Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk: Experience

A message popped out on my notification a few weeks ago inviting me to be part of the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk. It was from a good friend, Paul Gotiong, who is one of Cebu’s finest photographers.

I was overwhelmed by the fact that he made me his guest of honor and that the event was going to happen well, try to guess. It was going to happen the following day and not just the following day but at 7AM. So much for short notice Hahaha but it was fine, I’m a morning person anyway and I like spontaneous trips such as this.

Thankfully, my teacher for my Saturday morning class decided not to hold the usual weekend drill. This permitted me to participate in the one-of-a-kind event. I researched about the event and it turns out that it was no ordinary photowalk; it was an annual photowalk open for both amateur and professional photographers, at the same time a competition and most importantly, a photowalk for a cause.

I threw myself in a pool of fifty photographers dressed in white Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk polo shirts in the morning of October 11, 2014 at Parkmall. Most of them were men in their 30s and 40s. It wasn’t difficult to figure out who the youngest participant of the group was. Haha. There were, however, students like me but were a few years older.

I knew nobody else in the group except for Paul, but being alone in an unfamiliar crowd has never been a problem since socializing is one of my things (if I am in the mood, of course). There was a slight tingle of intimidation at the back of my spine when I saw the rest of the participants arriving at the venue. Blame their guns, I mean, cameras. They were big in body and the lenses were lengthy and huge. It’s not that I haven’t seen one, but seeing many of them casually hanging on many necks was a spectacle. It gave me a feeling that somehow I should have brought somebody else with me to the event: someone who could save me from unconsciously sinking in the waters of humiliation. The bad feeling didn’t linger that long though. I’m also good at coping with my negative emotions and using them to challenge myself.

It was at that point that I realized:

• People will not expect me to take good photos. This is an advantage because I could be a dark horse. Not that I am aiming to win the contest. I actually forgot that the event was a contest. I was after the experience.
• There is so much room for improvement. I’m highlighting the gadget upgrade here. Haha. I was encouraged to buy either a prime or zoom lens for Christmas. That is if I won’t go scuba diving again. I was after the lessons but at the moment, I was just star-struck with the high calibre camera bodies and lenses.

Did I mention I was all by myself? I was basically with a group of strangers competing with each other. I didn’t want to cling to Paul because: for one, he was the head of the event. That being said, he was supposed to everywhere. He had to oversee the whole thing. I didn’t want to look like a beggar relentlessly pursuing a guy for some change. Second, I didn’t want to be dependent which I am not, and I had pictures to take myself.

By the end of the event, I was able to meet new friends. They were mostly amateur photographers like me. I was surprised that most of them knew some of my friends and old classmates. Mel Lavoges was one who I won’t forget. She was funny and talkative, like me. Haha.

The Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk 2014 Cebu leg was an experience to treasure. What started out as a group activity with strangers, to me, turned out to be really friendly. After the long walks on the streets of Mactan including the bridge from one end to the other, a service van picked us participants for a quick ride back to Parkmall. Short conversations were made over Kentucky Fried Chicken rice bowls which lengthened my new friends list. Haha. It was my first time to be a part of a photowalk and I never imagined it would be that fun, much less do it on a solo flight.

A total of 227 shots were taken by Sebastian that day, and I was so excited to check and upload it all on the night of that day. I screened which ones reflected my type of photography and narrowed it all down to around 30 shots. I’ve divided the shots into two groups: people and places. These two will be the next two posts that will be published here over the next few hours.

Mr. Zenald Bacs bested all fifty entries. His work will represent the region, hopefully the country and we're crossing fingers that it will make it to Mr. Kelby's desk. Congratulations, sir! You can read full details here. I'd like to thank Paul for the experience and for the rest of the photographers who made the event a success. They are everybody in the photo below. Haha! Find me!

Stay tuned for next year's Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk Cebu leg! It's going to be bigger, better and brighter!