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One hundred enthusiastic shutter-bugs took to the island's streets at the weekend to put Bahrain on the international photographic map.
Last year Photoshop guru Scott Kelby thought it would be fun to get photographers out from behind their computers onto the streets, mingling with other like-minded camera buffs in unison on a worldwide 'Photo Walk'.
He got 8,000 walkers in 236 cities, a great showing, and many calls for a sequel. So this Saturday, some 27,000 walkers in 914 cities, were out in force, snapping away as they cruised the streets everywhere from Los Angeles and New York to Eureka Springs, Arkansas; Salmon, Idaho; Deadwood, South Dakota and Muharraq and Manama, Bahrain.
Local leaders assigned projects along the way for those taking part to photograph local sites. The pictures will now be submitted into an online pool, to qualify for many prizes.
And the event proved very popular in the kingdom with two groups of 50 camera enthusiasts taking part.
It was organised in Bahrain by the Gulf Photographers' Network and the Middle East Shutter Squad.
Jayson De Leon, GulfWeekly photographer and member of Middle East Shutter Squad, was one of those taking part.
He said: "I was part of the group which went to Muharraq and I photographed the Shaikh Isa House, the Muharraq Corniche and also an old coffee shop in the middle of the old area of Muharraq.
"It was a fun atmosphere with lots of people taking part and it was a good event to be involved in as it's a good experience and exposure for all of us and there are some great prizes too."
The best photo in each city wins a copy of Kelby's new Digital Photography Book, Volume 3, as does the leader of the walk, and the best 10 photos overall, as chosen by Kelby, win additional prizes, including Adobe and OnOne software and Bogen backpacks totalling thousands of dollars.
"What started as a book promo has grown way, way beyond our wildest dreams," said Kelby. His publisher Peachpit Press is on the hook for nearly 2,000 free books to give away.
"None of us had any idea what we were getting into," he added. To find out more about the event, log onto https://worldwidephotowalk.com/
