The Fourth Annual Sulphur Springs Worldwide Photo Walk, sponsored by the Sulphur Springs Downtown Business Alliance, will be held 6-8 p.m. on Sat. Oct. 5 .
The highlight of this year’s event is the rare opportunity to tour the inside of the historical Hopkins County Courthouse, courtesy of Hopkins County Judge Chris Brown and the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department.
The Sulphur Springs Photo Walk is part of a worldwide event held every year that began five years ago as the brainchild of Adobe Photoshop inventor Scott Kelby. This year’s event is being led again by Co-leaders Luis Noble (Graphic Designer at the Echo Publishing Company) and Cindy Roller (Editor of the Cooper Review).
First, participants must register on the Worldwide Photo Walk’s website (www.worldwidephotowalk.com) and search for Sulphur Springs (or the zip code 75482) under “Find a Walk.” The worldwide event takes place on the same day in cities all over the globe.
“Photo Walkers will meet for a short briefing at Coffee Off The Square (located on Church Street) at 5:30 p.m.,” explained Luis Noble. “The walk is a group of photographers in a limited area (such as Sulphur Springs' downtown square) with a limited amount of time producing the best images they possibly can. It looks like a mob of paparazzi, but with each of the photographers focusing on a different subject.”
Besides being free, there are wonderful prizes. First place winner will receive a gift certificate for framing at Texas Art and Frame, Scott Kelby’s Lightroom 5 Book for Digital Photographers eBook plus entry into the worldwide competition and local recognition for photography work in both the News-Telegram and Cooper Review. Second place will receive a tripod donated by The Appliance Hospital. Third place will win a $25 gift certificate for Muddy Jake’s Sports Grille and Pub. The top eight photos entered locally will earn ribbons and displaying of the work at local downtown businesses.
Any one of any age with any camera equipment they have are welcome to join the free event. Walk leaders, both with years of photography experience, will offer advice and guidance to the photographers. Photographers have the chance to visit with others with mutual interests, learn new aspects on cameras, lenses and much more and new angles on framing photos.
“This event gives us a pass to roam throughout the newly-revitalized downtown Square, which features an astounding memorial for Hopkins County veterans, famous glass bathrooms and The Market, making for many interesting subjects,” said Noble. Last year’s event drew a crowd of over 35 photographers to downtown Sulphur Springs and 23,844 photographers have already joined walks across the world.
More information about the Sulphur Springs event can be found on Facebook at Sulphur Springs Worldwide Photo Walk, by emailing ssphotowalks@gmail.com, contacting Roller at the Cooper Review at (903) 395-2175 or Noble at the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram at (903) 885-8663. More information about the Worldwide Photo Walk is available at www.worldwidephotowalk.com.