwide Photowalk site to try winning prizes from the event. Many people in the walk I was on last year didn’t submit any photos and miss out on their chance to win anything. Even if you don’t have any great images, upload them anyway so the other photographers on the walk with you can see them. Maybe one or two of them will contact you with some ideas on how to improve your ability.
Now may be a good time to create that Flickr account that you’ve been thinking about setting up…
6. Write up your thoughts about the event and post them on a blog, forum, or community website with some of your images. This is just another way to network and socialize after the event is completed. If you have your own blog or website, post it there. If you don’t, post it on the NAPP forums or any of the other photography communities out there.
If you want a blog, talk to Vanelli at Exposure PAS. He creates and hosts blogs for other photographers!
7. Once all is said and done… go back and re-walk the same path again either alone or with other photographers. Take the things that you learned from the first walk and apply them on this walk. I am sure you will have one or two places that you want to shoot again to try a different technique or angle. Learn from your past mistakes and take a second shot at it… you’ll be glad you did!
Anyone else have any ideas on how to get the most from the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk? Leave them in a comment so everyone can benefit!!
Terry,
Loved your HDR stuff…. I’m a real fan of the technique, and I’m looking forward to using it on 7/25/09 at the 7th annual “Bitches on the Beach” all women fishing tournament in Melbourne Beach, right out in front of the old SBI…. my friend Peg runs it….we have a blast……
I’m doing Kelby’s photowalk down here in Fort Lauderdale, actually twice that day….. once with a group in the morning (unofficially, since he’s already got more than 50 people), and then officially that same evening, in basically the same location…..will be interesting to see the same place, at different times of day….. I am a big fan of the beaches up there where you are, and just the area in general…… too bad I’m not coming up to melbourne for a week until 7/24….it’d be great fun to do a photowalk there…… if you are ever planning another photowalk around melbourne….on a weekend…. .i’d love to come up, visit friends, and be a part of your walk!! I’m a fan!!!
all for now……
susan
.-= Check out Susan´s last blog post….On the Barge!! =-.
Hi Susan,
Thanks for the comment. Glad to hear you are going to attend a couple of the photowalks down in your area. They are a lot of fun! We used to host photowalks once a month but after getting busy stopped. It is something that I am wanting to get started again. Anything that gets set up will be posted here on the blog so keep an eye out for when we get it rolling again!
Glad to have you on board and look forward to meeting you in person at some photowalk in the future!
Terry
But how and where can you do this:
5. After the event is over, get your best images processed and uploaded to the Worldwide Photowalk site to try winning prizes from the event
I am a photowalk leader but did not receive or find any information how and where to upload the pictures….
From what I have heard the photo uploading will be done directly on the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk website. I think it is limited to 10 photos per person. That is just what I am remembering from something RC posted a while back… I could be wrong.
Terry,
Same question. I have been a little frustrated with the disconnected communication on this as I would like to let everyone know where to go to upload their photos since we only have one week to get them submitted.
Would be nice if someone could give us the 411 on this.
My guess… and this is only a guess… is that the NAPP web guru is still getting the photo upload functionality completed. That is the only reason I can think of that they haven’t put out a video showing the walk through of how to do it. Again, that is just my guess… Either way I am sure they will release something on the Worldwide Photowalk blog this week since the walk is in a few days!
I read that we should be using Lightroom to upload to the site on one of the blogs. However many have not got lightroom nor want to download a free trial and find out how to use it before the upload, preferring to use exisiting software. Will there be capacity for uploading without Lightroom.
We must get something clear on this people are asking me as walk leader and it is only days away!
Hi Paul,
RC made a video and posted it on the official photowalk blog that talks a little about this. It is available here: http://worldwidephotowalk.com/blog/2009/07/06/jesus-walks/. Based on your comment though I assume you’ve already seen it since you mentioned getting the free trial of Lightroom that RC mentioned. I do not know for a fact yet if there will be another method but I think there will be. In the video he said something like “one way” or “the easiest way” when talking about the Lightroom plug-in. So I am pretty sure there will be an alternate method but I cannot say for absolute fact. I am working on getting a solid answer for you on this one.
Terry
I just heard that there will be a web interface for uploading photos that will not require Lightroom.
I am cambodian who studying in Singapore. I am very happy to see that event happen in my hometown. I have registered and book air ticket. I wish I could fill my dream to join the Worldwidephotowalk 09.
.-= Check out Rooster_kool´s last blog post….Nn3nNa!! =-.
I HAVE GOT TO GET NEW BUSINESS CARDS. You just reminded me. Mine are so old that I wasn’t even on Twitter or Facebook when they were made.
I’m nervous but excited about our walk. I’m what you might call an under-confident photographer. At least I got two fellow mom bloggers to sign up with me!
.-= Check out Dawn @ My Home Sweet Home´s last blog post….Wordless Wednesday: Jellyfish x2!! =-.
I need to get new ones too. I have about 10 left. I am changing the style and info on the cards so it isn’t as simple as ordering more. I have to go through the process of determining what I want, doing the design, and all that. Meaning it is going to take me a long time to get new ones! As long as I have them before Photoshop World in October I’ll be ok!