Creative Tips and Ideas for Your Next Photowalk

This post should help you on your next upcoming photowalk.

Photowalking is the act of walking with a camera for the main purpose of taking pictures of things that the photographer may find interesting. While not exclusive to digital photography, in practice digital photography makes photowalking more realistic as a hobby due to its experimental nature, the number of pictures typically taken in the process, and the possibility of post-processing afterward.  While related to street photography, photowalking is differentiated by the main impetus being to photograph things of interest rather than people specifically. It is also often done as a method to practice and improve one’s own photography skills rather than a with specific focus on documentary photography.

- Wikipedia

This is mainly how photowalking is defined on Wikipedia.  Key thing to note and remember is that you can make a photowalk about whatever you want. Photograph people if you want, focus on documentary styles.  Break rules!  Some of the tips or subjects that I’m going to mention for a photowalk, could easily be adapted to photographic exploration in general and not just relate to a photowalk. I am going to present some tips and ideas that could really improve your creative spirit and you could come away from your photowalk with some extraordinary images. These ideas will seriously come to life if you make the effort to commit to them for the entire photowalk. What you might notice is that the photos at the beginning are bland, but as you play and shoot more and more, this is where the extraordinary happens. You’ll start to see things different and more clear and you’ll be surprised at what you come away with photographically.

Go Beyond the Obvious

Explore.  Explore spaces off the beaten path.    Explore major subjects if you see something of interest. Take a few moments to walk around the subject and look at it from different angles.

Textures

Consider looking at the texture of everything in sight.  Seek out interesting textures and you could create a texture pack for people to download based on the area of the photowalk.  It’s training you to notice the smallest of things, or try to notice the big picture textures.   Be should to explore the term “texture” because you could get pretty broad and bring out something new and different.

Abstracts

An abstract photo-set from a photowalk could include anything from macro photos of elements in a subject, changing the settings to over or underexpose, slowly or quickly moving the camera around as you take your shot, and shaking the camera as the shutter is open.  Idea’s are almost endless when it comes to abstracts.

Involve Yourself in the Shots

Bring your hands, feet, legs, or face into the shots somehow.  Consider reaching for subjects, framing subjects, or turning the camera around to snap your portrait in front of a subject. The fun with this is trying to figure out different ways to include something of YOU in the frame.

Camera Phone

I recently made a post on 1 Love London about an upcoming Photowalk in our City of London, Ontario. I made a statement that camera phones are allowed. Today, cell phones are much more than just a cell phone. As a mobile device, you have it on you all the time and the phone becomes your ‘camera on you at all times.’ Why not spend the photowalk ONLY using your camera phone. It’s something totally different, it’s outside your comfort zone and I know you’ll get images that will shock viewers when realize you used a camera phone.

Shoot from the Hip

Taking a page out of the lomo school of thought, don’t use the viewfinder or the LCD Screen to look at what you’re taking a picture of at all. Literally shoot with the camera around down by your hip or knees. Don’t think about it at all and just shoot.

Think of a Theme and Stick to It

Some of the topics here could also be considered themes; however, I am thinking of the idea in terms of themed subjects.  Themes could be anything that comes to mind and should be plentiful in the area of the walk.  A few exmples of what I am getting at:

• • Photograph Doorknobs
  • Collection of the Tree’s on the walk
  • Shoot only Flowers
  • Portraits
  • Parked Cars on the Street
  • Anything Blue [or any other specific colour]
  • Poses of other photographers
  • Photograph Doors
  • You get the idea.

Challenge Yourself with a Prime

Rent, Borrow, or Steal Buy a prime lens, ie 35mm, 50mm, or 85mm.  These lens’ don’t zoom at all; you’re committed to the one focal length for your entire photowalk!  It promotes using different parts of your brain than you’re used to with a zoom lens.  You start to realize the fixed distance from what you want to photograph.  This may cause you to backup, or get right in there.  Ever used a fisheye lens? I love telling someone to look through the lens and they realize how far away everything seems; and they are blown away by how close you need to get to something if it’s all you want in the frame.   It’s a challenge and this is a refreshing exercise for a photowalk because you’ll learn a lot about that lens for later use in time sensitive situations.

Shoot from a Different Point of View

Shoot all of your photowalk images from the point of view of someone or something else. Get down lower to the point of view of a child and try and see the area from their point of view on the entire photowalk.  What about the point of view of an ant, or a cat/dog, or the point of view of a giant.  How would you achieve the different point of view? That’s the fun of imagination!

Challenge Yourself Technically

This is the same sort of idea as the prime lens shooting. You could challenge yourself with a technical side to your photography and settings on your camera.  If you usually shoot in auto program mode, try a different setting.  If you don’t want to move right into manual, try aperture or shutter priority modes (if your camera has these options).  It will give your a bit more control of photos you take and you will force yourself to learn about what these settings mean.  Want to really challenge yourself? If you don’t understand what the settings are now, don’t even take time before the photowalk to research them. Wait until you’re at the walk, find the person with the craziest looking equipment and ask them to show you how to change the settings of your camera and then how to adjust that specific setting when your taking photos.  For example, ask them to put it into shutter priority and then how you change the speed of the shutter for taking photos.  If you already know all of this, but usually stick to aperture or shutter settings, try the manual setting to stretch yourself.  It’s another way to train yourself and your mind to different light situations.  This is  a time free to explore more than just your photowalk area. You have an army of photographers to ask questions from and try and learn something new. Take advantage of this time if you’re curious.  Another idea here is to focus manually instead of allowing the camera to do this automatically (again, if you have the option with your camera).

Take a photograph every 10 steps

I don’t know where I have heard something like this before.  It might have been on the first photowalk in London.  I really don’t know, but either way, commit to taking a photo every 10 (or any number you want) steps.  Sometimes, you’re walking around and think that some sections are not as interesting as others so you decide not to shoot there. This idea forces you to find or frame something every few steps and you never know what you may come away with in the end.  Something you might have thought was boring, suddenly turns into creativity as you open your eyes to the possibility that you can find subjects anywhere.

These ideas gain a lot of power, and significance when you adhere to them for the entire walk.  You’ll tell a story and add a lot of interest to your specific set.  It may also document your journey through photography.  Photowalking is about exploration and having fun with the camera.   Obviously you do not have to stick to anything for the entire walk.   You could also explore these types of ideas when you want.  You could explore every single one of them on a photowalk.  I hope that these idea’s and tips for your next photowalk really do help out or atleast inspire/motivate you to get out to the next photowalk in your area.  Not sure if there is a photowalk around you? Check out an event coming up soon – Scott Kelby’s World Wide Photowalk – Happening July 18th 2009.  Another great resource is a Photowalk List website.