Scot Kelby’s Worldwide Photowalk is an event which takes place each year around the world where photographers come together in groups to take pictures within their local areas. Last year I went to the Bristol event, but since moving to London 9 months ago, I decided this year to take part in the Richmond event on this years photowalk day.

Each event comprises a maximum of 50 photographers, with one leader who decides the meeting point and the general area within which we could take shots, although you’re pretty much free to take pictures wherever you like within the location. There are around 1100 walks taking place across the globe all on the same day!

This year I pretty much used one lens. This is the 35-70mm f/2.8 which contains a macro function. It’s an older Nikon lens which means the motor in my Nikon D90 drives the lens. This makes it effectively a 56-112mm lens on my half frame camera. The macro functionality is great for closeups on product and flowers.

I really like the style that this lens almost forces me into. I tend to try and use the 2.8 aperture as much as possible in order to focus on one detail and then blur the rest of the image into infinity and use that space for colour and abstraction rather than for detail.

Using the different lenses in different situations where you might not necessarily use them normally does mean that you get to try new things. Who knows, next year I might try and take photos in a different country, and also with a completely different lens.

These photos are all by me, and available to view with the whole collection from the day, on my flickr page.

Related posts:

1. Scott Kelby’s World Wide Photo Walk
2. London Strobist Meetup – Tom Miles Photography Workshop

Snow in the UK generally means that the country comes to a halt. Planes are grounded, cars stuck in their driveways and trains in the station. During the snowy and icy conditions, the national rail system blames delays and cancellations on ‘adverse weather conditions’. But how long before adverse becomes normal?

Adverse describes something which is acting against or in a contrary direction. So, in the case of a train journey attempting to get from A to B, adverse weather conditions are forces which are acting against these efforts. This is mainly because the weather is abnormal, unexpected, unprecedented and improperly forecast and prepared for.

How long will it be, and how many weeks or months of the year does it have to be snowy, icy and adverse weather conditions, before it’s considered normal. If it snowed every day of the year we’d all have snow tyres. If it snowed every day of the year, I expect the trains would have snowploughs on the front. So why not build it in anyway.

This year, it snowed for around 2 weeks in some areas of the country. That’s about 4% of the year. I would estimate that anything around 10 to 20% could be considered expected. 20 to 40% could be considered normal and 40% plus could be assumed as probable.

So, what can we do about it? My answer is be prepared to spend a little bit of time and money on tools, equipment and clothes to help us prepare for these scenarios. When they come along, everyone is prepared!

Photo by Richard Stowey

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