Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

7 First Impressions of Brussels, Belgium
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

The 2016 Brussels Street Photography Festival brought me to City #42 during my 100 City Project, which of course of was Brussels, Belgium. Since I was here for the festival, I decided to include Brussels in the project and spend an extra week outside of the festival to give it time.

While many of the other Western European capitals attract more attention and longer stays, Brussels’ beer, chocolate and Grand Place give plenty of tourists reason enough to make a stop here. If you give Brussels more time than Grand Place, though, you’ll find the city is a funny mix of a lot of influences. Historic charm, EU politics, hipster trendiness, edginess, multiculturalism, and its own special surreality all blended into one city. There’s a lot to Brussels that makes it stand out in Europe the more time you experience its different parts.

So here are my first impressions of Brussels, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

[Read more…]

City Street Guides by f.d. walker:
A Street Photography Guide to
Barcelona, Spain

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

Barcelona

[Read more…]

33 Street Photography Photos from 5 Days in Jerusalem, Israel

For my 100 City Project, I didn’t get quite as long in Jerusalem as normal, only 5 days instead of a full week, but I explored it inside and out as much as I could. While I enjoyed photographing the crowded quarters inside the famous Old City’s walls, the rest of Jerusalem, especially Mea Shearim, was just as enjoyable for me. Jerusalem is one unique city with a very interesting religious atmosphere. After spending a week in Tel Aviv, only a short drive away, it felt worlds apart. 

So here’s 33 photos that I was able to capture during my time in Jerusalem…

[Read more…]

Announcing: November Workshop in Havana, Cuba (One Full Week)

Week Long Havana Street Photography Workshop

A week long street photography workshop in Havana, Cuba on November 19-25, 2017. The workshop will be led by myself, Forrest Walker (aka f.d. walker).

On this week long workshop, you’ll be able to capture many areas of Havana that others don’t, while challenging yourself to improve your street photography in a variety of ways. This will be an intensive and highly involved workshop led by someone who’s photographed over 60 major cities across the world inside and out. Still, Havana stays at the top of my list for street photography and I’ve spent countless hours exploring its endless streets of interest over the years. With a 4 participant max on the workshop, you’ll be able to get the most out of our time together, all week long in Havana, Cuba.

Forrest Walker is an award-winning photographer who has been exhibited and published around the world. He is also a member of The Street Collective and sole creator of ShooterFiles.com, where he is currently photographing over 100 major cities across all major regions for his website and future book.

Workshop Description:

Havana is no secret destination for photographers, but most don’t see all that it contains. On this workshop, we will include plenty of venturing outside of Havana Vieja too, so you can really capture the variety of what makes Havana so special.

Experiencing and capturing a variety of the city, as we will, is also designed to help maximize your improvement and learning in street photography. You will be challenged, while seeing more and having more opportunities to reach your goals during the workshop.

This will be an intensive, but highly enjoyable workshop experience that includes a mixture of daily photo walks, photo critiques, portfolio reviews, interactive lessons, activities and discussions. There will be a lot of walking and photography, with myself fully involved each step of the way to make sure you get the most out of your week. You will be able to fully immerse yourself into the city through street photography, so you can learn more, photograph more and have a great time experiencing Havana.

More Information:

  • The daily schedule is a minimum, but I will be available at all times during the week. We will have opportunity for more involvement, activities and learning outside of the scheduled time. 
  • There will be extensive photo walks every day after Sunday. During the walks, we will cover a variety of instructions along with a mixture of group, paired and solo walking. You will have a chance to see how I work and learn from myself, while also having plenty of opportunity to shoot on your own. I will take you to many parts of the city to fully experience Havana and provide you more opportunity for unique photos.
  • Mixed in with the daily walks, we will also have time for daily presentations, instructions and photo critiques. Slideshows, group discussions, techniques and continual feedback will also be included.
  • The main focus of the workshop is street photography, with some crossover into documentary and travel. Candid and un-posed is the aesthetic I will be most looking for in course instructions and discussions, while you are free to take posed shots for personal enjoyment.
  • Before the workshop, we will have time to discuss your interests in photography, what you would like to get out of the workshop, along with a portfolio review. I can also help with arrangements on a place to stay, as I’d prefer for us all to stay together so you can get the most out of the workshop and experience (You are welcome to choose your own lodging, though. Preferably, around Centro Havana).
  • Workshop is limited to a small group of 4 to provide individual attention and a better, more valuable experience.

What’s Included?:

  • A variety of planned street photography walks providing a wide view of photo opportunities and exploration in the amazing city of Havana.
  • Opportunities for 1-on-1 shooting with myself to provide you constant feedback, tips, guidance, and allow you to observe how I work. I will also mix up activities and photography assignments to give you a chance to work on your photography without distraction.
  • An instructor that knows Havana and will show you a variety of the city that most visitors don’t see. My experience in photographing over 60 major cities on foot, while going deeper and off the beaten path, will give you an opportunity to get to know the city better and capture more unique shots.
  • Improvement in different techniques, understanding light, learning to see more and being comfortable capturing the shots you want to make. 
  • Multiple educational and inspirational lessons covering different aspects of street photography.
  • An initial portfolio review followed by daily critiques of your photos taken during the workshop. I want you to follow your own interests and vision so I will be working with you to improve towards your personal goals in photography instead of boxing you in.
  • Constant access to myself, including outside of the workshop’s scheduled time.
  • Activities planned to give time for bonding with other photographers. A memorable experience not only improving your street photography, but also enjoying one of the world’s most amazing cities for street photography.
  • The workshop fee covers not only the time during the workshop schedule below, but also the time spent on workshop preparation with each individual, and any time needed outside of the daily schedule while in Havana.

* Not included in the workshop fee, but you will also have the strongly encouraged option of sharing accommodation with the rest of the group. We will have a quality, fully equipped (A/C, hot water, kitchen, fridge, multi-room, etc) colonial home in Centro Havana, near the water right in the heart of it all. Hotels are not cheap so you’ll save money and hassle, while getting even more out your time during the workshop, and enjoying an authentic colonial home in Havana. 

Dates:

November 19th-25th, 2017 (Sunday-Saturday/7 days)

Location: 

Havana, Cuba

Workshop Schedule:

Sunday-Saturday

9 AM- 6 PM (Sunday starts at 1pm)

  • Each day will include planned photo walks in many parts of Havana. 
  • Each day will include photo critiques and discussions from the day.
  • Most days will include instruction time, which includes a mixture of lessons, slideshows and activities.
  • Spending time together outside the scheduled time is encouraged, but not mandatory. I will be available throughout the week.

Requirements:  Basic skill in camera technique is required for this workshop. In addition to your camera, please bring a laptop. Extra camera batteries and good shoes/sandals are highly recommended, as well.​

Fee:  €750 EUR per person

*4 participant max

For questions or to reserve a spot in the Workshop, please submit through the form below:

(Direct email: forrest.d.walker@gmail.com)

*€250 deposit is required to register and hold a spot.

**Second payment of €250 is due by October 31st, with the final payment of €250 to be received 7 days prior to the start of the workshop. 

Thanks for checking these details out and I hope some of you can join me this November. I’m really look forward to this workshop, nothing compares to Havana!

 

Some work from Havana:

From my series, Havana Colors…

     

LINKS:

shooterfiles.com and fdwalker.com

More work from outside of Havana:

Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Mumbai, India
Mumbai, India
Tel Aviv, Israel
Istanbul, Turkey
London, UK
Dalat, Vietnam
Moscow, Russia

Havana Colors : A Short Series from Cuba

While working on my 100 City Project in City #43: Havana, Cuba,  I decided to also make a small side series inspired by the variety of colors this city surrounds you with. There’s so much to love about shooting in Havana, and for me, color is definitely one of them. While much of my work focuses more on people and life, while using color to complete it, I wanted this series to put more of the focus on the colors, while using life to complete it. 

So here’s my short series, Havana Colors. Hope you enjoy and stay tuned for more work and posts on Cuba’s capital, a favorite of mine for street photography (Details on an upcoming November Workshop in Havana).

Havana Colors

 

Comments are always appreciated and if Havana is on your list for photography (it should be), I’m excited to announce a week long workshop in Havana this November!

 

7 First Impressions of Jerusalem, Israel
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

After exploring and photographing Tel Aviv, Israel, next up was a short bus ride to the holy capital of Jerusalem for City #41 during my 100 City Project.

It doesn’t get more famous than Jerusalem. This holy city brings visitors and pilgrimages from all over the world. In the Old City, you have its quarters devoted to the Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions, with so much history it almost doesn’t seem real. But the city doesn’t end there, with plenty more to explore and see outside the walls. Jerusalem is a full experience and truly a city unlike any other. 

So here are my first impressions of Jerusalem, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

[Read more…]

City Street Guides by f.d. walker:
A Street Photography Guide to
Lisbon, Portugal

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

Lisbon

[Read more…]

33 Street Photography Photos from One Week in Tel Aviv, Israel

After Odessa, came City #40 Tel Aviv, Israel during my 100 Cities Project. It was my first time in the country, but for this city I was fortunate to have friend and local photographer Gabi ben Avraham there to help welcome me and show me around. This vibrant cosmopolitan city on the sea is so full of life that it feels much bigger than it actually is. Its compact and densely filled variety of interest and influences make it a perfect city for walking with your camera too. And best of all, the sun loves to stay out and keep the city and beaches alive for street photography.

So here’s 33 photos that I was able to capture during my time in Tel Aviv…

[Read more…]

7 First Impressions of Tel Aviv, Israel
(From a Street Photography Perspective)

After spending some time in Odessa, Ukraine, I took a quick flight to Tel Aviv, Israel for City #40 during my 100 City Project.

Tel Aviv is Israel’s modern cosmopolitan city on the sea. Lined with beaches full of life, packed with a vibrant urban center and topped off with the historic port of Jaffa, there’s a lot going on here for a city well under a million people. Life is lived under the sun, but doesn’t stop at sunset in Tel Aviv, making it a city much different from the rest of the country. It’s trendy and chic, but still possessing a mix of the past and future, with a vibrant multicultural feel throughout the city. It’s a compact, intimate city making it great for walking and exploring with your camera too.

So here are my first impressions of Tel Aviv, from my personal Street Photographer perspective…

[Read more…]

City Street Guides by f.d. walker:
A Street Photography Guide to
London, England

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

London

[Read more…]

For Patreon Exclusive Educational Content:

Become a Patron!

Limited Edition Postcard Prints!

Street Photography Workshops

 

Donations Always Appreciated

I'll always keep Shooter Files free for everyone, but any donations would be greatly appreciated and help me keep it going. Many thanks to everyone following along!

Cheers!
-f.d. walker

For Exclusive Patron Content:

Become a Patron!