Photographs courtesy Northside Photowalk Participants
If you ever spotted a gaggle of photographers in Northside and wondered if paparazzi had descended on the city, you wouldn’t be far from the truth. But rather than photographing celebrities, this group—the Northside Neighborhood Photowalk (NSPW)—is documenting the neighborhood. There are no rules on what to photograph; they capture images of longtime neighborhood residents, distinctive architecture, local wildlife, parks, and more.
NSPW founder Daniel Iroh leads the way, taking pictures as he shares jokes and techniques. Iroh’s lifelong passion for photography blossomed into a successful side career photographing weddings, portraits, cityscapes, and more.
After moving to Northside in January 2024, he began taking solo walks to explore his new stomping ground and take pictures. The following March, Iroh purchased a new Russian film camera and, wanting to test it, extended an invitation to a handful of fellow photographers he knew to join him for a photo walk.
“To my surprise, a couple of people said ‘yes,’ and three people showed up for that very first walk,” says Iroh. “It was such a fun time. When I spoke to one of the guys who showed up, I said, ‘I think I’m gonna extend the invitation again next week.’”
Iroh began recruiting as many local photographers as possible, and what started as a one-time meetup grew into twice-weekly gatherings of 25 or more people (its peak was 53). There’s no prerequisite for attending a photo walk—all experience levels and types of cameras are welcome, from 35 mm film to digital to disposable.
Photograph by Sharee Allen
No two walks are the same—each week takes the photographers along a different route. And despite the group’s name, the routes have expanded to neighborhoods beyond Northside as well, usually within Cincinnati but occasionally as far as Aurora, Indiana. Iroh and the other moderators share the planned routes on Instagram in advance, making it incredibly easy to join.
The accessibility is what drew Erin Seccia to the group. A recent University of Cincinnati grad, Seccia wanted to say yes to doing more around the city and with friends. She had practiced digital photography since she was 6 and wanted to learn more about technique. The photo walks provided the perfect setting.
“Being around a variety of photographers who see the world differently than I do is really inspiring,” says Seccia. “It pushes me to learn new things and see the world in different compositions.”
Iroh agrees that the diversity of experience makes the photo walks more educational. “Photography can be enjoyed as a solitary activity, but there is something to be said for just working with a group that broadens compositional skills and makes you see the world differently,” he says.
Indy Caramelli has only attended the walks since the start of January, but has long observed Iroh and NSPW on social media. Having taken photos since he was 11, Caramelli was eager for a setting that offered a variety of subjects to photograph. While the photography is what led him to join the walks, it was the deep camaraderie that made him stay. “Community is necessary for art. I don’t think that art functions or positively exists without community,” he says.
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