WORLD WIDE PHOTO WALK REDUX

So the 2012 World Wide Photo Walk results are in and you can see the grand prize winner and 10 finalists over at Scott Kelby's blog along with many of his personal favorites that didn't make the cut.

The really cool thing is that at the World Wide Photo Walk web site in the people's choice section you can see all the local walk winners from around the world and get the opportunity to vote. They are presented in order alphabetically by location.

Entering contests means you put yourself out there for others to judge. In this case you were judged by your local walk leader, then by Scott. I don't envy having to go through all these images and pick just one winner. I've been a photo contest judge in the past and know that everyone will second guess you. Even in this case as I looked through all the local winners, I found images that I liked better than those ultimately selected. That doesn't mean anything really, because who am I to disagree, the ultimate winner is a very nice photograph.

I participated in the Washington DC (Capitol Hill and The Mall) photo walk and thought I would share a few thoughts about the day and the process I used for selecting my contest entry. First, it forced me to get up before dawn on a cold morning and photograph around the U.S. Capitol Building and for that I am grateful. And I was happy with the results after two hours of shooting.

When the time came to select which photo I would enter, I struggled a bit. Did I submit the night shot of the Capitol, a portrait, or the still life of the apple taken in front of the Department of Health and Human Services? The shot of the Capitol was technically very good, but I figured everyone would have a similar shot and there was nothing really special about it. The lighting in the portrait was very nice and I figured most other walkers would not have photographed people, concentrating instead on the buildings. And the apple, which I thought was something very different, a found object in an unusual location, might stand out among other submissions.

So I went with the apple and was happy with the decision. I don't mind being judged and even though that photo didn't receive as much praise as the others when shared on Facebook and Flickr, it was my decision and that is a freeing experience. I've spent much of my photographic career playing it safe and this was my small chance to just go with my feelings.

My photo was not selected by the local leader and in fact when all the local photos were posted, I picked the same photo that was ultimately selected.

Would I have won if I went a safer route and submitted my night Capitol shot? It was better than the other night shots submitted after all. But the fact that others had submitted those same shots just confirms that I was conforming again which only makes me happier that I submitted the photo I did.

I mentioned in a previous post on the topic what I hoped to get out of a group photo walk and things went pretty much as expected. Following other walkers and leaders, as well as posting photos on Google + was a great way to connect and expand on the experience. It also made me take a second look at using Google + more often. One thing that I hoped for was a little more interaction between walkers and some follow up afterwards. From what I saw on Google +, it appeared many of the other groups met and shared photos immediately following the event.

I have an idea for a great walk location next year and will apply to be a group leader. More to come on that.

See my selection of photos from the Washington DC (Capitol Hill and The Mall) World Wide Photo Walk on Flickr.

5 TIPS TO UP YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY TRADE SHOW EXPERIENCE

Sports Illustrated photographer

Robert Beck

gives a presentation at the Nikon booth.

Last week I attended

Photoplus Expo

at the Javits Convention Center in New York City and thought I would share a few tips on getting the most out of your trade show experience.

First, many conferences, such as

Photoshop World

or Photoplus offer free access to the expo or trade show portion, so even if you are not attending the conference sessions themselves, you can still get access to camera manufacturers and vendors.

And it's not just hardware and software. Many booths have speakers throughout the day offering presentations on how they use the latest gear or software.

So how do I approach these opportunities? Below are five tips on attending a trade show.

1. Take the time to make a plan and do your best to stick to it. I normally find out which photographers will be presenting at booths and make a schedule of who I want to listen to, either for inspiration, or because they will be demoing software or hardware I'm interested in. With that speaker schedule set, I can move on to the next step.

2. I look over the list of exhibitors and put a check next to those manufacturers or vendors I want to engage with. Looking at the floor plan, I then decide where I will start, normally on the outside edge and then move up and down the aisles stopping at the vendors I've marked while making a note of additional booths that I might return to. Unless you are at a show the size of NAB in Las Vegas, you can normally make several passes around the entire show floor.

3. Do a little homework before you go. While you may see something that is completely new, most of the time, you'll have an idea about what will be on display and have read the press release and followed user reviews. The purpose of visiting a booth then is to get your hands on a piece of equipment as well as the direct access to those that should be able to answer your questions. However, sometimes the first person you meet at a vendors booth is not a subject matter expert and may not know more than you can read online. Be nice, but if you really want an answer, ask if there is someone else present that you might be able to speak with. And if that person is swamped, see if you can make an appointment to return.

A chance to check out video capabilities and get my hands on a D4 and a D800.

4. Don't avoid exhibitors of products that are competitors of what you are currently using. Normally on the second trip around the show floor, I will make a point of visiting other camera manufacturers just to see what they offer. Knowledge adds credibility when talking with clients or answering a question from another photographer. Even though I had a Nikon over my shoulder and a Think Tank bag around my waist, I still checked out Canon, Panasonic, Lowe Pro and Kata, for example. And I do own some of those products as well. Also, if you are completely satisfied with a piece of equipment, let those at the booth know. This is your chance to offer positive feedback or make suggestions.

5. Finally, make sure to take care of yourself. Your comfort will go a long way in making this a positive experience. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Eat and drink throughout the day. Get off your feet (booth presentations are a great time to do this but get there early). Bring a camera so that you can capture products or ideas that you want to investigate further.

If you leave the show frustrated and tired, then you haven't done it right. You may be tired, but you should also be energized and ready to get out and take photos. I came away inspired after listening to Robert Beck and

Corey Rich

at the

Nikon

booth. I received a $500 off coupon from 

DriveSavers

 and a small

GorillaPod

from

SquareSpace

, both services I'm planning on using now.

CAUGHT ON TAPE

I spent three days this week covering the 2012 Office of Naval Research Science and Technology Partnership Conference at the Hyatt hotel in Crystal City. I've covered this bi-annual event many times before and know that it will require me to be in many places throughout the day, moving from the plenary session to the exhibit hall and then to the multiple breakout rooms. Additionally, since I provide images for our social media use, I know I will be downloading, captioning and transmitting twice, sometimes three times a day. All this means I'm pretty focused on getting each shot while already thinking about where I need to be next and when I'll get the chance to download.  What's the point of this post, and the title, Caught on Tape? Well this year, as we've done in the past, we had a dedicated video team consisting of a photographer and producer covering the conference. As part of that coverage, they produce a daily highlight video which is shown at the start of the each day.

So I'm in the back of the room at the start of the second day watching the highlight video from the first day and lo and behold I see myself on the giant screens in the front of the room. Not once, or even twice, but a total of five times. Now this is only a five-minute video mind you.

Well, I thought it might be fun to edit that five minutes down to a 30-second clip showing my first two appearances and insert the still images that I captured while simultaneously being captured myself. I'm normally very aware of cameras around me and try to stay clear in order to avoid having this happen. Not so much this time.

Is this a fail? Probably not, since I'm sure I'm the only one who noticed myself. Okay, it would be hard to miss me as I move in behind the vice chief of naval operations.

PHOTOGRAPHY IS A PAIN

Think Tank roller with pouches for use once on location.

Photography is a pain – pain in the shoulder and back that is. When I started in this profession I carried my gear in an over-the-shoulder Domke bag. And at the time I also carried all the gear I owned to every job. So it was simple, when I obtained more gear, I purchased a larger bag, the Domke Little Bit Bigger Bag to be specific.

So in my case, like many photographers, all the years of carrying gear over my right shoulder has led to shoulder pain. Nothing severe, just enough to be noticeable. So over time I've come up with a few techniques and tips to avoid this pain and hopefully if you're just starting out, allow you to avoid it in the future.

And it all starts by getting that gear off of your shoulder. Below I offer five tips.

1. Use a roller bag like the Think Tank Airport series or roller case such as the Pelican Case to get your gear to and from the assignment. It allows you carry maximum gear without putting any strain on your body.

2. Tip one gets the gear to the location, but then what? I'm a fan of the Think Tank Modular system which allows you to then use accessory packs to carry and organize your gear once there. You can load up that large roller bag or Pelican Case, then easily customize later. The belt and pouch system distributes the weight evenly on your hips and if you add a harness, you won't even notice that you are carrying camera equipment.

3. Change your traditional camera straps to something like the BlackRapid line of products. These across the chest camera slings do not put as much pressure on a given shoulder. Plus they have the added benefit of not allowing the camera to slip off your shoulder. Once you get use to it you almost forget about the camera hanging at your side.


4. Match gear to the assignment given. In previous blog posts I've talked about traveling light, with minimum gear. It is a hard habit to break and you will spend lots of time second guessing yourself, but if you really take a look at what gets used and what never leaves your pack, you can start to hone your packing.

5. I suppose I would be remiss if I didn't mention diet and exercise to strengthen your shoulder or back. We all know what is right, but let's face it, even if I was practicing good healthy practices 30 years ago, I'm pretty sure I'd still have some of the same issues as I close in on 50. Just be practical and remember that the body does start to wear out, so why speed the process by lugging too much when you're young.

So slow down, pack right, really think through what gear you bring and be sure to take care of your body. And get out there and shoot.

WORLD WIDE PHOTO WALK

Photo taken during a solo photo walk in Chicago last week.

On October 13th 28,000 photographers will participate in 1,300 local photo walks around the world. I will be in in Washington, D.C., participating in my first.

Photo walks are essentially walking with your camera for the sole purpose of taking pictures of things you find along the way. They can be done alone or as part of a group and sometimes are led by an experienced photographer who will offer tips along the way.

The Worldwide Photo walk is the brain child of Photoshop expert and photographer Scott Kelby and if like me you've never taken part in a group photo walk, I think this is the perfect opportunity. While most of the world wide photo walks filled up quickly, you can check here to see if there are openings in your area or add your name to a waiting list.

As I stated above, I've never taken part in a group photo walk, however, I think being part of a group offers several things that a solo photo walk can not. It is a chance to share what you know with others while learning something from them. I provides you the opportunity to see photographs taken by others at the same time and location as you were shooting thus allowing you to reflect on your own work and vision. Finally, the peer pressure ensures you actually get out and shoot.

I will be participating in a three two hour photo walk that starts at 6 a.m. and focuses on Capitol Hill and the The Mall. Not sure exactly what gear I'll bring, but it will be minimal for sure. Years ago I accompanied my wife during a business trip to Paris and while she was in meetings during the day I had the opportunity to walk around the city just taking photos. I traveled to France with pretty much all the gear I owned at the time, but in the end found that my Nikon FM2 with a 24mm lens and a few rolls of film allowed me the freedom to really explore the city.

My goal during this photo walk will be to enjoy the company of fellow photographers. My only regret is that I have a 10 a.m. assignment at Mount Vernon which means I will not be able to stick around following the walk. Very disappointing, but not enough for me to cancel.

Check out the Official World Wide Photo Walk Facebook page or follow the official walk on Google+ or on Twitter using the hastag #WWPW.