TWO RUNNERS UP SELECTED!!

© Fred Krieger

© Monica Nagy

Well, I have made my pick of two images from the Wilmington Photo Walk that, in my judgment, were close runners-up to Kathleen Buckalew's winning entry. As I mentioned in my August 1 post, I decided to have a "Second Chance" contest which included entries from four participants who did not submit entries in the first round.

Fred Krieger's "The Market Below" and Monica Nagy's image of the Taxi Stand at the Amtrak Station.

Fred and Monica win a photography book of their choice (listed in the August 1 blog entry).

We now await Scott Kelby's decision for the Grand Prize winner and the ten honorable mentions. We are rooting for Kathleen's entry! A decision will be announced on August 17th, so stay tuned.

Critiques

Fred Krieger's "The Market Below"

This image was very close to getting my pick for our local winning image. There are so many things I like about this image. The use of a rectilinear fisheye lens is perfect for this kind of composition. The symmetry present in the image is very appealing to me. The curved lines, the ventilation ducts, the wooden beams, the diagonals in the floor tile pattern -- all are strong elements of composition. My eye goes immeditately to main subject - the busy market below - thanks to it being nicely framed by the opening between the ductwork and the floor tile (at the bottom, actually present on the second floor). I also find all the detail in the market fascinating.

Monica Nagy's Image of the Taxi Stand at the Amtrak Station

This is a very nice and very interesting image that can be considered to be in the "photojournalism" category because it tells a story. I really like this picture. There is tension in the composition. There is symmetry in the way the double doors are positioned, yet the tension is in what we see through the doors. My eye goes immediately to the taxi driver on the right, who is nicely framed in the door window and is positioned comfortably to one side. He appears almost as a silhouette, yet we vaguely see his face. Then, my eye goes to the left side, and I like the way we see a portion of the front of the car in the foreground juxtaposed against the back of the car that is in the background. I also like that red column in the background for some reason!

Congratulations to Kathleen, Fred and Monica! Congratulations again to all participants!

WE HAVE A WINNER!

We have a winner!

Kathleen Buckalew submitted two panoramic infra-red images to the Wilmington Photo Walk competition. Her image "Walkway and Crane" is my pick and has been entered in the worldwide competition that Scott Kelby will be judging over the next two weeks.

So, how and why did I choose this image? First, let me tell you; this was an excruciating exercise for me because all your images were excellent! I would like to submit all of your photos!

After a laborious evaluation of the 68 exceptional images, I ended up with five semi-finalists, then three finalists. I was impossible to live with as I hunkered down to ponder over the remaining three images. My task: to decide on the one image that I felt would most likely be chosen by Scott Kelby in the worldwide competition.

Kathleen's image meets my personal qualifications for a winning photograph. It succeeds because it answers three questions which I always strive for in my own photography:

1. Does the image have a theme?

Kathleen's image is about the Wilmington Riverfront. That is the theme, plain and simple. There is something else that I considered. I feel bad about the Wilmington Riverfront. I notice more and more that it appears to be an unpopular and abandoned locale. A place that was developed for tourism and for the enjoyment of the local populace, but that didn't quite make it. It's a melancholic place, in my view. This image imparts this feeling to me - stark, empty. I also feel that the infrared treatment enhances this cheerless location. If the image were in color, the desolate feeling would not be as pronounced.

2. Does the image focus attention on the subject?

First, let's consider what the subject is in this image? It is the building in the distance, the walkway, streetlights, and the crane. There are several compositional elements here that immediately lead my eye to the subject each and every time I look at the image. On the day of our Photo Walk, there was a most beautiful sky with very distinct and interesting cloud patterns. Notice how the cloud patterns and dark sky areas are essentially lines that lead the eye towards the subject. Notice also that the walkway curves in towards the subject and is more-or-less parallel to the cloud formations. Curves are very great compositional elements, and they are used effectively in this image. Additionally, there are diagonal lines; also very effective. Finally, the shadows on the bottom of the image serve to frame the center subject area, and the two trees on either side also frame the main subject.

3. Does the image simplify?

Distracting objects in an image are just that: distracting! They take away from the image. They prevent the viewer from focusing on the subject and theme that the maker wants to impart. I always check all around the frame to make sure nothing encroaches into the scene and result in my viewer missing the point of the image. This is definitely the case in Kathleen's image. It's clean. No bits of trash on the ground, no person or other objects on the grass and walkway. This lack of distracting objects also serves to accentuate the starkness of this location.

So there you have it! Kathleen's image is successful, and the winner in our local Wilmington Photo Walk contest. The image has been forwarded on to the worldwide competition, and we all hope that it wins the grand prize consisting of over $6000 worth of great photo gear. By the way, there will also be ten honorable mentions with over $1200 in prizes going to each winner.

Finally, please remember that photo competition is very subjective. As judges, we struggle to avoid applying our own biases and preferences when judging images that we come across. We have our own criteria, our own favorite techniques, our personal dislikes. Fact is, we each view our world differently through our camera viewfinders.

If you don't "win" a photo competition, it does not necessarily mean your image is in any way bad. Just be sure to study the results of any competition, and analyze the critiques carefully. View competition as a learning experience. You are likely to gain tips and techniques that help you develop your "photographer's eye" further.

When asked to judge a competition, I strive to avoid my own personal biases and preferences. Instead, I focus on those three principles of good photography that I enumerated above. For this competition, I know that Scott Kelby, an experienced professional photographer, will do the final judging. I have to assume that Scott will use the same judging criteria, and so I am doubly sure to follow them myself in order to increase the chances that one of our own Walkers wins the Grand Prize.

Congratulations to each and every one of you for your excellent work!

Sandro V Cuccia
Leader, Wilmington Photo Walk
www.DEPhotoWalk.com

Another Chance to Win!

[Note: This blog entry is important to all Wilmington Photo Walkers, but in particular to those who did not submit photos to the contest]

Well, I have concluded my judging of your photos, and I will be announcing the First Place winner of our Wilmington Photo Walk shortly.

But before I do that, I'm eager to inform everyone that I have decided to add two more prizes which will be awarded to the two runners-up for best image! The First Place winner (that I will announce shortly) will receive the prize directly from Scott Kelby: his new book, "The Digital Photography Book, Volume 3," and of course, the chance to win the Grand Prize in the worldwide contest.

I will award a photography book to the two runners-up.

I recently taught a big class called "Your Photographer's Eye" at the Academy of Lifelong Learning. It was immensely popular and well-attended with 82 registered students!! Anyway, throughout the semester, as I covered the major topics of Composition, Exposure and Light, I recommended three of my favorite books. I will award a book of choice to the two runners-up. Oh, and I am including Kelby's Digital Photography Books as possible choices.

So, the two runners-up will be able to choose from the following list of books:

• "Learning to See Creatively: Design, Color & Composition in Photography (Updated Edition)" by Bryan Peterson
• "Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition)" by Bryan Peterson
• "Exploring the Light: Making the Very Best In-Camera Exposures" by Rick Sammon
• "The Digital Photography Book" by Scott Kelby [choice of Volume 1, 2, or 3]

IMPORTANT: If you were not an "official" Worldwide Photo Walk participant, that is; you did not officially register and submit photos for consideration, you can qualify to win one of my two runner-up prizes! Additionally, a number of you were registered but chose not to enter photos into the competition (why?), you too, can be included in my runners-up competition.

But I need your entries! You can e-mail me two of your best images by 11:59 PM on Saturday, August 8.

The rest of you registered participants need do nothing to be considered for these two prizes. I will evaluate the images you have already submitted along with the aforementioned Photo Walkers.

Of course, the First Place winner will not be eligible for the runners-up prizes. And - as usual - I am not eligible to win one of the runners-up prizes, either. Darn! Foiled again!

If you have any questions about all this, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Stay tuned for information about our First Place winning entry!

Focus on Judging Your Photos!

I want to thank everyone once again for coming out on the 18th, and I hope to see you again soon when we get together for other Photo Walks in our area.

Thirty-four of you have submitted your two photos for consideration in our photo competition. My task now is to pick the one image that - in my judgement - is the best of the best. The maker of that photo will win one local prize, which is a copy of Scott Kelby's latest book - The Digital Photography Book, Volume 3. It was just published. Scott is a prolific author of photography and Photoshop books. I taught him everything he knows - OK, I'm just kidding! His first two volumes are must-have's for your photography library, and I expect this one to be no different.

My final duty will be to submit the wining photo up to the main World-wide Photo Walk site, where in about two short weeks, Scott Kelby himself will have an even more challenging job of looking over the 900 or so local winners from around the world to pick the grand-prize winner and ten honorable mentions. The winners will be announced on August 17th.

I am trying very hard to pick out one image that stands out from the rest. You have made it very hard for me to do this! I am inspired by each and every image that you have submitted for review. All of you have done a remarkable job at effectively capturing particular aspects of the Wilmington Riverfront.

A reminder to go to our Flickr pool where a number of you have posted your Photo Walk images to share with others. This is NOT part of the contest, but a place where we can continue to participate in our little community of photo enthusiasts. Your photos are simply fantastic and inspiring! So check it out; the link is: www.flickr.com/groups/wwpw09-wilmington-de

Finally, several of you have wondered if I took any photos at the Walk. Well, of course I did| I have uploaded them to our Flickr photo pool. Check the link above.

Stay tuned for more information about our winning entry.

Our Own FLICKR Group!

We have a new Flickr Group for our Photo Walk photos! The link is HERE [http://www.flickr.com/groups/wwpw09-wilmington-de] and it's called "Worldwide Photo Walk - 2009 - Wilmington, DE"

Flickr is the photo-sharing website. Anyone who is anyone has a Flickr page! I've been using it for a while for my own purposes, and I think it's a fantastic service! I've joined several other photography groups and it's quite enjoyable and educational.

The purpose of our Flickr group is for you to upload as many images as you want from your Riverfront Photo Walk from last Saturday. This is completely optional and unrelated to your uploading the TWO images you want to enter into the contest.

Our group is a public group - meaning that anyone can view the images. However, membership is by invitation only so I can restrict membership to our group members only -- that is, only our group members can upload images.

In order to participate, here's what you do:

1. If you don't have one already, create a Flickr account. It's free. To learn more, and follow easy instructions, go to www.flickr.com ... also, RC from the home Worldwide Photo Walk organization has sent out emails to everyone explaining all of this. He has created a short video HERE to show you more about how to set up a flickr account. (the link is also on the email he sent out today.) You will upload your Photo Walk photos to your Flickr account first.

2. In order to be able to participate in our Photo Group and discussion, visit the link I gave you above, and follow the prompts to join our group. I will receive an email from your account, and I will activate your membership into the group.

3. Once your membership is activated, you will see our group listed in your account's groups listing. You can then select the Photo Walk images from your Flickr account that you uploaded previously and make them available to our group. You don't actually move them or copy them to the group.

By the way, as an aside, if you have or will have a Flickr account, I suggest that you click on your account settings page and look over all your settings to make sure you are protecting your privacy and copyrights adequately. Notice that you can restrict what your viewers can do with your photos, and you can restrict what resolutions are available for downloads. I have used Flickr to print my photos to Target (about 1 mile from my house), and I am pleased with the results for everyday use.

I hope you take advantage of the Flickr group!

Let me know if you have any questions.

Sandro V Cuccia
Leader, Wilmington Photo Walk
www.DEPhotoWalk.com

IMAGE UPLOADING

Since I've put you through my own style of "information overload" over the past week, you may have missed the information about uploading your two images.

I'm keeping it simple. The complete instructions, complete with video tutorials, are located HERE. [http://worldwidephotowalk.com/uploading-your-photos/]

Prepping your TWO images for upload:

> Do whatever you need to do for your editing of the actual final image.
> Since your image will only be used for display on a web site, you will save at a lower resolution (meaning the height and width in pixels). A good size to send is a maximum of 1000 pixels on the longest side. PPI settings are not relevant to viewing on screen.
> When saving to JPG. Use a quality of at least 10 (or 80%).

Remember ... the deadline is July 25, 11:59 pm EST.

Let me know if you have any questions.

It Was a Glorious Walk! (And now for the real work!)

What a super time we all had at our very first Wilmington Photo Walk! The weather was perfect, the camaraderie was great, and our Leader was delightful! In many ways, the fact that the Wilmington Riverfront was not crowded with (other) visitors was a plus and actually contributed to a relaxing event. I observed many of our Walkers just taking their time and putting lots of thought into their photography. (Now that I think of it, if I were eligible to win a $11K prize, I'd be pretty darn methodical, too!)

And ... the chimping was fast and furious!

Our "Chimp and Chew" session was lots of fun. I enjoyed meeting everyone and talking about our common passion. I saw lots of business card pumping! The Riverfront Marketplace was a perfect spot, and we had the entire mezzanine to ourselves.

Now, the hard part begins ... looking over your hundreds of images; deciding which two to submit because they're ALL good.

I'll speak for myself and tell you that in general, I shoot 80/20. Eighty percent are culled out; the rest are keepers. This is why I tell people to TAKE LOTS OF SHOTS of each subject. Try different angles, different orientation, different focal lengths, closer, farther away, try selective focus through aperture settings, etc.

When reviewing your images, don't go crazy selecting your good and best ones. Delete with impunity! At the very least, move your discards off your computer and onto DVD.

Additionally, I urge my students to really understand and work with the three components of Exposure - Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO. That and correct metering will minimize your time post-processing at the computer! The idea put simply: get it right in-camera and minimize digital editing.

One final suggestion; choose the two images that are YOUR favorites.

Having said that, there are certain elements I look for in a winning photograph:

1. Does the image have a theme? Does it tell a story? Is your message clear? For example, even if you take a picture of the diagonal patterns on the boardwalk, that is your theme. Don't ruin it by framing poorly and having distracting elements within the frame.

2. Does the image focus attention on the subject? How are you using certain elements of composition to help my eyes go immediately to the subject? For example, we had lots of "S-Curves" at the Riverfront. The S-curve is a classic element of composition and can be used successfully to lead the viewer's eye. Framing techniques and selective focus are other techniques to try.

3. Does the image simplify? Distracting objects within the frame are definite no-nos. Get into the habit of examining every bit of your frame when shooting, especially the edges. Watch out for clutter (unless, of course, clutter is part of your theme), and things that don't belong.

So, fire up the 'puter, backup your files, and let the culling begin!

Just One More Day!

Well, tomorrow is our Photo Walk! I hope you are looking forward to this as much as I am! The weather forecast is looking pretty good, and we should have some nice early to mid-morning light for that added depth and dimension to our outdoor photography.

Now, about tomorrow...

At 9 AM, I will be parking my maroon Toyota Highlander SUV in the large parking lot just in front of or adjacent to Joe's Crab Shack. I will be the big, goofy looking guy in a white Photowalk T-Shirt and khaki photographer's vest.

For fellow GPS geeks, here are the coordinates:
39°44'3.2"N , 75°33'38.9"W

Did you check out the Riverfront Map at the Wilmington Riverfront website? [www.riverfrontwilm.com] When you get to the home page of the site, just to the right you will see a link to a printable (PDF) map. I recommend you print out a copy and bring it with you to the Walk.

OUR SCHEDULE ...

> Arrive around 9 AM to get your gear ready
> Gather around at 9:15 for last-minute announcements
> Everyone fans out to photograph the area. There is no set plan or route as the location is fairly compact. Consult the Riverfront map (see links above).
> The Photo Walk officially ends at 11:15 AM at the Riverfront Market (next to Harry's - it's on the map.)
> There will be no formalities at the end of the walk, but we'll have an informal Chimp and Chew at the Market. There you can purchase food and beverages (and produce and other goodies) and we all meet in the upstairs dining area. (The place is like a mall food court). I am told that it's not crowded at all there on Saturdays, so there should be plenty of seating.

MY ROLE AS YOUR WALK LEADER ...

It has been a pleasure organizing a local walk for the Wilmington, Delaware area. Unless I get pummeled and harassed by my fellow walkers, I plan to lead more of these (the downside is that I can't be eligible to win the prizes, but then again I never win anything). I already have some ideas for venues at future walks.

My job tomorrow is simply this: to facilitate the gathering of like-minded photography enthusiasts for a social photo shoot. Once you arrive on site, you are more-or-less on your own, but I still urge you to form small groups and share your knowledge and photography.

I will spend my time tracking down the groups throughout the morning (as long as I can keep up), and offering any advice I can. I will also be photographing YOU photographing! I may even do a video, even though I am a still photographer. We'll use these for future walks.

FINALLY ...

At the Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photo Walk website, there is a new post featuring an excellent article by photographer Laurie Excell (isn't that a great surname ... makes me think of Microsoft for some reason!). Her article gives you one last inspirational message with some great ideas on themes for your photography tomorrow.

See you tomorrow!

Sandro V Cuccia
Leader, Wilmington Photo Walk
www.DEPhotoWalk.com

Top Ten Last-Minute Photo Tips To Help You Get the Most From Our Wilmington Photo Walk

Here are my top-ten last-minute tips to help you get the most from our Wilmington Photo Walk on Saturday:

1. Prepare Your Gear!

There's nothing worse than showing up for a shoot and realizing that you forgot something critical. Similarly - and this happened to me a lot - you do your on-location shoot, then get home ready to review your images, and you realize that you had a wrong setting on the camera. Examples of this would be -- the autofocus mode, the metering mode, the white balance, and others.

It's a good idea to prepare everything the night before, get a good night's sleep, and before you take off in the morning, do one last check of things.

I prepared for my photography students a handy checklist modeled after my own. I think you may find it helpful, too - whether you tend to travel with lots of camera gear or you like to keep it simple. I have a PDF version of my checklist that you may download directly by clicking on this link.

2. No SLR? Not-a-problem?

You certainly CAN do a photo shoot and win contests with a "point-and-shoot" camera and even a cellphone camera. Those of us who need tip 1 above and use lengthy checklists might be gadget geeks and have all the latest gear, but that DOES NOT assure success as a photographer! Remember, if you grasp the basic concepts of photography -- composition, exposure, and light -- you can and will make incredible images! Think of this: "it's not the violin, it's the violinist!"

3. Keep Things Simple!

As I mentioned in a previous post, there is nothing wrong with limiting your gear to one camera and one lens. When I do this on a particular shoot or trip, it forces me to be more methodical with my photography. It helps to really get down-and-dirty with the particular camera or lens and really understand how to get the most out of it.

4. Give Yourself an Assignment - and Stick To It!

When going out for a Photo Walk, an interesting approach might be to have a particular goal or theme for the shoot. Some examples: Photographing people (how about just photographing the other participants), local architecture, angles, wide-angle photography, HDR (High Dynamic Range photography), depth-of-field manipulation for selective focus, certain compositional elements (eg; circles, leading lines, etc.), or a particular color. Giving yourself such assignments can often get you out of the photographic doldrums!

5. Take lots of pictures!

There is no excuse for not taking tons of photos with today's digital cameras! These little computers with lenses allow us to capture boatloads of images at no cost. The instant feedback we get on the LCD display is one of the greatest learning tools around. It opens up many doors to creativity and experimentation. You can't fully grasp the concepts of photography without lots of practice, so go out there and shoot like a nut! Study your images during the shoot and afterwards at the computer. Analyze the metadata from your camera so you understand how the settings (aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc) you selected affected the resulting image.

6. Make Friends; "Network."

We photographers are a geeky bunch. We love to get together to talk photo gear, the old darkroom days, get into Nikon vs Canon debates, and show each other our best images. A Photo Walk is a great opportunity to meet like-minded enthusiasts who share this passion called photography. So bring your smiles and your business cards! Get to know your fellow walkers, and join us for our "Chimp and Chew" after the walk. [If you never heard that term - Chimp - and how it relates to photography, ask me at the Walk].

7. Respect People and Property.

Although we will be photographing in a public area, please be mindful of the people around you. Be particularly careful if you choose to photograph strangers, and especially children. You will find that most people do not object to being photographed - particularly if you approach them and tell them that they have an interesting look. Ask if they wouldn't mind photographing them for your own photographic education. Remember that if you want to use images of people for publication and/or commercial use, you will need to obtain a signed release from them. A nice gesture would be to offer to mail them a copy of the photo.

As for property, one pet peave of mine is when photographers move objects (chairs, tables, trash cans, etc) to clean up a scene for a photo, and then don't replace the items back in their original places. Please be certain to leave a scene as you found it. Some property might require a release for photography as well. I don't think we need to worry about this for Saturday's shoot, but just keep it in mind.

Finally, if you do shoot around the Wilmington train station, be aware that while there may be no official rule against photographing trains and train stations, it can still be a touchy security issue for some security personnel. My suggestion to you is that it is not worth getting into a debate or confrontation over with the authorities.

8. Learn From Others <> Share Your Knowledge With Others.

Get to know the photographers you will shooting with. Share techniques, tips, perspectives on the scenes at hand.

9. Stay Safe!

Be aware of your surroundings as you walk around concentrating on the little monitor on the back of your camera. You don't want to end up in the Christina River! Stay out of restricted areas while participating in the Photo Walk. Finally, stay hydrated! Bring water, and protect yourself adequately from the sun rays by using sun screen and wearing a hat.

10. Have Fun!

As with any other activity you engage in, if you don't have a good time with photography, then think about getting out of it and trying something else to give you satisfaction and a way to temporarily escape from life's pressures. Let's face it, unless you do photography professionally, you're engaging in photography because you are passionate about it. Learn by your mistakes, take things in stride, relax and enjoy this wonderful pass-time!

As always, let me know if you have any questions!

About Submitting Your Photo Walk Images

I try hard not to put you into information overload ... but, please read this email in its entirety, it's chock-full-o good stuff... and, it's important, too!

The organizers of the Worldwide Photo Walk have issued an important deadline for you to note regarding your photography entries.

I know what you're thinking: "What photography entries? Sandro never told me anything about photography entries!"

When you go out to shoot photos at the Riverfront on Saturday, you will have an opportunity to put all your photographic juices to work and produce some spectacular images. Once you get back to the comfort of your digital darkroom, you will pick TWO of your best images from the Photo Walk, and you will submit them to our own local Wilmington Photo Walk competition. You will do this by uploading your TWO images to our city page. You are give two methods for uploading your images: either via a special Adobe Lightroom plug-in, or by direct upload via browser to our site.

The exact instructions are available via this link. (http://worldwidephotowalk.com/uploading-your-photos/). Be sure to scroll down all the way to make sure you see everything on that page. Everything you need to know - including a couple of video-based tutorials - is on this page. Please be sure to review the procedures as YOUR DEADLINE to submit your two picks is JULY 26, 11:59PM EST. I am told by the organizers that each of you should be receiving an email from them informing you of this important deadline.

Of course, I will send you reminders after our Walk, but don't wait until the last minute to go through your photos, choose your TWO winning entries, and submit them to the site. No entries will be accepted after the above deadline!

In case you are wondering... I, your fearless leader, am NOT eligible to submit entries to the contest! My reward will be to know that all of you (and your photography) have derived considerable benefit from our event, and that you have had fun and met new friends!

My final duty will be to pick ONE winning entry from our own Wilmington contestants. That winning entry will earn one or more small-scale prizes. More importantly, I will submit that one winning entry to the world-wide photo contest, where it will compete against the winners from each of the other 913 Photo Walks. For this contest, there will be one huge grand-prize winner worth over $11,700 and a ten honorable mentions valued at over $1600. These will be announced on August 17.

Remember, you CANNOT win a prize if you don't enter!! For those of you new to photographic competition, you should never feel that your photography is "not worthy" or "not good enough" to be considered. I hope I don't hear that from any one of my Walkers!!

Before closing today, I urge you to log into your Photo Walk account, using the username you chose when you signed up, to make sure everything is working. You log in by going to the main site (www.worldwidephotowalk.com). Scroll down a bit to where you see the login link. Remember, the name of our Photo Walk is wilmington-de-usa. After logging in, you will go into your "Dashboard" where you may find updated information from the organizers for you. Check each day this week.

TO SUMMARIZE:
1. You will submit your TWO best photos from the Wilmington Photo Walk using one of two methods: via a special Adobe Lightroom plug-in or via a direct upload via your browser.
2. Full uploading instructions (and the Lightroom plug-in) are available here.
3. Your TWO photo entries must be submitted by 11:59PM EST July 26. No Exceptions!
4. I will choose one winning entry out of our 50 potential contestants. There will be one prize for our Wilmington winner.
5. I will submit that winning entry to the world-wide competition
6. The Grand Prize and ten Honorable Mention winners will be announced on August 17.
7. Verify that your log-in works, and check daily for any updates from the organizers.
8. You may receive additional email notifications from the organizers.

Let me know if you have any questions!

More tomorrow...

What To Take ...

As we approach our Photo Walk this Saturday, there are some things to think about in order to prepare:

Some of you more experienced photo trekkers and walkers may already have a plan in mind, but for those of you new to the concept of a Photo Walks, consider making a list of what you need to bring with you.

This walk will not be difficult. The Wilmington Riverfront is a fairly compact area, but still with plenty of photo opportunities. No hills, no steps, probably no crowds. The only thing that may cause an issue is if it rains. But, this still is a rain-or-shine kind of event.

So, be sure to wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes. As I write this in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, the forecast for Saturday is "Mostly Sunny" with a high of 79 ... sounds pretty nice, so you may not need be concerned about heat and humidity too much. However, be sure to take the proper precautions against excessive exposure to sun.

What about photo gear? This, of course, is a highly personal matter.

Those of you who have experience with photo trips and events know exactly what you need to take. For you who are new to this, let me just give you one piece of advice for now -- don't load yourselves down with photo gear. Keep things simple so you can stay focused (pun intended) on the task at-hand.

In the last few years, I have changed how I approach a new photo trip. I used to carry large bags filled with a panoply of cameras, lenses and gadgets. Lately, I've been taking one camera and one or two lenses on trips. This frees me up considerably, and it allows me to focus on that one piece of equipment and squeeze out the best I can with it. It slows me down, makes me think, helps approach my photography more methodically, and makes me exercise my "photographic eye."

Sometimes, I like to just use a special kind of camera for an event. During one recent trip to Europe, I decided to leave my fancy-schmancy gear at home and take an old, simple Leica film camera. That was a lot of fun, and the simplicity just made my photography on that trip so much fun -- and the results were spectacular. Once, I traveled to Italy with one SLR and only one special lens called a "Lensbaby." [see www.lensbaby.com for info on this special gadget].

But it doesn't have to be just equipment. It could be a particular technique or subject matter that you want to concentrate on. For example, you might want to shoot strictly for black-and-white (even though you will do the conversion on the computer later on). Or you might want to concentrate on people photography, candids, nature, angles, architecture, and so forth.

But all this is WHAT WORKS FOR ME! You may be saying that I'm full of it, but I simply offer the above ideas as suggestions in case you are open-minded and are prone to trying something different - or if your photography needs a "shot-in-the-arm."

Finally, there are lots of handy tips and suggestions being posted daily by the organizers of the Worldwide Photo Walk on the main website www.worldwidephotowalk.com --- so be sure to check the page on a regular basis!

More tomorrow...

Maximizing Your Photo Walk - and, our "Chimp and Chew"

As you prepare for our Wilmington Photo Walk this Saturday (July 18), think about some ways to get the maximum benefit from this photo shoot.

You may be attending our Photo Walk with family or friends ... or, you might be coming out alone. Perhaps you prefer to work alone. In any case, you have an opportunity to "network" with like-minded photographers. Many of us (including me), tend to stay within our own comfort zone when it comes to approaching others. Try not to limit your interaction to your friends or family members who accompany you - approach and talk to photographers that you don't already know! You might be surprised at some new perspectives, ideas and techniques you can learn from others - and, you can offer the same in return.

On Saturday morning at 9:15 AM, we will formally meet just in front Joe's Crab Shack at the Riverfront. You will then be let loose to walk around and photograph the area in and around the Riverfront.

To maximize your photography, I suggest you team up with others and into small groups. (Can you imagine 50 of us bunched up and walking around together like a giant amoeba taking pictures?) As you walk about the Riverfront, ask other photographers what it is they see in a scene they are shooting. Everyone has their own perspective and vision as to how they see the world - you can learn from them, and them from you!

CHIMP AND CHEW

At the end of our Walk - by 11:30 AM - we will meet at the Riverfront Marketplace. If you can make it, this will be yet another wonderful opportunity for you to "network" (sorry, about using such a tired expression). You can purchase a lunch and beverage from one of several vendors at the Marketplace, and we can all meet in the eating gallery on the second level mezzanine. This is a great occasion to engage in a "Chimp and Chew" - a perfect time to talk photography and review each other's photos from the Walk.

[If you don't know what "Chimping" is, ask me at the Photo Walk!]

TEST YOUR PHOTO WALK LOGIN!!

Details are emerging regarding the process for submitting and uploading your best photo walk images. There will be two methods available from what we are told so far,

1. Via an Adobe Lightroom plugin, and

2. By uploading directly to the Worldwide Photo Walk website via a login.

SIGN IN NOW TO SEE THAT YOUR USER NAME AND PASSWORD WORKS! If the password doesn't work, be sure to follow the steps to reset your password.

You also need know the NAME of our particular photo walk.
Please write this down, it's: wilmington-de-usa

All of the above is clearly explained on a short VIDEO that the Photo Walk organizers are making available. Please link HERE to view the video.

On a personal note, I am really excited that we'll be able to upload images using Adobe Lightroom. I L-O-V-E Lightroom! It's the main part of my entire digital workflow, and does an incredible job processing my RAW images (works on JPEGs as well). The only time I need to go in and work with Photoshop is if I want to make selections, do some layered work, or apply filters and other special techniques.

Why not download a 30-day trial of Lightroom (for both Mac and Windows). There is a link to get your trial copy right on the Worldwide Photo Walk home page, along the right column.

One Week To Go!!

As we approach our one-week mark to our July 18th Wilmington Photo Walk, I thought I would send you some information to help get your creative juices flowing for Saturday ...

Are you interested in trying something different with your photography? Does your photography need a "shot-in-the-arm" as mine often does these days? Perhaps you are not traveling much - or at all - these days and you feel "bored" with photographic opportunities in the area? Believe me, it happens to all of us!

Perhaps this is the perfect opportunity to try something different! Why not consider trying black-and-white photography at next week's Photo Walk at the Riverfront?

You know, years and years and years ago (about 10) in the days of "wet" darkroom work, a lot of film photographers (including me) slaved over trays full of smelly chemicals to turn out beautiful black-and-white prints. Today, with the magic of digital photography, we still have a "darkroom" but now it's called the computer! With image editing software - from iPhoto to Photoshop Elements to more sophisticated programs you can create black-and-white masterpieces!

Here's the thing, while many of you have digital cameras that can be set to actually take photos in black-and-white (the camera processes your image as you capture it), you are far better off taking the photo in the normal color mode. You can get far more stunning results by then using the software on your computer to do the black-and-white conversion. This gives you a lot more flexibility in producing a winning image - and you still get to keep the original color version.

If you don't have the computer software to do this conversion to black-and-white or you are unsure right now, by all means try out the black-and-white setting in your camera's various modes on some of your shots. Check your owner's manual for details on how to set this - you know, that strange little booklet that comes with the camera? Please don't forget to set things back to normal when you are done experimenting!

If you'd like to learn more about this, the WorldWide Photo Walk blog has a great article by photographer Laurie Excell. Click HERE for the link to Laurie's article.

I will be sending out more information in the days to come. Meanwhile, you should frequently check the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk home page (www.worldwidephotowalk.com) for updates and other valuable information, as well as our own www.DEphotowalk.com home page for our own local updates.

Also, the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) is the parent organizer of the Worldwide Photo Walk. If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of joining NAPP, please visit www.PhotoshopUser.com ... I've been a member for several years and have found it a valuable learning resource - not just for using Photoshop products, but for learning general photography techniques as well!

Finally, please don't forget to let me know if you can no longer attend the Photo Walk on Saturday, July 18. I have several interested folks on a waiting list who are chomping at the bit to officially join the Walk.

Official WWPW Apparel For Sale!

The Worldwide Photo Walk has official apparel for sale! And ... it's for a great cause! When you purchase an official Worldwide Photo Walk T-shirt (two designs), $5 from each item goes to support the Springs of Hope Orphanage in Kenya, Africa. For more information, please visit the WWPW Official Apparel Store .

Here are the two available T-Shirt designs:

Have You Checked Out the Prizes?!

With less than one month to go for our July 18th Wilmington Photo Walk, I thought I'd send you a couple of updates that you may have not seen.

First of all, this year's Worldwide Photo Walk is breaking all registration records, and so many photo gear manufacturers and other photo-related businesses are seeing this as a good marketing opportunity! Many new major sponsors are coming onboard and offering fabulous prizes to winners of the Photo Walk photo contest.

What does this mean to you? Well, for our own Wilmington Photo Walk, there will be an opportunity for you to compete against your fellow Photo Walkers. There will be a web page available where you can upload your best shot from the Walk. One (possibly more) winner will be chosen from our own Wilmington walk. That local winner will win prize and will then be submitted to the world-wide competition along with all the other local Photo Walk winning entries. The grand prize winner will get a boat-load of incredible prizes - including the fabulous Nikon D700 camera! There are now also a number of Honorable Mention prizes to be given out. For more information, check out the Prizes Page (worldwidephotowalk.com/prizes).

As we approach our Photo Walk date, you should frequently check the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk home page (www.worldwidephotowalk.com) often for updates and other valuable information, as well as our own www.DEphotowalk.com home page for our own local updates.

Finally, please don't forget to let me know if you can no longer attend the Photo Walk on July 11. I have several interested folks on a waiting list who are chomping at the bit to join the Walk.

One Month To Go!

Welcome all Wilmington Photo Walkers! Well, we have one month to go before we get together at the Wilmington Riverfront for our Photo Walk!

It only took two weeks to achieve our registration limit of 50 participants! This enthusiasm is reflected throughout the entire Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photo Walk initiative. To date there are 16,000 people registered for over 1,000 walks worldwide! I think this is almost double the involvement last summer.

Stay tuned for more updates here and at www.worldwidephotowalk.com

Wilmington Photo Walk - July 18, 2009

As part of the 2nd Annual Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk, this year, our Photowalk will take place at the Wilmington Riverfront. Ours is just one of many other Photo Walks world-wide occurring on the same day. The walk itself will start at 9:15 AM but you should arrive by 9 AM to get yourself and your gear ready! We will first meet for some introductions in the parking lot in front of Joe’s Crab Shack. Once all the preliminaries are out of the way, we will break up into groups and fan out for the actual photo walk. At 11:15 AM the walk culminates at the Riverside Market where you can purchase lunch from one of several vendors there, and we meet in the dining area. There we can discuss our walk, do some chimping and geek out on photography!

This photo walk is rain-or-shine! Even in the rain, there are terrific photography opportunities no matter where you are. Don’t forget that the light is nice and soft on an overcast, dreary day!!

There are ample photo opportunities at the Wilmington Riverfront: Dravo Plaza which housed Wilmington’s shipbuilding efforts, the Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park, the Russell Peterson Wildlife Refuge, the Public Docks, the Wilmington Amtrak Station, the Riverfront Market, the Daniel Frawley Stadium, and lots of interesting architecture. If we’re lucky, in port will be the replica ship - the Kalmar Nyckel - Delaware’s seagoing goodwill ambassador.

For more information on the Wilmington Riverfront, visit their website at www.riverfrontwilm.com ; be sure to download a PDF copy of the Riverfront map. And, don’t forget to view Scott Kelby’s short video introducing you to this new concept called Photo Walking. The video is locaed on the www.worldwidephotowalk.com home page.

See you at the Riverfront on July 18th! In the meantime, if you have any questions, please email me at this address: sandro@dephotowalk.com

Welcome to the Delaware Photo Walk!

Welcome Delaware Photo Walkers!

This is our first participation in the annual Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photo Walk, and the first time that Delaware participates in this new initiative which started in 2008.

This summer, the annual worldwide photo walk will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2009. As of June 1, there are over 660 photo walks registered worldwide!

What is a photo walk? It's a social photography event consisting of walking around with your camera and photographing your surroundings alongside other photographers You walk at predetermined locations, perhaps following an established route, and then sharing your imagery with your photo-buddies. Alone or with a group, the purpose is still the same: to go out and shoot with other like-minded photography enthusiasts and geek-out on all things photography!

The home page for the Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photo Walk has more information about the walks available world-wide, plus a nice little video explaining the Photo Walk Experience. Don't forget to read the FAQ page as well. The website is: www.worldwidephotowalk.com

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE JULY 18, 2009 PHOTO WALK IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, YOU MUST REGISTER BY FOLLOWING THE "PARTICIPATE" LINKS AT WWW.WORLDWIDEPHOTOWALK.COM . There is no charge to participate, but you must register.

This blog (the site you are on right now), is not affiliated with the official Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photo Walk, but is in support of Delaware's official participation in the Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photo Walk.