Worldwide Photowalk October 1 and 2
Scott Kelby's Fourth Annual Worldwide Photowalk is slated to take place in various places around the world on October 1 and 2. You can follow this linkto see if there's a walk near you and sign up.
Of course, you can perform a photowalk any time you want to. You don't need to wait for any specific date or time or organization. A photowalk is simple a period of time – one or two hours – where you go for a walk with your camera with the specific intention on capturing images of whatever takes your interest. You challenge yourself with the subjects and light presented to you.
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Last March, Photoshop Guy and Kelby right hand man, Matt Kloskowski, presented his Lightroom 3 Live tour in Houston. I've always enjoyed these tours and have had the opportunity to meet with Bert Monroy, Ben Willmore, Jack Davis, Dave Cross and Matt. On October 5th, Scott is presenting in Houston and I'm looking forward to meeting him also. But I digress.
I arrived early for Matt's presentation and decided to take a short walk around a few blocks near the Geroge R. Brown Convention Center. I was also scouting for some elevated locations for some downtown skyline shots I have in mind for later in the year (when the sun rises later so I won't have to get up quite so early!).
Root Memorial Square
Back in March, the 2011 drought had not yet set in and spring colors were evident in the city's parks. The photo above was taken at Root Square, just north-west of the toyota center, home to the Houston Rockets basketball team and Houston Aeros Ice Hockey team. The five metallic structures (only four are fully visible in the image) are lanterns, crafted by Carter Ernst and Paul Kittelson in 2005 and serve to pay tribute to the grand Victorian neighborhood that occupied the area at the beginning of the 20th century.
Peacock House
On the north east of the square, at 1414 Austin Street sits the Peacock House. I was struck by the intricate tile design over the door. I wondered who made it, when and why? Virtually everything else in the neighboring blocks had been torn down and paved for parking lots and none of those buildings that did remain shared such ornamentation. I wondered if the building had always been an apartment building. I wondered who lived in the building today and if the ornamentation on the exterior was replicated inside. Despite my wondering, I've so far not been able to find out anything about the history of this building so for now I'll continue to admire the artistry and craftsmanship of the peacock.
My photowalk before class that morning lasted 45 minutes. I ambled around eight city blocks with no set agenda, just taking pictures of things of things I found interesting in the moment and discovered the treasures illustrated here in possibly the most unlikely place – the virtual wasteland blocks to the immediate south east of the high-rise office blocks of downtown Houston.
Join the Conversation
Have you ever participated in a Photowalk – either organized or impromptu – in your home town and discovered something unexpected? I'm sure we've all photowalked on vacation, but what about in our home towns? Will you be participating in the Worldwide Photowalk on October 1 or 2? Leave a comment and join in the conversation!
Production Data
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens: Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM AF Lens
Processing: Lightroom 3
Processing: NIK COLOR EFEX PRO 3
