Photogs Loose in DC

A friend, Danny, talked me into doing Scott Kelby’s World Wide Photo Walk last Saturday. We would walk and photograph, easy. To someone like me, that seemed like a lot of fun. My kids grew up with a camera documenting their every move and they were not always receptive. So I was happy to do this, because we would all of be the same mind set.

So I was not expecting to feel what I felt at the meeting place. I felt – shy and intimidated. There were a lot of people with big cameras. I felt like I was going to a school dance and I wanted to lean up again the bleachers, but there weren’t any. So instead, I clung to Danny. I was glad to have a friend with me.

When this lady showed up with a hedgehog in her backpack, I thought, okay, now I’m at home. So I reached inside and took out my camera and started cleaning it. It felt good to have my camera in my hand and as I was testing the settings, I started to be less intimidated and more excited. As we started out, I watched everyone as they went about their creative ways.

And I realized that we were all odd…I’m not alone…this is what I look like 90% of the time…

She looks just like me when I have a camera in my hands…leaning over grates and leaves on the ground…

and they didn’t care who was watching…

I think I understand why the kids will sometimes get embarrassed. But when you are with 50 people who all roll around on the ground to get a shot, I’m right at home.

It was purely for the joy of the art of photography. Very cool.

Because of my unfortunate incident last fall with shooting the homeless, the one thing I didn’t do was put myself in any compromising position. I never want to feel like I’m dying prematurely again.

I was thinking that exact thing when I watched this photographer sneak up on his prey.

After photographing a while now, I realize that I have to respect the subjects’ wishes. I believe this gentleman knew he was being photographed so I’m sure it was okay.

I also noticed that all of us, to a person, had something in common. We noticed things, old doors, broken windows, and this Coke can against a plywood. Things that most people would just pass by without thinking. Or perhaps think “Why don’t people throw out their junk?”

Danny said, “This city has a lot of texture.” Which means, “There’s a lot of peeling paint.”

Here’s my take on the Coke can/graffiti art.

This is Jeff Revell who led the Washington DC, Chinatown walk. He’s got a biiiggg lens. And he was very nice.

Here he is giving me some photography tips. I listened intently…He is a great resource and you should check out his blog.

So next year, Danny and I are going to do it again. I may talk the husband and kids into coming with me, with their little point and shoots.

There better not be any eye rolling when I get on the ground for that perfect shot.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Revell and Twitpic.

For more DC Photo Walk photos visit the 2009 Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk: DC/Chinatown group.