Come walk with me. Bring your camera.
It is said that “Photowalking is the act of walking with a camera for the main purpose of taking pictures of things that the photographer may find interesting.”
Yes, that is pretty much it. Photowalking is my favorite way of seeing the world through my camera. I especially like it if I can venture into a place with nature, hidden or not, for the first time or everyday, where there is always something waiting to happen.
Magic waiting to be captured.
It first caught my heart in July 2010, in London, where for the first time I sat down on a park doing nothing. I did it again the day after and the day after that. I took my camera and clicked away where my feet took me, found other parks and walked around randomly. Camera Walks I called it. Because you know, I was just walking with my camera.
Later I found that Osanpo Camera means Camera Walk in japanese, and that was that. Friends for life.
Photowalking/Camerawalking can be done in the company of others or by yourself, which makes it a very beautiful activity, you can just grab your camera and head out into the world without having to wait for anyone else.
This is particularly good when you’re having a bad day, need a rest, or just feel the need to slow down a little. When the camera is in your hand your feet know its time to take little steps, and life will do its best to make you notice the little things.
When you invite other people, comparing the pictures by the end of the day (thank you digital era!) is the most rewarding gift you can get out of it. You might even be surprised at what captured the heart of your friends.
But today, we are going solo.
Today I would like to invite you to see the park through my view finder, and we are going to change our view.
Always take more than one picture and never delete until you get home. But what I would like to show you here is, how changing your view can change an image. Imagine you’re a little kid (this is my golden rule, what would a kid do?) and then do it.
Get on your knees, sit dow, lay down, look UP.
Capture everything that stops you on your track. Look closely and then take a step back, go for the details and the big picture.
You never know, a red leaf might catch your heart and when you step back… heart shaped tree? Don’t mind if i do.
Its your decision to walk with a destination in mind or not, plan a picnic if you don’t feel like “randomly walking through a park” or take a book with you, then sit down and read it. You can come up with themes or just let nature guide you.
And if you’re going for a theme… Props.
I adore real life props out of place. If you live near by, go brave and get a stool, chair or maybe a floor lamp.
You read that correctly, a floor lamp.
Anything goes, props can change an image dramatically, and if you’re a little shy about placing yourself in the picture (where do my hands go? which way do I look?!) props always help. I always take baskets, if I’m alone, to carry my camera, if I’m with the kids, to carry pebbles, leaves, nature finds…
You should take a moment to sit down, regardless of where you go on your photowalk and just be with yourself.
Breathe and think, nobody can find me here. This is my secret place.
Now go outside and click.
van
Loved the article! I love to photowalk, to explore a new city, to inspire me, to breathe fresh air and get some exercise…just I won’t bring a floor lamp anytime soon. 🙂
photowalking in the city is great indeed! so many secrets. im glad you liked this. thank you! (get a little lamp 😉 )
I love photo walking so much I named my new tumblr site “photo walks”! Lovely images — thanks for the inspiration.
Yay! leave us a link.
Oh V! You truly are a little bit magical. This is fantastic.
thank you so so much. magic. <3
This is lovely Van! It’s awesome to hear about your process when tackling a new adventure. Thanks for sharing and teaching me something new today! xo
oh Holly, thank *you*.
I love the idea of taking a prop along for the walk! Brilliant!
im glad you do. im here all smiley and goofy. so everyone likes props. pfffiuuuu. 😉
“Heart shaped tree? Don’t mind if I do.” Awesome! Love this post and the reminder to inject a little fun into a photowalk (or as I will heretofore call them osanpo camera).
Osanpo sort of rolls on the tongue right? heehee
That heart shaped tree got me smiling big, and froze me on my toes. “oh perfect. just perfect.”
Love this, Van!! I LOVE props, too 🙂
thank you Meg. yay for props in deed! (the more “out of place” the better!
Vanessa, this is such a good post. Such a good reminder to all of us to just let it happen. I love the basket idea. I have mine all picked out.
im so happy you like this Mamma. yes, let it happen, it all works out in the end. specially if we have baskets. 😉
I have that picnic backet!! I thrifted it months ago with the intention of using as a prop but never even thought of going on a photo walk with it. Duh!
Love this post. It gives me inspiration and purpose going forward. Thanks!
that makes me really happy! i bought mine on a flea market. Now off you go, use it as prop! click click
fun! i bet this inspired so many. love the directives.
Love the idea of carrying props on photowalks! I need to try this.
the more “real life” the better. go for it!
Awesome post, Van!!
I do so need a little whimsy in my life now and then, so now you have me thinking about which props I could bring out with me next time 🙂
Camerawalking in new places is a big part of why I enjoy travelling so much, and I try not to forget to do it in familiar places now and then as well – it’s incredible the new details and angles that are there to be discovered in well-known places 🙂
yay Jenny! so glad you liked it and that it got your imagination rolling!
Yes, go for the unknown, trust the props, rely on the familiar, change your view! xxxxo