But here in Edmonton we have an abundance of great places to go out and do a Photo Walk on our own, any time, so instead of one photowalk, how about four photo walks – with different locations and at different times?

“… if you built it, they will come…,” I was told, so here you go!

Happy photo walkers

Where and when will the 2012 Photo Walks take place?

• #1 Saturday May 26th Whyte Avenue – 11am-2pm, meeting place park on 109 Street just north of Whyte (82nd) Avenue) meeting place after 2pm Boston Pizza on Whyte and 108th Street.
• #2 Sunday June 10th river valley -exact location to be determined
• #3 Sunday July 1st Canada Day Downtown – International Jazz Festival and The Works in Churchill Square, as well as the downtown farmer’s market. Some time in the afternoon.
• #4 Sunday July 29th Fort Edmonton – vintage car day (An admission of $15.95 into the park to be paid by each attendant upon entry)

What is a Photo Walk?

If you are wondering what is a Photo Walk, it exactly what I described above. I’ve participated in a few and organized and led a few in the last three years. In 2009 I won best image on one of the Edmonton walks for the World Wide Photo Walk put on each year by Scott Kelby. In 2010 and 2011 I participated in that event again but decided to do so as a walk leader. Some great images were created, including these winning ones, at each and last year’s 2011 walk had maximum capacity of 50 walkers so I was thrilled!

Group shot from 2011 walk group - Whyte Avenue

How much does it cost?

To walk it will cost absolutely nothing, except maybe bus fare or gas to get there!

However, what I’d like to do is have a small fee of $10 that goes into a prize pool.

Then as a group you will all submit images and we will vote on one winner per walk that will take home the total prize money collected for that walk.   The prize will be in the form of a McBain Camera gift card that you can redeem for any camera related doodad your heart desires, and if I don’t have to mail it, I may offer one of my fine art prints to a runner up or two as well.  So if we get say 30 walkers out per group the winner could take home a nice prize worth $300!  More people – bigger prize!

Whyte Avenue walk - street busker

Downtown walk - City Hall fountain

Who can participate?

Anyone can take part in a Photo Walk!   There is NO age restriction and depending on the location, dogs may also be welcome (and they make great subjects for the rest of us too).   I only ask that those under 18 be accompanied by an adult (there will be a safety waiver to sign).

Do I need to register and pay for my kids if they come?

If you are bringing a child or children, yes please do include them in the registration (if bringing more than one just put the addition info in the comments box) so it will give me an idea of how many people are coming along total.  As for the $10, I’ll leave that as optional and you can decide if you want to enter them to be eligible to win the prize or not.  If you do pay the $10 for them they will get to enter the contest, and have a chance at winning.  On my walk last year a ten year old girl had one of the top 5 images from the walk and had a reasonable shot winning.  So don’t count them out just because they are younger!

“Kids automatically think outside the box and have more creativity than do adults”

Kids automatically think outside the box and have more creativity than do adults who are more habitual, so they may just surprise you.  And how cool would it be if they won and could buy their own camera with the winnings?   As a general rule of thumb I’d say kids 10 and over, go ahead and pay for them too.  Under 10, that’s your call.  All I know is that my 5 year old nephew took some great photos at Christmas dinner last year, dare I say better than his mom would do (sorry sis, love you!)

My youngest photo walkers from 2010

Some more mature photo walkers

Do I need a fancy camera or advanced photography skills?

No absolutely not! Use your SLR, point and shoot, or even your smart phone – it really doesn’t matter.  The point it to get out, take some photos, and hang with other photo enthusiasts.  This is not a class and no prior experience is necessary.  There are no lessons, no homework, nothing but fun.  Now you may learn something inadvertently by watching your fellow Photo Walkers, discussing things, asking questions and just sharing information together.

What should I take photos of?  What do I do on the walk?

Take photos of anything and everything.  Photograph your fellow walkers, people on the street, garbage even.  I’ve written another article on Tips for Photo Walking, head over there for more ideas and hopefully inspiration.  Please keep in mind this is for all ages, all skill levels, anyone that just wants to get out and take photos or maybe even just have a nice walk.  Here’s just a few ideas:

Photograph people on the street - if you're brave enough, there's safety in numbers after all!	Photograph architecture, it doesn't move or mind
Photograph food and things at the markets	Photograph cars, bikes, traffic

Do you get paid for doing this? Nope, I am asking for no money for organizing this.

Why are you doing this?  I’m doing it to create a community of like minded people that just want to get together now and then and go take some photos.  Not for anything in particular other than that’s what we like to do and we should endeavor to do it more often in our own city!  I do it because this is what I love.  I’ve lived and breathed photography for over 25 years and through teaching and interacting with new photographers my love for the craft is renewed.  When I see you, my readers and students, create an image you are proud of, that perhaps you didn’t think was possible,  I share in the moment with you.  I love seeing you grow and create true art.

Window shopping – Whyte Avenue

I’m in sign me up!
Step One – Registration

Using the form below please select which walks you want to participate in, fill in your name and any additional walkers information click “Register”.   If you have any trouble with this form please contact me with the subject line “Edmonton Photo Walks” and I’ll help sort it out.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

What’s next?

Once you have registered you will be taken to step two, the payment page, where you will pay the $10 per walker, per walk using Paypal.  If you do not use Paypal you can choose “Pay by credit card” without logging in to the Paypal site.

Thanks, hope to see you out walking!

Start the year off right

I became a bit jaded with the commercialism of Christmas over the years so I started giving Bissell a lump donation from my photography company, in the names of all my loved ones, in lieu of gifts.  I asked them to do the same or give to a charity of their choice in my name.  I’m happy to say it caught on in my family and we continue to do so in some fashion to this day. Last year we each were told to do something good (donate our time, money, pay it forward, etc) for someone else and just write a letter to tell the rest of the group what you did.  To me, THAT is the true spirit of Christmas and giving.  Going to the dinner on January 1st just adds to that feeling and lets one see how much we have, and how little others have, and yet how they still somehow survive and are happy.  As I said, gives me perspective on what’s really important.

54 turkeys arrive to be carved

I am usually involved in serving the meal (about 1000 pounds of turkey and 1000 people get served each year, all time, cooking and food is donated) but this year they added “photographer” to the volunteer list and I jumped at the chance to photograph it.  I hope my images do the event justice and serve to help them make a difference for those people that come to Bissell Centre for help.  As photographers, I think most of us dream that our images will somehow make an impact and make a difference in the world, if even in the life of one person. If this story and my images touch you and move you to donate or volunteer please do so, and please let me know (add a comment below) so I can feel that I have succeeded in a small way.

If you’re not familiar with the Bissell Centre hop on over to their web site and see all the good things they do.  Short answer is they support inner city folks, most of whom are a bit down on their luck. They provide hot meals, resume writing help, counseling, child care, summer camps, toiletries, clothes, food hampers, special events, gifts at holiday time, a place to shower and have a hot coffee, and so much more.  The biggest thing that I’ve seen them provide is hope.  It’s in their mission statement and it permeates everything that they do at the centre.  Hope to those that feel hopeless and helpless. A hand UP, not a hand out.

The food arrives

Over the years I’ve done various things with the centre including; sitting on the fund raising committee, and gathering donations for their big auction held annually; sorting donations; helping serve the daily meal in the drop-in centre; putting on a Christmas party for the kids; volunteer at special events like the auction, New Years day, and round dance events; and photography a couple times.  I’ve done the New Years dinner and served more coffee and orange drink than I care to count (my thumb has actually turned orange a couple of those years from pressing the button on the juice dispenser). This year they wanted a photographer and I jumped at the chance to document what it is this dinner is all about and help the Bissell promote community awareness of their programs and get some much needed funds.

About 1000 pounds of turkey was cooked and served

Much of their funding comes from individual and business donors, ordinary people like you and me.  I actually give a portion of my salary to them as well now each month. If your company supports the United Way and matches donations or adds to it – you can choose what agency your funds go to if you wish, I choose Bissell, you can too!  Or you can donate directly through their site.

Click on any of the images to view them larger.

Volunteers spend hours slicing the turkeys

Desserts are donated from local businesses, all arranged by volunteers

Last minute instructions for us from the volunteer co-ordinator

The line up starts about an hour before the doors are opened

Gloves, hats, scarves and socks are passed out as people enter the dining area

Greeters welcome everyone with a smile and a Happy New Year

The happy volunteers in the food serving line

Over 1200 meals served on this day

Gary is always at the centre helping out, he's great!

Our oldest attendee of the day at 102 years young, getting served

Part of the security team that helps keep the event safe and fun for everyone

Terry is a photographer as well, we had a great chat, and he has great accessories: hand carved cane, gold Haida ring, hand beaded buckskin gloves and that awesome hat!

More volunteers, they make the event happen

This smile is why I do this! Watch this series for what happens next!

Love the fact that big sister shared with her

Pure joy!

Does it get any better than happy kids like this?!

One of the volunteers prepares extra meals for take out

One of the staff at Bissell, Josh, talks with a volunteer

Take out dishes ready to hand out

A regular volunteer with Bissell Centre, Veejay, right, has a fan (I like her too!)

over 1000 cups of coffee served

Everyone pitches in at the end to clean up

This is what it's all about. Love for each other, need I say more?

Some of the stats from the day as posted on Twitter.

If you use Twitter, please follow the Edmonton Bissell Centre

I often think of this quote and try and do my part.

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.” Helen Keller

These images and the time I’ve spent at the Centre over the years are my contribution. What can you do today? What WILL you do?

It’s our world. I challenge you to do something good for someone else today, or this week. Post a comment here and tell me how you’ve contributed to help. Let’s see what our community can achieve together.

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world” Ghandi

Happy New Year everyone!

It was a tough job choosing the winning photo for the 2011 Edmonton Photo Walk (for the Oct 1st group), but after narrowing it down to 6 images and then finally 3, the winner was Dave McQueen. You can see more of his images on his photo walk flickr set. I liked the colors, the texture and the composition. The final verdict came when after asking my husband about them, he said “I’d put this on canvas and hang it in the house”, and that was that.

Runner Ups

In no particular order, these are the other photographs from the photowalk that made up the top 3.

~ Lone Man ~

Lone Man by Randy Pond, a Vegreville Portrait Photographer.

Tracks Over the High Level Bridge

This image was submitted by Mike Moruzi from In Search of Style. Mike is currently near the end of a Post a Day project (on day number 245 as of today), and I encourage you to visit his website and have a look at his work.

His description of the image he submitted:

I captured this image while on the International Photo Walk in Edmonton on October 1. These tracks are used for the tourist tram that runs from Old Strathcona over the High-Level Bridge and north into the city. This is an HDR image with the addition of some textures (captured on the walk) overlayed selectively onto the image. With this image, I’m trying to capture the historic significance of the link from the south side of the river to the north.

Three great images that made judging them quite difficult. Thanks for the submissions.

The Rest of the Images

Here are all the images that were submitted by walkers to be judged for winning photo. When you see them, you’ll understand how difficult a choice this was.

Edmonton Old Strathcona Photo Walk contest entries.

A winning photo is chosen by each walk leader for each city and submitted to Scott Kelby. From those submissions, a winning photo is chosen to represent the global event. Open to everyone, the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk is a social event for photographers put on each year in cities around the world. If you’ve not yet participated in on, make sure you come out next year for fun and photos.

Photos from the recent Photowalk as part of the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo walk event this weekend. More images are being added hourly!

If you want to learn how to create images like this – come take my Night Workshop, and we’ll plan the next outing!

Images by Brenda Boychuk

Images by Kylie Boychuk

Images by Ross Eagles

Images by Dawn Sulyma

Black and White Image by Lynette Jonson

This black and white image by Lynette Jonson has great composition and is a powerful image.  Her chosen theme or assignment was “facial hair” and she did a great job of capturing it well.

Brick Wall by Erin Roberts

The Photo Walk theme for Erin Roberts was “texture” and in this image, she captures the brick as well as the paint pealing off the metal slats on the vent.   Textures… absolutely!   Nicely composed as well, good job Erin!

Red Chair by Leslie Mariko

This red chair was shot inside the Art Gallery of Alberta, in downtown Edmonton by Leslie Mariko.  Her theme for the Photo Walk was simply “Red”.    Another job well done.

My students and I discussed having a theme for their walk and as a class, we threw out a whole bunch of options.  Then, from the list, the students each chose their own theme.  Having a theme forces you as a photographer to be more selective as you photograph.  To slow down a bit and take your time in finding and composing the shot, rather that rapidly shooting and moving on.   A Photo Walk theme helps you dial in on a subject for the day and just makes you think a little differently.  My theme for the Photo Walk was feet – selected for me by the students as something to give me a challenge.   That is was!

For more information about the annual Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo walk in Edmonton, see my Edmonton Photo Walk Page. I’m leading one of the walks this year which takes place on October 1st, 2011.

I have a great fondness for latin music, cultures and language.   My trip to Peru in 2007 rekindled my interest.  Spending all weekend surrounded by it, immersed in it, got me fired up again.  How can it not, the music is infectious, in such a good way.

Samba dancers

VIEW SLIDESHOW OF 42 IMAGES

I’m not going to begin to attempt to name all the dance and entertainment groups and what country they come from or represent (I’ll leave the Festival site to do that for you), but I can tell you I was not at a loss for what to photograph once in two days.   It was a frenzy of swirling silk skirts, sequins and feathers, fast and fancy footwork, smooth and seductive guitar rhythms, and top it off with great food from the vendors.  A feast for the eyes, ears and soul.

I am amazed at the tango's intricate footwork

Usukuma leading Salsaddiction dancers in Rueda de Casino

VIEW SLIDESHOW OF 42 IMAGES

If you missed it this year, make sure you make a point of going next year.  These are just a small sample of some of the images I captured.  To see a larger gallery click on the photo of the guitar below to start the slide show.   If you want to see all 500+ or order prints click on any of the other images to go to the ordering site, or this link to my portfolio.

Click on this image to the start slideshow

Links

Edmonton Latin Festival

Salsaddiction

Capoeira Academy

Last year I participated for the first time in Scott Kelby’s World Wide Photo Walk. Basically it’s just an organized walk where photo enthusiasts get out to take photos.  This event happens in cities all over the world on the same day and some cities have multiple walks so you can choose which one to join.  In Edmonton this year there are 3, and I am leading one of them in the downtown area.

This is one of my images from last year, 2009

The other two are almost full so I encourage you to come check out my walk.  Details of my particular walk can be found by searching for walks in Edmonton from the main page or clicking here.

Edmonton Photo Walk

You don’t need to be a professional, nor do you need to own a fancy camera.  All you need is enthusiasm and willingness to walk with us, join the group and add in conversation and sharing of images later.  You might learn something or teach someone else something, you never know.  But I can tell you that last year I met some great people, saw some great images created and had a great time.

There is a contest also (prizes from Scott Kelby – one of THE Photoshop Guys) and one winner from each walk will be chosen by myself.  But you can’t enter if you don’t come walk with us.  I actually won last year, but as I’m leading this time I am not eligible to enter but I get the fun of picking the winner – it could be you!

Please share this on Facebook, Twitter or pass along directly to anyone you know that might be interested in this event.

Thanks!

The parade ended at Churchill Square where the festivities continued and one could partake in Caribbean food, which we did, and watch dancers perform on the stage. We even saw Miss Cariwest 2009 being interviewed.

To see more photos press play below.