About us
At least once a month at HoustonPhotowalks.com, we drum up some crazy idea for a place to photograph and practice our photo techniques. We're a fun bunch, no pressure, no stress. Come ready to learn and share what you know among other photographers.
Check out our Member Discounts, Sponsors and other cool stuff on our Good Stuff page: https://houstonphotowalks.com/member-perks/
This group is perfect for new camera owners, novice hobby photographers, and old dogs that have been shooting photos for a long time.
Our group has 3 main principles that guide our way:
• Fun and Safe (we want you to have a great time, and not die).
• Honor the amateur photography clubs that came before us. Their enthusiastic interest in photography paved the way for the technology evolution that allows us to capture light today.
• Education, of ourselves, each other and the community. We learn our best techniques from each other, and we teach the community that photographers aren't jerks, criminals or terrorists.
Upcoming events
5
Challenge: Fix Joe's Busted Images, 2026 Edition
·OnlineOnlineCalling all digital artists, Photoshop Gurus, and owners of Photography Editing Software: UP FOR GRABS IS A $25 STARBUCKS GIFT CARD AND A YEAR OF BRAGGING RIGHTS!
It's too hot outside. Time for our annual Fix Joe’s Busted Images contest!
CLICK READ MORE to see contest details and rules.
DOWNLOAD THE BUSTED IMAGES:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6mxnxydktn78v7x2ujftw/joes-busted-images-2026.zip?rlkey=lq6ug6ab10k1hz8dvmzca1fq9&dl=0POST YOUR ENTRY IMAGES HERE:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D1EEtRKAW/Download some of my image screwups and use your favorite photography app to "fix" them, or turn them into a unique bit of art! Upload your best edits to our FB group page for a chance to win $25 in caffeinated goodness (WOW, that's enough for 1 or 2 cups of coffee!!).
DETAILS AND RULES:
After many years of photography, I have mastered the art of bad angles, dead flash batteries, wrong shutter speeds, strange color balance, unwanted people in the background, and pressing the shutter button by accident while pointing in random directions.
This has given me an impressive collection of absolutely terrible photographs that should be deleted.
So each year, I throw a bunch of these gems into a zip file and challenge HoustonPhotowalks members to try and fix them! The person with the most interestingly and creatively edited photo wins $25 in cold hard Starbucks card money.
Everyone starts with the same group of photographs, and the resulting vast scope of creativity and talent is a lot of fun!
The goal is to practice your image editing skills, to exercise creativity and artistic talent, using images that should be deleted. MAKE ART OF MY SCREWUPS. The challenge starts as soon as this event is published on meetup, and ends August 31, 2026.
DOWNLOAD THE BUSTED IMAGES:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6mxnxydktn78v7x2ujftw/joes-busted-images-2026.zip?rlkey=lq6ug6ab10k1hz8dvmzca1fq9&dl=0POST YOUR ENTRY IMAGES HERE:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D1EEtRKAW/CONTEST RULES
- This is not a "prompt engineering" contest. Edit images in a photo editor. Do not drop them in Grok or ChatGPT and start typing.
- AI tools within a photo editor are allowed (AI Noise Reduction, AI Masking, AI removal, etc, etc, etc are all allowed).
- Edit as many of Joe's busted images as you want, but only submit ONE SUBMISSION PER BUSTED IMAGE. Please don't make more than 1 version of the same file.
- Use any desktop, tablet, or mobile image-editing software.
- Photo repairs, composites, major changes, and wild creative edits are all welcome. If the spirit moves you, go nuts.
- Keep submissions SFW and in the spirit of the HPW community please.
- Upload your finished work as a comment to the Dedicated Facebook Group page by August 31, 2026. Images uploaded outside of that FB post will likely not be included.
- Mention the main software, tools, and techniques you used.
- It will be fun to read a brief explanation of your work, your thought process, and your artistic vision for the edits you upload. These will be considered during judging.
- (Joe picks the winner.)
WHY FIX JOE’S BUSTED IMAGES?
Working with a difficult-to-repair file can teach you a great deal about your editing software. Challenging images make you think carefully, solve problems, and explore tools you may normally ignore.
This challenge has been part of HoustonPhotowalks’ summer fun for many years. Past entries have included careful photo repairs, unusual artwork, composites, and wild transformations.
Everyone starts with the same source files, which makes it fun to see how differently each person approaches the challenge.
This is an at-home activity with no meeting place or set schedule. Work at your own pace, experiment freely, and have fun fixing Joe’s busted images!9 attendees
Lunch: Home-Style Favorites at Tony’s in Sealy
Tony's Family Restaurant, 1629 Meyer (Hwy. 36), Sealy, TX, USJoin us for lunch at Tony’s Family Restaurant before our Historic San Felipe Photowalk and Nature Walk. We’ll meet at 11:00 a.m. so everyone has time to eat, visit, and make the 15 to 20 minute drive to the 1:00 p.m. photowalk.
EVENT DESCRIPTION
We don't visit much during photowalks. So we get to know fellow walkers over a meal. This meal event is reserved for people attending the photowalk on the same day.
Come break bread and get to know the group before our afternoon photowalk. Tony’s is a local Sealy restaurant serving a large selection of home-style favorites in a relaxed, family-friendly setting.
Tony's Restaurant is a brown building with large white letters that say "RESTAURANT". You'll see the large "TONY'S" sign as you drive up.
The menu includes chicken-fried steak, chicken-fried chicken, burgers, sandwiches, seafood, Mexican dishes, fresh vegetables, and homemade desserts. You can view the restaurant’s website and menu before attending.
Please arrive at 11:00 a.m. so we have enough time to order, eat, pay, and drive to the photowalk.
WHY TONY’S FAMILY RESTAURANT?
Tony’s is a longtime Sealy restaurant. As far back as 1936, the location has been known for hand-breaded comfort foods, a large menu, fresh vegetables, and homemade desserts.
Hint: Consider bringing cash to help make checkout quicker for the group.
PARKING
- Tony’s Family Restaurant is located at 1629 Meyer St., Sealy, TX 77474.
- A large parking lot is available directly in front of the restaurant.
9 attendees- $13.00
Photowalk: Historic San Felipe and Nature Walk
San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site, 220 2nd St, San Felipe, TX, USJoin us at San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site for a guided nature walk, historic scenery, and an afternoon of photography. We’ll meet at 1:00 p.m. and visit the park, attend a nature walk from 2:00–3:00 p.m., then keep we can keep exploring until closing at 4:00 p.m. We have permission to bring 20 people plus a photowalk leader to attend their nature walk event.
EVENT DESCRIPTION
Meet us inside the museum lobby at 1:00 p.m. for check-in and a headcount so Joe can pay our entry fees for those that show up.
San Felipe is about 1 to 1.5 hours west of Houston.
We will be participating in the San Felipe Nature Walk in the Footsteps of Stephen F. Austin starting at 2:00–3:00 p.m. Members of the Gideon Lincecum Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists will lead the walk and share how the landscape shaped Austin’s settlement and the lives of early residents.
Before and after the guided nature walk, we’ll photograph the museum, historic grounds, reconstructed spaces, native plants, and period details. Site staff may also arrange for people in period clothing, though this is not guaranteed.
At about 4:00 p.m., those interested can continue to two nearby locations for late-afternoon photos. See addresses to those locations below.
All skill levels and camera types are welcome, including smartphones.
WHY VISIT SAN FELIPE?
San Felipe de Austin was founded in 1823 as the headquarters of Stephen F. Austin’s colony. It became an important center for government, business, and immigration before residents burned the town during the Runaway Scrape in 1836.
- Historic setting: This was the social and political center of Austin’s original colony.
- Hidden history: The Villa de Austin area helps show how the original town was laid out.
- Photo opportunities: Expect historic structures, period details, museum exhibits, open landscapes, native plants, and possible living-history portraits.
Learn more on the San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site website.
IMPORTANT INFO
- Admission fee to the park is included in your Meetup event fee. Please arrive at 1pm in the museum center when Joe counts heads and pays for entry.
- Hobby and personal social media photography are allowed.
- Professional or commercial photography is not included per location fee schedule.
- +1 guests are welcome, please add them to your RSVP before paying.
- Rain or shine. Outdoor plans may change if conditions are unsafe.
LOCATIONS AND ADDRESSES
-
Main meeting location:
San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site
220 2nd St.
San Felipe, TX 77473 -
Optional late-afternoon stop:
J.J. Josey General Store
15945 FM 1458
Sealy, TX 77474 -
Optional late-afternoon stop:
Stephen F. Austin Statue
220 2nd St.
Sealy, TX 77474
The J.J. Josey General Store dates to 1847 and was one of the few businesses rebuilt after the town’s 1836 burning. It continued operating as a store until 1942 and was later restored as a historic structure.
PARKING
- Use the visitor parking near the museum.
- Follow posted signs when you arrive.
- Please arrive early enough to park and check in by 1:00 p.m.
- Carpooling is encouraged because of the drive from Houston.
WHAT TO BRING
- Camera and/or smartphone
- Landscape and Historical Building gear (long lens, wide lens, etc). So far, no restriction against Tripods.
- Charged batteries and memory cards
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Weather-appropriate clothing
- Water and personal items
Please keep your gear light and avoid bulky setups that could slow the group during the guided walk.
RSVP AND PAYMENT INFO
- If you need to change your RSVP, please post a comment below so others know a spot has opened up.
- Rain or shine, no refunds, no transfers.
- See our FAQ webpage for payment, RSVP, and other questions.
- Organizers may not see emails, texts, or comments during events, so please get your questions in early.
21 attendees
Past events
847
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Members
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