Salt City 50 Photo Competition

There are only two days left to enter! The new project, Salt City 50 is a non-profit group that puts on exhibitions of photographic prints. Our first show is coming up very quick, and will be held at the Gallivan Center September 10th in conjunction with Broadway & Opera Under the Stars. This first show is limited to Utah photographers, so this is your shot to have your work beautifully displayed before a large, sophisticated audience.

It works like this:

1. Photographers submit their work ($10 submission fee per photo).

2. Salt City 50 juries the show, has the work printed and mounted, and promotes the exhibition.

3. Photographers may price their prints for purchase. If a piece doesn’t sell, the photographer gets the print.

We have big plans for the future, and it all starts right now.

Deadline for submissions for our first show is 11:59pm Friday, August 20.

This has been reposted from Utah Photojournalism, Trenthead and Jonesblog.

Save the Date: 09.18.10 Sunset Valley Photowalk

By Rich Legg



The details for the September 18, 2010 Photowalking Utah event have been finalized and it's going to be a great one.  Not only will participants have the chance to capture some really cool sunset pictures from a unique vantage point, they will also get the opportunity to try out some camera equipment and share some pointers in a tips & tricks session beforehand.

The outing will begin with the tips/tricks discussion on Nighttime Photography at the Draper Pictureline store. From the store the group will make their way up Traverse Ridge to a location overlooking the Salt Lake Valley.  Once at the overlook, we will spend an hour or so watching the sun go down and the city lights below come to life.  This will be a great chance to capture some wonderful evening cityscape images.



As an added bonus, our friends at the Draper Pictureline store in conjunction with Olympus have arranged for us to have 10 Olympus E-PL1 "Live Drive" camera kits on hand to demo on the photowalk.  These cameras feature the the Micro Four Thirds sensor which allow for the performance of a full-sized SLR camera in a body the size of a point-and-shoot.  (Note:  Since there will undoubtedly be more photographers than cameras available, we will ask those wanting to try one of the Olympus demo cameras to buddy up.  Oh, and bring your own SD card to use.)

Here are the details:

Date:  Saturday, September 18, 2010
Time:  6:00 pm - 8:30 (ish) pm
Meeting Location:  Pictureline Draper, 177 W 12300 South, Draper UT

As always, this events is open to photographers of any skill level and is free of charge.  For those planning on attending, please head on over to the Flickr discussion group (LINK) and let us know you are coming.

I can't wait to see everyone on September 18th and to try out one of the cool little Olympus cameras.  Let's keep our fingers crossed for nice weather :)

Save the date: August 7th: Hellfire

By Harley Pebley


Saturday, August 7th, we're heading out to the Salt Flats for Hellfire 15. This is an annual, multi-day event sponsored by the Utah Rocket Club where they fire off high-powered rockets. The first couple days are closed to spectators due to safety regulations working with experimental motors, but Saturday they use certified motors and open it up to the public. It's a bit of a drive and can be hot, but there's stuff here you won't find anywhere else.

The range is open 8am to 4pm. I will get there about 8am to stake out an observation area and setup some shade. I'll probably stay mid-afternoon. Feel free to show up anytime, but morning is better. People try to get the first firing of their rockets in before noon, both for temperature and wind reasons. So, the hours between 9am and 12noon have the most activity. After noon, things slow down a bit. We'll probably take a group photo between 9:00 and 9:30.

Besides your normal photography gear, be sure to bring lots of fluids, sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses and a hat. If you're going to be staying for an extended time, you may want to bring snacks and/or lunch too. I'll have an awning setup for shade, a cooler to store things in and a couple chairs. You may want to bring your own chairs, just in case.

To get there, head west on I-80 until exit 4 just before Wendover. Turn right off the freeway and then right again a little ways down the road. When the road ends, follow the cones on the salt leading to the firing range.

Plan on spending $10 and 30 minutes at the car wash when you get home. You don't want to leave that salt on your vehicle.

Comments and discussion on this Flickr thread. If you want to meet others somewhere to carpool, post your interest on the thread and self-organize.

Update: I found an online ride sharing coordination site at RideShare.us. I've never used this site before but created an event for us to experiment with. The link just mentioned should take you to it. If you go in through their main page, you need to enter lookup code "pwuhellfire15" (without the quotes). After registering, you can post ads to ride and/or drive and find others in your area. We'll see how well this works.

Here are some more of my images from two years ago.

Ten Tips for Photowalking

By Nicole Young

Photowalking is a fun way to socialize and get some awesome photos in the process. Here are some quick tips to help you out, especially if it is your first photowalk.

1. Know what to expect

Take a look at the photowalk's info before you arrive so you know what you will be doing. Take note of the meeting location, route, time, etc. Some even have meet-ups after the event and it's good to know all of this info in case you get separated from the main group during the walk.

2. Get the group photo right away!

If you're leading a walk make sure you get the group photo before you start walking! People spread out and leave early, so if you get it right away then you won't have to chase people down or miss out on the group shot altogether.

3. Keep yourself safe & comfortable

A photowalk typically involves walking and moving around (yes, it's true). Be sure to wear comfortable shoes so your feet stay happy. It's also a good idea to bring or wear sunscreen if it's a sunny day, wear appropriate clothing and bring a good water bottle if you think you'll get thirsty. Most photowalks don't provide these things for you so you're on your own ... just know your needs and be prepared.

4. Any camera is fine!

Photowalks are not just for "photographers" ... these events are for anyone with a camera! You don't need to be a "professional" with a huge SLR to attend a photowalk. Bring any camera you have, even if it's the camera on your phone. :)

5. Minimize your gear

Now, this is just a personal preference, but I like to usually bring only one camera and one lens. Sometimes I'll carry around a few small lenses, but I don't tend to bring my entire camera bag. I do see some people toting around a lot of gear and there's nothing wrong with that, but if the walking distance is pretty far then all that gear can really weigh a person down. Plus it's fun to be challenged creatively to only shoot with one lens.

6. Don't be shy! 

A photowalk is not just about the photos, it's about meeting up with friends and making new ones. I sometimes get so wrapped up in the people aspect that I forget I'm there to take photos. :)

7. Stay with the group

Photowalks, especially big ones, will mean that there are a lot of people heading in the same direction and should end up at the same place in the end. The groups usually spread out, but it's a good idea to stay near the main group or at least be sure you are with a few other people and not out on your own. Safety is always the top priority in any photowalk, and there's always much more safety in numbers.

8. Take lots of photos

Photography is of course the main reason for the get-together. It's up to you to snap away ... the majority of photowalks are not training events. You will mostly just walk around and take photos of whatever you like. A fun way to find things to photograph is to give yourself a theme, and then try and find things that fit the theme.

9. Share your photos

After the walk it's always fun to see everyone's photos. A photo site like Flickr is a great place to share the pictures from the walk ... just create (or join) a Flickr Group where all the 'walkers can post their photos. Groups like these are also great places to share information on upcoming photowalk events.

10. Have fun!

This is pretty self-explanatory, but the whole point of a photowalk is to have fun doing what many of us love ... photography! Try not to take it too seriously and just go with the flow.

See also: How to Prepare for a Photowalk

Worldwide Photowalk - Salt Lake City Edition 07.24.10

UPDATE:  The "official" event is full, but anyone is welcome to attend. 

The Salt Lake City edition of the Worldwide Photowalk site is posted. There are only 50 "official" sign-up spots for this walk ... click on the link below to sign up!

http://worldwidephotowalk.com/walk/salt-lake-city-ut-usa-city-creek-park/

Date: July 24, 2010 

Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Meeting Location: South-West corner of City Creek Park, at State Street and North Temple.

We will be walking North to Memory Grove Park, then up the stairs to the Capitol building. Then we'll head South down State Street back towards the park. There should be a variety of subjects to photograph and we'll have the evening sun to light the way.

Note: If the walk fills up and you don't make the list then don't worry, you can still come along and join the group. You won't be eligible to enter the photo contest after the walk but we won't turn anyone away that shows up to just hang out and enjoy the photo walk. :)

Save the Date: Photowalking the Tour de Cure 06.12.10

By Ed Paz

Photowalking Utah has teamed up with the Utah Chapter of the American Diabetes Association for a unique Photowalk on June 12, 2010 in Brigham City, Utah.  The group has been asked to capture images of the 2010 TOUR de CURE cycling event and its many participants.  This is a great way for us as photographers to help 'give back' to a great cause through our photography and get some experience photographing a sporting event.  Here are the details:

Date:  June 12, 2010

Time:  8:30 am - completion  (~ noon)

Where:  Start Location: Rees Pioneer Park  in Brigham City

We will be meeting at the morning time to begin capturing our great images.  The bicycle route is well marked and we will be following the participants on it.  We would also ask that we please car pool as much as possible.  There is going to be many stations along the bike race, and we need to make sure that we don’t become a safety issue for the riders.

For more information or to let us know you are coming, head over to the Flickr discussion for this event by clicking here.  I hope to see you on the 12th.

Save the date: Ladies' Special Photowalk

Photographer Bob Bauer has agreed to allow us to have a Photowalk in his 1/2 acre rose garden a week from Saturday. We get access before the Utah Rose Society!

Bob has landscaped his entire lot in rose beds with lots of paths, so fitting in even 50 shooters with tripods won't be a problem.

Location: 880 West 200 South, Salt Lake City (NE corner of (9th West and 200 South)
Date: Saturday, June 5
Time: 9:00 am

Leave a comment in the Flickr discussion if you plan to attend.