Getting social while practicing the art of photography

Gone are the days when a dedicated amateur photographer was easy to spot. Camera bags bulging with gear have been replaced, in some cases, by a sleek smartphone.

Taking good photos is no longer a really expensive and exclusive hobby, and this Saturday photographers of all skill levels and equipment sizes will take to the streets of Cheney to practice their art, socialize and swap tips.

Crissy Rasmussen, a former Cheney resident, will lead a Worldwide Photo Walk in town this Saturday, Oct. 13 starting at 9 a.m. Participants in the free event will meet up and walk through town, stopping along the way to shoot whatever piques their interest.

Worldwide Photo Walks began five years ago as a way to bring photographers together. Folks in towns all over the world host the walks, and each group submits their best photo to a contest held online.

Rasmussen attended a walk at Riverfront Park in Spokane last year and had a great time.

“It was just so much fun and I thought it would be awesome to do another event,” she said.

So she started planning a walk in Cheney. Saturday’s walk will hit photo op spots around Cheney’s center, featuring downtown, the Cheney Fire Department and the landscape along Cheney-Spangle Road.

After the photo frenzy, the group will gather for lunch and sharing stories. Rasmussen said the event is a way to meet new people as well as to hone photo skills and learn from each other.

“It’s social and it’s supposed to be about community,” she said.

Rasmussen has spent the past few weeks canvassing businesses and the university trying to get the word out about the event. She stressed that it’s open to everyone, and the atmosphere would be friendly, not competitive.

She’s also excited to come back to Cheney and reveal some of its hidden treasures.

“I really just wanted the opportunity for local photography enthusiasts to come together understand (Cheney’s) charm through all the great photographs of such eclectic and interesting things we’ll be able to shoot.”

For details and to register for the walk, visit http://www.tinyurl.com/PhotowalkCheney.

Becky Thomas can be reached at [email protected].