A Stroll Through Jersey City – The 2010 Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk

by Alice Magdziak • July 26, 2010 • Events, Hudson, Photography • Comments (0) • 1834

You’re bound to run into heat somewhere in the world if you plan an event at the end of July. But, boy did Scott Kelby and his crew pick a scorcher of a day for the Eastern Seaboard to schedule his Third Annual Worldwide Photowalk. The thermometer read almost 100 degrees and with the oppressive humidity, it felt more like 110.

For those unfamiliar with the photowalk concept, it’s when a group of photographers get together and shoot in one location for several hours, then share their results with the rest of the group online. Scott Kelby, an internationally-known photographer, Photoshop expert and author/publisher of many books on the the subject, took this idea one step further by making it a worldwide event. For three years now, photographers have joined groups all over the globe on a specified date to shared their resulting pictures both within their own group and with all the other groups on Flickr.com. Contests are also incorporated into the Photowalk with individual group winners as well as overall winners chosen by Kelby, himself.

After our initial choice of Newark was canceled, we decided on Jersey City and we were glad we did. The JC walkers were the friendliest group we’ve been with in our three years of Photowalking. As soon as we began gathering at the Hamilton Park Bandstand—which was easy to find because a large group of photographers and equipment is hard to miss—easy conversation about cameras, software and shooting locations in the area began. Within ten minutes, we were remembering each others’ names like old friends.

After a few opening words from our leader, Wade Hindell, and a group picture we were on our way. The route mapped out by Wade led us through historical brownstone residential areas, into an older industrial section of town and then on to the waterfront with its new construction and Manhattan views. Old working factories and crumbling abandoned buildings are especially interesting to the YDKJ crew so that was our favorite part of the walk.

We enjoyed this photowalk so much that You Don’t Know Jersey has been inspired to start our own photowalks beginning with The Palisades in the fall. If you’d like to get more details about our Photowalk YDKJ Series, send us an email and we’ll put you on the distribution list when we have more info. We may not be able to offer the prizes of a Scott Kelby Photowalk but we might have YDKJ t-shirt laying around the offices for the winner! Plus, it will allow more opportunities for us to meet fellow shutter-bugs and have a great time walking around and shooting more of NJ’s interesting locations.

Here is a selection of some of our Jersey City photos: