Get Your New Castle Images Published

Dear New Castle Photo Walkers,

I have been contacted by Oliver Brown who is responsible for content on the Ye Olde New Castle Crier website (www.NewCastleCrier.com). Oliver is very interested in gathering some great images of the town for the website. If you are interested in helping out with your images, please contact him at o.brown@newcastlecrier.com . There is no monetary incentive, but seeing your work on a highly visible website is very rewarding. You will get attribution for your image(s).

Also, Oliver asked me to mention that for anyone with interest in garden photography, New Castle will be holding a series of “Hidden Garden” tours in August. Eight private gardens will be opened to the public on Saturdays and Sundays on August 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29. The tours are unguided so photographers can take as long as they wish. There is a charge of $5/person. For more information, contact Oliver at 0.brown@newcastlecrier.com

We Have a Winner!

Pete Harvison's image is our Historic New Castle Photo Walk winning image. Congratulations, Pete! It has been entered into the worldwide competition that Scott Kelby will be judging. The Grand Prize and honorable mention winners will be announced on August 16.

So, how and why was Pete's image chosen? First, let me tell you; this was an excruciating exercise for me and my wife, Assunta, because all your images were excellent! I would like to submit all of your photos!

After a laborious evaluation of the 18 exceptional images, I ended up with five semi-finalists, then three finalists. I wanted to choose an image that would have a good chance of winning a prize in the worldwide competition.

Pete'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?

Pete's image is about Historic New Castle. That is the theme, plain and simple. This image shows us a typical architectural feature seen throughout the town, plus a touch of the past with the colonial flags waving in the breeze.

2. Does the image focus attention on the subject?

First, let's consider what the subject is in this image. Is it the building façade? Or, are the flags playing the dominant role? Where do your eyes immediately go to when first viewing this image? For me, it's the flags. There are two compositional elements here that immediately lead my eye to the flags each and every time I look at the image. One, of course, is the mix of colors of the flags - contrasting with the solid blue sky. Color itself is an important element of composition. The other compositional element is the doorway which really acts as an arrow - a pointer - which tells your eye where to look!

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 Pete's image. It's clean. No blemishes on the doorway or the rest of the façade. No distracting signs on the wall, and a nice solid blue sky.

As an aside, I'd like to commend Pete for taking a look upward! In some photography talks I have given I have challenged the audience to look up when going out for a photo shoot -- there are lots of interesting images to capture there!!

So there you have it! Pete's image is successful, and the winner in our local Historic New Castle Photo Walk contest.

Finally, please remember that a 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 partialities 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, New Castle Photo Walk

www.DEPhotoWalk.com

IMAGE UPLOADING

Since I've put you through my own style of "information overload" over the past 10 days or so, you may have missed the information about uploading your competition entry image.

Go to www.WorldWidePhotoWalk.com, scroll down a bit to the blog section, and you will find the instructions there. You will need your login credentials that you used to register for the walk.

FYI - as of Wednesday 10AM, six Walkers have submitted their image.

Prepping your ONE image 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. Maximum file size is 1 MB
> When saving to JPG. Use a quality of at least 10 (or 80%).

Remember ... the deadline is July 31, 11:59 pm EST.

What happens next? I have the honor of judging a winning image from our group. My deadline for that is August 7, and I will keep everyone informed as to the status. The local winner will receive a Kelby Training book (and they are all excellent books, by the way) plus a chance at winning first place or one of ten honorable mentions when Scott Kelby chooses for the worldwide contest in mid-August.

Remember, even though our Photo Walk is behind us for this year, you still need to go out and shoot lots of pictures - everyday, if you can!

Sandro Cuccia

Leader, Historic New Castle Photo Walk

www.DEPhotoWalk.com

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

What a delightful time we all had at our Historic New Castle Photo Walk! The 100-degree weather made it even more delightful! Not only was the weather good, but the camaraderie was great, and our Leader was delightful, if I say so myself! In many ways, the fact that the the town was not crowded with (other) visitors was a plus and actually contributed to a very relaxing event. I observed many of our Walkers just taking their time and putting lots of thought into their photography - or maybe it was the heat that made all of us move in slow motion!

And ... the chimping was fast and furious!

Our "Chimp and Chew" session turned out fine, after-all - and, it was fun! Thanks to the efforts of my wife, Assunta, we managed to get a last-minute group lunch organized at Jack's Bistro. We met Oliver Brown, publisher of the Ye Olde New Castle Crier website (www.NewCastleCrier.com) who facilitated our accommodations at Jack's Bistro. I enjoyed meeting everyone and talking about our common passion. I saw lots of business card pumping! Jack's Bistro was a perfect spot, the food and service were excellent, and we practically had the entire dining room to ourselves.

By now, you should have received instructions for submitting your ONE photo for the contest. Those instructions are sent by the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk organization, and you will be submitting your photo through the web page where you signed up for the walk. (Hopefully, you remember your login information, yes?) The instructions are also located on the home page of www.WorldWidePhotoWalk.com ... just scroll down a bit to where the blog entries start.

Don't forget to keep checking www.DEPhotoWalk.com for updates from me as we go through the image-selection process.

Now, the hard part begins ... looking over your hundreds of images; deciding which one 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 external media.

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

One final suggestion; choose an image that is YOUR favorite.

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!

Remember ... check www.DEPhotoWalk.com for updates.

Thanks for making our Photo Walk a big success!

Sandro Cuccia

www.DEPhotoWalk.com

We Have a Flickr Group! Join Us!!

We have a new Flickr Group for our Photo Walk photos! The link is HERE [http://www.flickr.com/groups/dephotowalk] and it's called "Worldwide Photo Walk - 2010 - Historic New Castle"

Flickr.com is an excellent photo-sharing website that I gladly recommend to all photographers - beginners and professionals alike. I've been using it for quite a while for my own purposes, and I think it's a fantastic service not only for sharing images, but for discussing and learning all things photography by joining different "Groups" - like special interest groups - within Flickr. I've joined several Flickr photography groups and it's quite enjoyable and educational. And, it’s all free!

The purpose of our Flickr group is for you to upload as many images as you want from your New Castle photo walk and to share them and talk about them. This is completely optional and unrelated to your uploading the contest entry. That is done through the main Worldwide Photo Walk site, and you will be receiving separate instructions for that.

Our Flickr 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 photo walk participants 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 about setting up an account, go to www.Flickr.com . Also, “RC” from the home Worldwide Photo Walk organization has created a short video HERE to show you more about how to set up a Flickr account. You will upload your Photo Walk photos to your Flickr account first.

2. Join our Flickr Group. In order to be able to participate in our Photo Group and discussion, visit our Group page www.flickr.com/groups/dephotowalk, 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. Share your Photo Walk images. Once your membership is activated, you will see our Group listed in your account's groups listing. (There is a "Groups" menu at the top of your Flickr home page). You can then select the Photo Walk images that you uploaded previously to your own Flickr account, and make them available to our Group. You don't actually move them or copy them to the group, they get linked to the Group so others can view them.

By the way, as an aside, if you already 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. You can also prohibit the downloading and printing of your images.

I hope you take advantage of the Flickr group! It's a fantastic resource from all photographers.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Sandro V Cuccia

Leader, New Castle Photo Walk

www.DEPhotoWalk.com

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 (but hot), and we should have some nice early to mid-morning light for that added depth and dimension to our outdoor photography.

Now, about tomorrow...

You should arrive in the area by 9 AM. There are no parking lots to speak of, but you should find plenty of curb-side parking that early in the morning. We congregate at the northeast corner of Delaware and Third Streets (on "The Green"). I will be the big, goofy looking guy in a white Photowalk T-Shirt and khaki photographer's vest.

Please note: We are NOT meeting in Battery Park as originally stated on the Worldwide Photo Walk registration site.

Did you check out the Historic New Castle Map? Also, don't forget to check the official Historic New Castle Website.

OUR SCHEDULE ...

> Arrive by 9 AM to get your gear ready

> Gather around at 9:15 for last-minute announcements (Delaware & Third Streets)

> Everyone fans out individually or in small groups to photograph the area. There is no set plan or route as the location is fairly compact. Consult the map (see link above).

> The Photo Walk officially ends at 11:30 AM. However, you can certainly continue if you wish.

> There will be no formalities at the end of the walk, but we'll have informal Chimp and Chew sessions at the location of your choice. Check previous blog entries here for some suggestions.

MY ROLE AS YOUR WALK LEADER ...

It has been a pleasure organizing a local walk for the New Castle, 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.

My other task will be to handle the photo contest portion of the walk. I will be judging your entries for the best-of-the-Walk for a local prize. I will then submit that winning image for the Worldwide competition.

During the Walk, 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 are other last-minute articles for you to check out. Also, be sure to read the news about some post-Walk activities and web-events.

See you tomorrow!

Sandro V Cuccia

Leader, New Castle Photo Walk

www.DEPhotoWalk.com

My Top Ten Last-Minute Photo Tips To Help You Get the Most From Our New Castle 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 themetadata 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.

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 Delaware 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!

Sandro V Cuccia

Leader, New Castle Photo Walk

www.DEPhotoWalk.com

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. Historic New Castle is a fairly compact area, but still with plenty of photo opportunities. No hills, no steps, probably little or 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 94 ... sounds pretty warm, so you may need be concerned about the effects of heat and humidity . However, be sure to take the proper precautions against excessive exposure to sun, and bring water.

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.

I've written about this before to you. In the last few years, I have changed how I approach a new photo trip. I used to carry large bags filled with a wide assortment 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. Another time, I traveled to Italy with one D-SLR and only one special lens called a"Lensbaby." [see www.lensbaby.com for info on this special gadget].

But, as I have already mentioned, 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. Some folks visiting Historic New Castle like to concentrate on certain details commonly found in colonial towns, such as the ornate door-knockers or window shutters.

Sandro Cuccia

Leader, Historic New Castle Photo Walk

Maximizing Your Photo Walk Experience

As we prepare for our New Castle Photo Walk this Saturday (July 24), 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 at the northeast corner of Delaware and 3rd Streets in Historic New Castle. You will then be let loose to walk around and photograph the area in and around the Historic New Castle.

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 New Castle, 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 various locations for lunch right around where we congregated at the start of the Walk. If you can make it, this will be yet another wonderful opportunity for you to "network" (sorry, about using such a tired expression). While we weren't able to secure one location for everyone - as we did last year at the Wilmington Waterfront - we should still be able to get several groups together at the recommended eateries and pubs. 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!]

Sandro Cuccia

Leader, Historic New Castle Photo Walk

Historic New Castle Maps Available

Be sure to check out the official Map of Historic New Castle. You can download a PDF version, print it out and pack it in your camera bag or vest for Saturday's photo walk.

While you're at it, visit Ye Olde New Castle Crier, the "What's Happening" web site for Historic New Castle visitors - www.NewCastleCrier.com

These links are also always visible over here on the top-right side of the page >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

About the Prizes ...

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 advertising on the main site www.WorldWidePhotoWalk.com .. be sure to support the sponsors.

What about the prizes? Well, for our own New Castle 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 receive a $1000 gift certificate from Adorama, one of the top photo retailers! Additionally, the winner gets a one-year subscription to Kelby Training Online. I've been using this service for two years, and I can't speak highly enough about it. There are now also a number of Honorable Mention prizes to be given out. For more information, check out the Prizes Page (www.WorldWidePhotoWalk.com/prizes).

An Idea to Stimulate Your Creativity!

As we approach our Photo Walk this Saturday, I thought I would send you some thoughts to help get your creative juices flowing ...

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 the Photo Walk is the perfect opportunity to try something different!

For example, you could consider doing only black-and-white photography at our walk? Our winning photographer last year concentrated on Infrared photography, producing spectacular and dramatic images. Want to see the winning image and my critique? You can LINK TO IT HERE.

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 much more stunning results by later using the software on your computer to do the black-and-white conversion. This gives you a lot more tonal latitude and flexibility in producing a winning image - and you still get to keep the original color version.

The point is this: Give your creative muscle a work-out! Consider choosing ONE technique or piece of equipment and sticking to just that for the entire shoot. Why not try just black-and-white, or perhaps HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography? How about this for a radical idea: shoot with just your cellphone camera! Some fantastic, award-winning images have been captured with cellphone cameras. After all, it's about the "violinist," not the "violin." With the proper knowledge of classic photographic theory and a sense for composition, you can make any camera work for you.

Another idea: perhaps you recently purchased a super wide-angle lens or a fast 50mm. Force yourself to use that lens - and master it - by ONLY taking that one lens to the shoot. A few years ago, I spent a month in Italy with only a Nikon D70 outfitted with a Lensbaby. (www.Lensbaby.com). It was eye-opening, to say the least. By not having the usual panoply of lenses and other accouterments, my mind wasn't cluttered with choices. My photography was more deliberate and studied.

You know what? For our photo walk Saturday, I think I'm going to do just as I suggest here! I am going to leave my D700 at home and just shoot with my iPhone! I love the built-in camera it has! (see my blog for lots of examples: www.SandroCuccia.com).

Talk to you again soon!

Regards,

Sandro Cuccia

Photo Walk Leader

www.DEphotowalk.com

Please subscribe and listen to my digital photography podcast --- the MyPhotoTech Podcast. Available free via iTunes or www.MyPhotoTech.com

Five Days To Go! Final Details ...

Dear New Castle Photo Walkers!

Only five days remain until our photo walk in Historic New Castle!

As a reminder:

Date: Saturday, July 24, 2010

Starting Time: 9:15 AM (arrive by 9 AM)

Location: On “The Green” at the corner of Delaware and 3rd Streets in the center of Historic New Castle

Ending Time: Approximately 11:30 AM

Chimp-n-Chew Meet-Up: Immediately following - Location of your choice

Due to the restrictions on communicating on a two-way basis with everyone and limited facilities on-site, I was unable to secure a reserved location for all of us as a group. So, any of us who wish to meet over some victuals and libation after the walk - to discuss our morning shoot, compare notes, and just geeking out on photography - we’ll basically be on our own.

I can recommend the following eateries/pubs/coffee shops very close to our 9 AM meeting location:

Jessop's Tavern, 114 Delaware Street, 302-322-6111

The Shoppe of the Three Crowns - (coffee shop attached to Jessop's Tavern), 116 Delaware Street, 302-221-0773

The Prince on Delaware, 124 Delaware Street, 302-326-1130

Jack's Bistro (at the David Finney Inn), 222 Delaware Street, 302-544-5174

Don’t forget to check out www.WorldWidePhotoWalk.com for updates and other useful information regarding the walk. And, check out New Castle’s own web site, www.NewCastleCrier.com for ideas on what to see and shoot in Historic New Castle on Saturday.

Watch for a couple more updates and ideas from me this week, and l look forward to meeting everyone on Saturday!

Please email me if you have any questions! (sandro@DEPhotoWalk.com)

Regards,

Sandro V Cuccia

Wilmington Photo Walk Leader

www.DEphotowalk.com

Dear Delaware Photo Walk Participants:

Hello! And, thank you for registering for the July 24th Delaware Photo Walk in Historic New Castle!

Here are some details:

This year's Delaware Photo Walk will take place in Historic New Castle.

STARTING TIME: 9:!5 AM (arrive by 9 AM)
LOCATION: On "The Green" at the corner of Delaware and 3rd Streets. This is in the center of Historic New Castle.
ENDING TIME: Approximately 11:30 AM.

CHIMP-n-CHEW MEET-UP: I am investigating a couple of eateries/pubs ... details to come!

NOTE: If you can not make the Photo Walk, "unregister" yourself using the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk site so I can free up the slot for others on the waiting list. You must do this yourself; I am not authorized to do so.

Be sure to arrive by 9:00 AM so you can get yourself and your photo gear ready-to-go. We will first meet briefly for some introductions and remarks. Once all the preliminaries are out of the way, by 9:15 we break up into groups and fan out for the actual photo walk. At 11:15 AM the walk culminates at our "Chimp-and-Chew" meet-up location for lunch (your expense) if you wish, where we can discuss our walk, do some chimping and geek out on photography!

I scouted the area with my wife last weekend. There are ample and very interesting photo opportunities in this quaint Colonial setting. For more information on Historic New Castle, visit www.NewCastleCrier.com .

Also, check out the official website for Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photo Walk. You will find more information about this initiative including a video which will introduce you to the concept of the "photo walk." You can also get more information on the sponsors, as well as a photo gallery of a selection of images from the thousands of participants at last year's Worldwide Photo Walk. The site is www.worldwidephotowalk.com . While you're at it, it would benefit you to read the Photo Walk FAQ page at www.worldwidephotowalk.com/faq

Additionally, check out the Official 2010 Photo Walk Apparel at www.cafepress.com/townerjones/ Your purchase of official Photo Walk garb will aid the Springs of Hope Orphanage in Kenya.

Want to know more about the prizes being offered? Check out www.worldwidephotowalk.com/prizes/

And, don't forget our walk-specific web site at www.DEPhotoWalk.com for more information and updates.

I was asked one question about a rain date. There is no rain date! 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!!

I will be sending you more information and a reminder a couple of weeks prior to the July 24th walk. Meanwhile if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email me.

Finally, while there are some prizes associated with this event, the REAL purpose of the photowalk is to build and be a part of the international photo community. It’s a chance for photographers of all skill levels to come together and share the experience with others.

See you in Historic New Castle on July 24th!

Regards,

Sandro V Cuccia

www.DEPhotoWalk.com
sandro@DEPhotoWalk.com

DE Photo Walkers: I Need Your Email Address!

The organizers have made my job a bit more difficult. They are not releasing your email addresses to me in the name of privacy.

I like to provide a personalized information service through email and/or the www.DEPhotoWalk.com Web site (this site right here).

If you are interested in receiving email updates from me on the Photo Walk, and tips for the Photo Walk, please send me your email address to sandro@DEPhotoWalk.com

I do not share your address with anyone, and I hide everyone's address when emailing updates.

If you prefer, simply log into this Web site for periodic updates.

Thank you!

Sandro Cuccia

TIME FOR OUR 2010 DELAWARE PHOTO WALK!

We're back! It's time for the Third Annual Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk!!

This summer, our Photo Walk will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2010 .... starting at 9 AM ... and the location will be in Old New Castle. As is customary, post-photo walk chimping and camaraderie .... affectionately known as our "Chimp-and-Chew" will be held at a local eatery right after the Photo Walk - around 11:30 AM.

Details are still being worked out and all participants will be kept informed.

Here are a couple of important websites for you to visit for immediate information and registration:

The Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk Website - www.WorldWidePhotoWalk.com

You will go there to see lots of information about the Photo Walk experience and give you a chance to register for our New Castle photo walk. You will see a search bar there ... just type in New Castle Delaware to get to our sign-up page and, of course, my pretty face. Alternatively, go directly to our New Castle Photo Walk page on Kelby's site.

The Delaware Photo Walk Website - YOU ARE HERE NOW! (www.DEPhotoWalk.com) This site is the one I created for our own photo walk, where I post lots of updates and information about our shoot in New Castle this July. While you are here, you can check the 2009 archives - over there on the top right side - to see photos and other information from last year's shoot at the Wilmington Water Fron.

I will be posting more information soon. Meanwhile, let me know if you have any questions. My email is sandro@dephotowalk.com

Hope to see you for a fun morning of shooting in New Castle on July 24th!

Regards,

Sandro Cuccia