'Photo Walks' Planned for Clearwater Beach on Saturday

For photographers of all skills levels and with all types of equipment — from consumer-grade point-and-shoots to high-end professional cameras — Saturday is the fifth annual Worldwide Photo Walk, and two local walks are planned for Clearwater Beach.

Worldwide Photo Walk is a free social photography event organized by Scott Kelby, the president of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. Volunteer walk leaders guide groups of up to 50 photographers on a tour of an interesting or photogenic area.

The official cutoff date to lead a walk was Oct. 1, but there is still time to register to be a photo walker.

In 2011, there were more than 1,000 photo walks around the globe, an upwards of 28,000 participants, according to the Worldwide Photo Walk website. This year, there are already 1,334 walks scheduled and nearly 30,000 walkers registered.

Because it is a social event, the fun keeps going after the walking photo shoot. Participants meet up at a bar or restaurant afterward to share and compare their pictures.

Clearwater Beach Photo Walks

The first Clearwater Beach walk is hosted by Jeff Donald, executive director of the Florida Center for Creative Photography Participants. The group will meet at 5:15 p.m. at Pier 60, under the large sign out by the road.

"As director of FCCP, I’ve lead nearly 1,000 PhotoWalks and Clearwater Beach is always one of my favorite locations to shoot at," Donald writes in his online listing. "I know we’ll have a great time and there will be amazing scenes to shoot. I’m looking forward to shooting will all of you and having a great after time sharing our successes after the PhotoWalk."

Donald's group will head to the marina, the Clearwater Bait House and back to the pier before wrapping up around 7 p.m. during sunset for shooting from the new Pier 60 Marina Hotel and its 10th floor bar.

A second photo walk planned by Luigi Barbano will also begin in front of the Pier 60 entrance at 5 p.m. and last until 8. 

Register for the Clearwater walks at worldwidephotowalk.com.

If you go on the walk, upload your photos to this story or to our Pics & Clips gallery and show them off!