Photowalk 2012 at Turf Paradise Phoenix

Phoenix Photowalkers 2012 at Turf Paradise

On Saturday 13 October, 2012 I led my fourth International Photowalk 2012 sponsored by NAPP, the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, this time at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Photowalker and Former Student Isabella, a Great Photographer!

We had a smaller group of people this year, maybe because there were so many other photowalks in the area.  But that’s not a bad thing.  The folks we had were really into photography. 

Mike Chamberlain, Track Announcer and NICE GUY

Probably the highlight of the experience was how darn nice Turf Paradise people were to us!  In groups of three, they let us photograph from the track announcers booth high above the grandstands and also let us get at track level for some of the closeups I have of the horses.

We enjoyed meeting Mike Chamberlain track announcer; Jorge Estrada, association steward; and Mike Scerbo the social media guy (here’s an interesting article here on Turf Paradise’s use of social media in the Phoenix Business Journal).  Jorge actually invited us to a future polo match at Westworld.  

Horse and Handler Before a Race

Seeing me setting up the group shot, Mike Scerbo the social media guy came out to greet us.  That set a nice tone for our visit.  Later on the track announcer Mike came out to invite us to go in small groups to visit him and take photos high atop the track where the press go.  Then they invited us in small groups to get between the first and second rails close to the track.

Horses Head to the Finish Line

I used a Canon 7D and two lenses:  the Canon 28-135mm and the Tamron 70-200mm.  I brought along a Tamron 200-500mm but frankly I didn’t need it.  It was just another heavy lens to drag around, along with a tripod that I only used for the group shot.  Moral of the story here:  travel lighter!  That stuff was heavy dragging up to the catwalk and all over the track. 

Number Two is a WINNAH!!!

I set up a Flickr group especially for the Photowalkers to join in conversation and post their own photos.  Feel free to join in!

Number Six Leading The Charge!

Happy Shooting,

Jim Patterson

http://JamesGordonPatterson.com

Enjoy more of the photos I took at Turf Paradise

Photowalk 2009 in North Phoenix-PVCC a (HOT!) Success!

Photowalk 2009's version in North Phoenix - Paradise Valley Community College on July 18 2009 was a fun, and HOT, time. Close to a full compliment of fifty photographers joined me as we gathered at Catch 22 Sports Grill, then on to Matador Coffee to take some photos of their bean grinder operation. Then we carefully walked across Union Hills and got in the center of the Paradise Valley Community College Campus where we walked around and found interesting things to take photographs of. All this while under an extreme heat warning (115 degrees, so yes HOT).

Photowalk 2009 is a brainchild of photographer Scott Kelby. This is the second year photographers from all over the world did a photowalk. The idea behind a photowalk is to have fun, meet people, talk about photography, and did I mention have fun? I think our group accomplished that.

Click on the link and you can see more photos from the North Phoenix-PVCC Photowalk. This is the general Flickr site for the Worldwide Photowalk.