'Photo Walk' Planned in Chesnut Park Saturday

For photographers of all skills levels and with all types of equipment — from consumer-grade point-and-shoots to high-end professional cameras — Saturday is the fifth annual Worldwide Photo Walk, and a local walk is planned for John Chesnut Park in Palm Harbor.

Worldwide Photo Walk is a free social photography event organized by Scott Kelby, the president of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. Volunteer walk leaders guide groups of up to 50 photographers on a tour of an interesting or photogenic area.

The official cutoff date to lead a walk was Oct. 1, but there is still time to register to be a photo walker.

In 2011, there were more than 1,000 photo walks around the globe, an upwards of 28,000 participants, according to the Worldwide Photo Walk website. This year, there are already 1,334 walks scheduled and nearly 30,000 walkers registered.

Because it is a social event, the fun keeps going after the walking photo shoot. Participants meet up at a bar or restaurant afterward to share and compare their pictures.

Palm Harbor Photo Walk

The Palm Harbor walk is hosted by Dave Cross. Participants will meet at 4 p.m. at Shelter 6 in John Chesnut Park, 2200 East Lake Rd. The walk goes until 7 and will be followed by a cookout with hot dogs and more, also at Shelter 6.

"This is a 'walk in the park' with a difference," Cross writes in his online description. "Although there will be some interesting wildlife to shoot (I saw a family of deer while I was scouting the location), on this photo walk you’ll also be able to shoot models. Yup, models in the park: a fifties picnic, alice in wonderland, a victorian loveseat and a princess…who knows what you’ll find and what you can shoot as you walk around."

Participants are asked to chip in $10 toward the shelter rental and food, and there will be an optional “tip jar” for the models. 

Register for the Chesnut Park walk at worldwidephotowalk.com.

If you go on the walk, upload your photos to this story or to our Pics & Clips gallery and show them off!