Scott Kelby’s 3rd Annual Worldwide Photo Walk is less than two weeks away on Saturday, July 24th. I’m excited to be leading a photo walk again this year, and we’ll be meeting in the Dallas uptown area. For those unfamiliar with the photo walk, it is one of the largest global photography events, with over 1000 cities and nearly 25,000 photographers & photo enthusiasts shooting in a single day. Each walk is limited to 50 participants, so sign up for the Dallas walk now. Our walk will take place Saturday morning, and feel free to contact me with any questions.

The photo walk is open to anyone regardless of skill level OR camera type. (Cell phone cameras are welcome!) We’ll have plenty of mentors on hand that day for all your photography & Photoshop/Lightroom questions. Be sure to register before all the spots are filled.

Photo by John Hays, Photoshop by Yours Truly

Digital Photography Club – Tuesday, July 14th at 7pm: Pet Photo Night. Darryl is going to setup two stages one for dogs, and one for cats. Feel free to bring an iguana or rabbit if you’re so inspired. Cost $35.

Texas Glamour Club – Wednesday, July 15th at 7pm: Join Darryl & crew at Hooters downtown for the usual dinner & lively conversation.

Worldwide Photowalk – Saturday, July 18th all day. I’ve linked my previous post for locations around the metroplex. If you haven’t signed up now’s the time. No cost.

Texas Glamour Club – Sunday, July 19th at Noon: Lunch, Ladies & Lingerie. Darryl’s redefining the term, “lunch & learn.” Barbecue & workshop cost is $199.

That’s the wrap for this week folks. Feel free to contact me if you have future events planned, or if you would like me to add your usergroup to my community page.

We’re about a week and a half away from Scott Kelby’s 2nd Annual Worldwide Photowalk. I’ve been getting plenty of messages about the event–specifically participation for the Dallas walk–and I thought it best to consolidate my answers here. Before I get into those questions, I thought folks local to the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex should know there are several walks going on. Here are a list of cities, some of which have available openings for participants:

Arlington – 26 spots left. This walk takes place in the morning, with two meeting times – 7AM & 9AM.

Dallas – Full with waiting list. I will be leading this morning walk downtown. Walk kicks off at 8AM.

Dallas/Fort Worth (Frisco) – 19 spots left. Please note this walk is listed as Dallas, but the location will be in Frisco. This is an evening walk scheduled for 6PM.

Fort Worth – Full with waiting list. This is an evening walk starting at 7pm.

Fort Worth Museum District – 46 spots left. This is an evening walk starting at 6PM.

Grapevine – 34 spots left. This is a morning walk starting at 8:30AM.

McKinney – 19 spots left. This is an evening walk starting at 6:30PM.

North Dallas – 46 spots left. Please note the location is by White Rock Lake. This is a morning walk starting at 9AM.

Plano – 42 spots left. This is a morning walk starting at 9AM.

As you can see, many of the locations throughout the metroplex have openings. If you thought you’d miss out because Dallas and Fort Worth were full, now’s the time to register for another city (one that might even be closer to you). Alright, now for your questions:

1. Why haven’t I heard anything?

Speaking to Dallas participants, my apologies. Last year I sent out a number of messages leading up to the walk. The feedback I received is it was too much communication, and therefore I have let the main website FAQ handle any immediate questions. Certainly email me if you would like more information.

2. What if I want to change cities?

If you want to register for another city, please contact the walk leader for the city you originally registered. You must be removed from that city prior to registering somewhere else.

3. What can you tell me about the contest?

I can tell you that only registered participants can enter the contest. Currently, NAPP is working on the official submission process, but many cities are creating Flickr groups or Facebook pages in anticipation of photo submissions. I will have details for Dallas participants the day of the walk.

4. Do I need an expensive “professional” camera to participate?

No. You are welcome to use any type of camera you wish. Last year, I had a student show up and use their cell phone camera.

5. Any suggestions on what lens I should bring?

If you are using a DSLR you may be tempted to bring your entire bag of tricks. I would suggest pairing down to the least amount of gear possible. We’ll be walking through the city, and a backpack or roller bag will feel pretty cumbersome after the first couple of blocks. Does this mean you CAN’T bring lots of lenses & bodies? No. Bring whatever you feel comfortable with. Last year I used a 24-105mm lens, and an 18-55mm lens.

6. What else do I need?

Comfortable shoes. I can’t stress this enough. While this isn’t a sprint, if you’re not used to being on your feet for extended periods of time, you will be sore. Bottled water. We’ll be shooting in the morning, and hopefully beat much of the heat, but you’ll want to stay hydrated. Business cards. This will be an opportunity to network with like-minded folks. Folks who enjoy photography as much as you, but may work in an industry outside of photography. Who knows? You might meet that dentist or attorney you’ve needed. Pen & notebook. If photography is a new passion, might I suggest you keep a photo diary that day. You might jot down what camera settings you used for a particular photo, your thoughts or other anecdotes for reference later. You’ll also have an opportunity to chat with other photographers, and perhaps write down some good information they pass along to you.

7. Do I have to stay with the group during the walk?

No. Last year, we had several folks break off into smaller groups and do their own thing. Every city is different, but the idea of the photowalk is to shoot & socialize. Moving a crowd of 50 people can be quite a task, but it’s not a requirement for the photowalk’s success. Your leaders are there to act as a guide, and I’m sure each city leader will have their own style they bring to the walk. Last year, I handed out a suggested route for participants, and we moved in smaller groups of 3 to 10 people.

8. Where’s my t-shirt?

I’m glad you asked. You can help the Spring Hope Orphanage in Kenya by purchasing the Official Photowalk T-shirt. $5 from each sale goes to help Scott’s philanthropic cause.

Photowalk = Fun.

Regardless of your skill level, the photowalk should be a fun event. If you’re someone who likes to plan, then I encourage you to flip through photo books, visit your favorite photographer websites, chat with your colleagues, and think about what images you’ll try and capture the day of the event. However, don’t get so caught up in the planning you lose the spontaneity of the event.

That’s it for now. Feel free to shoot me a message if you have questions either about the Dallas photowalk or the event in general.

I hope to NEVER choose a winning photo ALL BY MYSELF ever again. There were a number of excellent photos, and it was not an easy decision to pick just one. Truly, it was not. Picking winner = Not fun. There were over 450 total photos that I went through, and I could have easily made a tie between several (if that were a choice).

At exactly 11:55PM after spending most of my day, and all evening wrestling with a decision, the winning photo came from Bradley Atchison.

© Bradley Atchison

If you’re looking for a great way to view a lot of photos on Flickr or any photo site, I highly recommend Cool Iris, a web browser plugin for Firefox. http://www.cooliris.com/ Not only does it render images beautifully (the upsizing of small photos is amazing), it has an image search function. I was able to pull in all 450 photos, without needing to navigate 20+ web pages.

UPDATE Aug 31, 2008 – Scott Kelby posted his choice for the Grand Prize Winner. You can also view all the city winners on the Photo Walk site.

There are 300+ images to go through, some of which I’ll look at today, and then I’ll make my final decision tomorrow. Won’t be easy, but perhaps that winning photo will be so obvious the choice will be a clear one. I didn’t want to be put to the task alone, so the Dallas Flickr photo that receives the most votes within the group will also get a prize donated by yours truly.

There are some amazing photos taken from all over the world. Be sure to checkout the other Photo Walk city pages. If you have pictures of the photo walk itself (group shots, other photographers) please post them to the Flickr group created by NAPP.

I hope you’re as excited as I am to meet up for the Photo Walk this Saturday. The weather has been pretty wet all week, but I’m hoping we will catch a break. On the upside, the rain should make for a cooler evening.

Here is a daytime picture of Sonny Bryan’s Smokehouse where we will meet. The Dallas Photo Walk page has been updated with the latest Google map, which you can get directions. The address is 302 N Market St
Dallas, TX 75202.

I went to several restaurants, and all wanted some sort of banquet reservation for a group of our size. Not a real problem except for deposits, and the insistence of a single party catering ticket. I hope that Sonny’s will accommodate us a bit better, but will know more Saturday night.

As a last reminder here are things to keep in mind for our walk:

1. Safety. Safety. Safety. Be aware of your surroundings, e.g, people, traffic, non-moving objects, and keep an eye on your gear.

2. Pair off. It will be a challenge to keep the entire group moving together, and it’s NOT a requirement for all of you to move when I move. I will be breaking folks down into smaller teams so YOU will always be paired with someone.

3. Comfort. I know my Twitter avatar looks pretty lean, but my Mii character is quite the portly fellow. Be sure to wear good shoes, and bring water if you’re inclined.

4. Camera Gear. If this is your first Photo Walk then you may be inclined to “bring the kitchen sink” just so you don’t miss the one shot of the evening. My suggestion is to keep your pack light; I wouldn’t bring more than two lenses. A tripod would be useful, but a monopod easier to handle.

5. Flickr Group. If you haven’t done so, NOW is the time to register for the Flickr group. I have received a number of requests already. The only suggestion I have is PLEASE include your real name in the request. Crazy_Photographer2789 is a fine handle, but I have nothing to match up against my registration list.

NOTE - Your photos will need to be posted by midnight Tuesday, August 26th.

Alright, that’s my last minute pep talk. See everyone at the walk!

Here’s some additional information for those folks interested in signing up:

What is a Photowalk? Jeff Revell was a guest blogger on Scott’s site, and put together this great article on what to expect on a photowalk. It’s a good read if you’ve never gathered with other photographers like paparazzi. *chuckle*

Official Photowalk Website – Scott Kelby gives you an introduction to this gathering of photo enthusiasts. This is a FREE social event, but given Scott’s generous nature there will be a handful of prizes to win. Visit the Dallas city page to register for the photowalk.

Scott’s Photowalk Q&A – Scott answers additional questions that have come up since announcing the Photowalk event.

Dallas was just added last night, and I’m putting together the plans for our city photowalk. Feel free to leave any questions/comments, and I will be updating information on the Dallas city page as well as here on the blog.

REGISTRATION UPDATE 08/01/2008 – Just got the word from John Hays that you need to be sure you pick your city BEFORE submitting the registration form. If you miss that, your email address will get eaten, and you’ll have to register with a different address.