CHECKING IN WITH ... Ralph Velasco:

It’s one thing to admire our beautiful community, but don’t you sometimes just want to record it so you can share it? You could always snap away with your camera phone, but it’d be a lot cooler if you knew what you were doing. Well, Ralph Velasco, who leads photo walking tours here and elsewhere, has you covered.

Tell us about your tours and background.

I teach travel photography in a classroom setting throughout Southern California, and my students said that although they enjoyed the classes very much, they wanted to actually get out and shoot with me, as well, so I resurrected the idea of taking people out on walking tours to photograph in great locations, which I started developing back in Chicago, where I’m originally from. So now I take photographers of all levels out to shoot in Newport Harbor, Corona del Mar, the Mission San Juan Capistrano and also out to Joshua Tree National Park, and I can even customize tours for those looking to shoot in other areas.

On your website you feature a picture of you running from a bull. Tell us the story behind that one.

That picture was taken 30 years ago in the summer of 1979, when during high school I studied in Madrid. I entered a sack race that was held in a small practice bull ring on the outskirts of Madrid.

Thinking the worst, I said to the priest who was running our program, “They’re not going to let the bulls out during this, are they?” And he said, “No, of course not.”

Well, they did, and he was in on it. You really can’t trust anyone!

How many countries have you visited?

I’ve shot in about 35 countries on five continents, so far.

What are some of your favorite places to shoot?

Chicago is an absolutely amazing place to photograph, and I’m putting together a guided tour back there in May, and like the tour to Spain I’ll be guiding in October, it’s not just about photography, but about the food, culture and incredible variety of other things to see and do. I’m looking to put together an overall cultural experience for participants, not just one focused on photography for 12 hours a day. Additionally, Montenegro, wedged between Croatia and Serbia, is now my favorite place that I’ve ever been.

Tell us one of your favorite stories.

Speaking of Montenegro, Kotor, this wonderful walled city at the end of Europe’s southern-most fjord, has an amazing fortress that rises up above the Stari Grad, or old town. It’s 1,350 steps to the top, and we decided to hike it on our last full day there so that I could photograph it from above.

Well, it started pouring rain, and the centuries-old path with its well-worn and moss-covered stones was really slick but there was no real shelter anywhere.

We carried on a bit further and stumbled upon this abandoned church where we hunkered down until the storm passed. Although my equipment was almost ruined by the deluge, it was one of those magical travel moments one never forgets.

Who’s your favorite photographer, and why?

Gordon Parks had an incredible knack for capturing everyday life, and he recorded some of the most iconic black-and-white photographs in history, so I love his work. I also admire Bob Krist, a National Geographic Traveler photographer. Great stuff.

What are some of your other hobbies?

I’ve always been very entrepreneurial, and I love a good start-up, so I’m continuously looking for new ways to expand my photography. Most recently I’ve developed a series of team-building exercises based on photography. Participants get the benefits of team building, such as time management, negotiation and conflict-resolution skills, but at the same time they get to learn the basics of a useful skill like photography. I have a Photo Skills Challenge, a Scavenger Photo Hunt and a Photo Pub Crawl, among others.

If you could photograph anyone in the world, who would it be?

I think some recent pictures of Osama Bin Laden might be worth something right about now!

If it meant meeting your favorite athlete or movie star, would you join the paparazzi for a day?

No, I don’t think so. I’m not so star-struck that I’d sell my soul just to meet someone. That being said, I do think it would be great to be the still photographer on a travel show or a movie set. I would enjoy recording the behind the scenes aspects of that process.

City Editor PAUL ANDERSON may be reached at (714) 966-4633 or at paul.anderson@latimes.com.