As great as it is to follow the path on a photo walk, I suggest to go off course if you spot something off the beaten path.  You might lose the entire photo walk group, but you’ll catch up.  I spotted this shack that I didn’t expect as the group of us marched down the street with our cameras.  Oddly enough, only one person decided to follow and snap some pictures with me.

While taking photographs of this shack (a shack very against the act of parking a car), the owner came out and wanted to see what I was up to.  It was pretty awkward, but I lived to shoot another day.   I pretty sure the man was confused why I wanted to take a picture of his sweet ass shack.  I didn’t cause any trouble and found the experience to be entertaining and I came away with photographs that other photo walk participants didn’t see.

Granted that I probably missed awesome scenes that other photo walk participants found.  That’s the great thing about going on walks though.  Seeing what you missed and others found allows you to go back to explore deeper at another time.

You can also check out this same photo in Black and White on my flickr site.  Are we friends there by the way?

As we embark on our next photo walk, let’s be thankful for our eyesight and the ability to participate in such great creative expression.  Spend a little extra time with the subject you found interesting enough to take the first picture.  Forget about the photo walk for a moment and pull the camera away from your face to look around with so much gratitude for everything.  Watch as the little things emerge and compete for your attention.  Photograph them.

This advice might seem a little weird to most, but would it hurt to try? What have you got to lose? If you lost your eyesight, you’d probably give anything or do anything to get that feeling back.

I did this very thing as I was sitting on the ground taking pictures of the rusting out Corvair.  I sat there, alone, just appreciating the ability to be out and about taking photographs.  It was at that time that the small broken window in the garage door appeared to me. Inside the garage was dark, but it looked pretty grungy!  I did a lot of maneuvering of my tripod and shot a bunch of exposures to get as much light in there as I could.  The resulting photograph opened up a new world inside that garage. Thanks to the technique of HDR photography, I was able to get a lot of the detail and create the upcoming image. The photograph isn’t perfect, there is noise and it’s really grungy. Okay, it is perfect to me.

I came away from the photo walk with this 5th photo in the Nuwomb 360: Beauty in the Grunge.

]]> http://www.nuwomb.com/photowalk-gem-beauty-in-the-grunge/feed/ 2 http://www.nuwomb.com/london-photowalk-1-still-going-strong/ http://www.nuwomb.com/london-photowalk-1-still-going-strong/#comments Mon, 10 May 2010 15:16:12 +0000 Scott Webb | London Ontario Photographer http://www.nuwomb.com/?p=4371 In London, Ontario we had another photowalk yesterday.  It was a followup to Podcamp London and I didn’t get to make it out. I am thankful that I made it out to our London Podcamp though because it was my first “unConference.”  I learned a lot about how it works. I do have good and meh things to say about it but I’ll leave that for another post.  I didn’t make it out to the photo walk because of other commitments, but due to a rad digital archive from past photowalks, my first walk is still going strong.

The Corvair sat behind an alley off Dundas Street and is still around over a year later (buy this rotting corvair). I have a good number of images from the first London Photowalk that are still waiting for some editing love.  Eventually I’ll get around to a display of the images from each photowalk I’ve participated in as a series on the blog. It will be epic for sure.

The fact that I am still playing with photographs from the first London Photowalk should be a reason to come out and take part in more photowalks or maybe your very first. The walk gets you out and using your camera! I love the abundance of inspiration that comes from actually getting out and playing with that expensive ‘toy.’

I would love to hear if you’ve found something really special in your photo walks.  I know Kevin Van Lierop has found that he loves going for the conversations and the photography has become less important.

I’d love to find out more about photowalks that go on in other cities and get out to some this summer.  I am sure that Scott Kelby is going to run his annual worldwide photowalk this summer again, and I might venture out to a different city for it.  Start getting excited now because the summer is going to rock!

I adore these photos I’ve started to create. I have more shots like this in different areas of my city. I start to think that I am photographing the day to day places we mindlessly walk or drive by. We’re walking and driving by everything at a faster pace than ever. We forget one reason that photography is so amazing: Photography freezes a moment in time.  Our digital, fast paced lives, are blurring our experience of the day to day moments.

A photograph, like the one I’m showing here, forces the viewer to slow down. I hope you started to wonder where this location might be, if you live in London, Ontario. As I took the photograph, I felt as if I was connecting with the history of these 3 homes. I don’t know much about the history here, but it’s within Old East London – Between King and Dundas. I know there is more to this area than it’s current conditions and I felt it. I wonder if there is a similar image somewhere in the archives that shows these homes.

The little information on the background of the image – it was shot during the most recent London Photowalk. I was a bit behind the group because I start to get consumed by a vision. I enjoy spending that extra moment with a subject because I believe the creative genius decides to appear and help me out. I didn’t get too far after this residential photograph before I got seduced by my next subject: The Aeolian Hall. [if you're from the Aeolian Hall by chance, I'd be interested in helping to update your website ]

Quick Photowalk Tip: Spend a few extra moments with the item or subject you’re photographing.  It doesn’t have to be really long.  Just take a few more pictures than you normally would and you’ll be surprised what can happen!

I’m not environmentalist, but I imagine this isn’t a positive sign for our Earth. I felt that it did make for a pretty rad grunge scene when it comes to HDR photography.

Last Sunday, there was an organized photowalk here in London, Ontario. Actually, this was the 1 year anniversary of the walk.  It’s hard to believe a year passed, and we returned to the very location the first official london photowalk started: Old East London.

I recommend this type of photographic activity to anyone because of it’s ability to open your eyes. A bunch of changes in the area over the year, but we also realized that somethings never changed.

The photowalk took a bit of a different route, exploring a little bit of King Street.  On this different route, I noticed a rear ‘shack’ and had to go over to explore. This is the location of the small dump you see in the photo.  I thought I was going to get in trouble because the owner came out wondering what I was doing, but he saw I was a harmless artist and just watched me shoot the HDR photo.  I thought to ask him if he had access to the internet to see the photo later but he didn’t look the most friendly.

This photo is not one of the ones I have in the shop.  Why? I’m not 100% sure, but it just doesn’t feel like the time. Eventually I’ll have a photowalk collection ( I’ll explain that idea in another article soon), and it may make it’s way into that.

These are 10 of my images from that trip and they are just over a year old.  I was posting them and wish I could link back and talk about a “1 Year Ago here” but some issues came up where I lost information and had to start my blog again from scratch in May.

I also decided to do a reflection post like this becasuse of a quote by Chris Brogan.  He Said:

What happens in Vegas stays on Facebook!

What a kickass quote.  Everything is strongly connected now and you might want to start thinking about this on a different level.

Anyways, Here are the 10 Photos from Las Vegas 2008 that I loved the most:

As the title says, not everything stays in Vegas.  Photography allows us to bring something home that we are able to share…or you should atleast think about the fact that it could be shared once you’re home or once it’s on Facebook.

All of these images are available for purchase via digital download, print, and canvas gallery wrap.  Go to my current “Store” to make the purchase.  You can also view more of my Urban HDR Photography by clicking the link.

It’s Friday, and some of the photo walks are probably getting underway for Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photowalk. It’s a big event as thousands of photographers and people will be out exploring their city with their digital cameras. I wanted to help you to avoid a complete and utter Worldwide photo walk FAIL. In other words, I want to help you have the best photowalk ever, and not have it ruined by silly little things that could go wrong. Yes, I know, the photo walk only requires a camera and going out and taking pictures; however, there are aspects of photography and walking that could seriously impact your success on the upcoming and future photo walk events. These issues could happen to anyone, even the most experienced of photographers. Imagine if some of these issues happened with Scott Kelby? Image he had to report back on his blog or on Photoshop User TV that his worldwide photo walk was totally ruined, he failed, and looks forward to next years walk. Exactly, that would be totally unacceptable and sheepish. So, the same goes for you and your blog or flickr account. You don’t want it to be empty after tomorrow. You don’t want to go home early. So, just follow this list and you’ll avoid a WWPW PhotoFAIL.

**I know that this might not be good for climate change, but a good idea might be to print this out and put it on the back of your door. Or, write a few post-it notes and stick them on the back of the door.

Photowalk tip! Don’t forget Your Camera

I know, this sounds silly but imaging you drive out to the meeting spot and your camera was left at home. Worst yet, you took public transportation and realized your camera was not in bag. This won’t be like high school, and you can borrow someone else’s pen if you forgot yours. People should be traveling light with only one camera (and maybe a camera phone for bonus creativity). Forget your camera and your photo walk just became a PhotoFAIL.

Photowalk Tip! Charge your Battery(s)

Hopefully you’ve never experienced the dreaded low battery warning on your camera at the start of a photo-shoot, photo walk, or photo-opportunity in general. It’s haunting and it will ruin your day. Ensure you camera battery is charged or charging so that it’s ready for the photowalk. Even better, would be having a charged back up battery. Less worry will allow you to use that energy for creative photography. Just remember, if you’re charging your camera battery, make sure to put it back in your camera before leaving or your photowalk just became a PhotoFAIL.

Photowalk Tip! Check your Camera Settings

It will only take a few minutes to check your camera settings at the start of the photo walk. The reason for this check is because the last time you used your camera might have been when you needed ISO 800 or 3200. This could be a problem that you don’t realize on your LCD review screen until you’re home from the walk, or you might not realize until near the end of the walk. Suddenly, the world could come crashing down on your photos. The shot you figured would be the Grand Prize winner, suddenly your Photo walk just became a PhotoFAIL.

Photowalk Tip! Don’t Wear Flip Flops

Seriously. Don’t wear Flip Flops for a photowalk. Wear comfortable shoes for a number of reasons. You’re going to be walking around your city, and possibly into areas that could cause issues for exposed feet. You want to be as comfortable as possible on a long walk and Flip Flops are not going to give you comfort. Also, you may need to get into awkward positions to get the shot or angle you want and the flip flops will be falling off or just becoming a problem. Think ahead, and wear appropriate footwear. No one want’s to be around someone that’s complaining on the walk. If you’re uncomfortable, your feet are killing you, or you cut your foot because you wore flip flops your photowalk just became a PhotoFAIL.

Photowalk Tip! Have an Extra Memory Card

This might not be something super important at first glance. Although, the photowalk is engaging and you’ll probably be taking as many photos as you want. On a good photowalk, you are not thinking about how mach more room you have for pictures. You don’t want to have to pick and choose if that really is worthy of a photograph of not. Taking a lot of photos, especially if you’re thinking to try HDR for the Photowalk, you could fill your memory card halfway through your walk. This is when your extra memory card will come in handy. Maybe you have a few extra cards that you could bring along incase you’re super click happy (there is nothing wrong with taking too many photographs). If you know there is not a camera store on your photowalk route, you might want to consider grabbing another memory card. If you run out of memory card space and the photowalk is not over, your photowalk just became a PhotoFAIL

Photowalk Tip! Set Your Alarm Clock

Some of the photowalks are starting in the morning on Saturday. Image Scott Kelby sleeping in for his photowalk. Not going to happen. He has set his alarm clock. I actually don’t know what time his city’s photowalk is set for; however, I know that he won’t miss it. Set your alarm clock so that you don’t end up sleeping in and turning your photowalk into a PhotoFAIL.

Photowalk Tip! Clear Your Memory Card

Having 1 or 2 memory cards will help here, but it’s not hard to ensure your memory card is so fresh and so clean. Make sure that you’ve downloaded all the pictures on your memory card before your photowalk start time. You don’t want to get to the meeting place, turn on your camera, and realize you have 20 photos left on your memory card and you forgot to load those images onto your computer. You’re going to be faced with a decision: Format the card and lose those previous images OR allowing your photowalk to become a PhotoFAIL.

Photowalk Tip! The Positive Mindset

Surprisingly enough, the wrong mindset could ruin your day. Watch out if you’re angry, upset, annoyed, irritated or just in a negative frame of mind. The wrong mindset will not help your photography. I’ve tried taking photos when I am in a horrible mood and the results were just as horrible. So, go to your worldwide photowalk with an open mind. Know that it’s a day of celebration and take your photographs with a fun, joyous, and happy attitude. What I mean, is that your photography should come form a place within you that loves exploring the world and photography. Some scenes you shoot may require you to expose the grunge or sadness of a scene, but it still comes from a place of greatness within you. If you’re going to the photowalk with a grumpy attitude you’re probably not going to find it. You’re going to find a PhotoFAIL.

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 photo walking 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 photo walk, could easily be adapted to photographic exploration in general and not just relate to a photo walk. 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 photo walk. 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 photo walk.  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 photo walk 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.