Leona (#490) 12-23-13
I saw Leona walking on the opposite side of the street, one half block from a Starbucks. Immediately, she seemed a bit of an enigma, so I crossed and approached her. Leona wore a leather, or faux leather outfit. I can't tell. Clearly, she had no teeth. And she carried a clear Starbucks cup containing a cafe au lait colored drink.
At first, Leona seemed suspicious of me. She softened up when I showed her my Flickr Photostream on my phone. Then I explained that a large reason for the project was to get out and meet people. She said, “That's good. Nobody don't talk to nobody no more.”
I liked the shot. Leona did not want a copy.
Bob
Jay (#489) 12-21-13
I walked past Jay, having a cup of coffee and chatting on the cell phone. Normally I don't wait for folks on the phone, but Jay's grey ponytail against his black jacket was just too compelling. When I asked for a portrait, he did not hesitate, but said, “Here's the price – I want a copy in color” OK, I can do that!
Jay was curious about the Olympus OM-D. He has a Canon 60D, but is afraid to take it in his kayak. I don't blame him. So Jay is looking for a second, smaller, competent camera. I mentioned the Go Pro video camera, but he thinks that the still picture quality is insufficient. His roommate has a good point-n-shoot – Jay can't remember if it is a Canon or a Sony. Anyway, a DSLR is just too big for kayaking.
He approved of the image on the LCD and gave me his card. I sent the image.
Bob
Natasha (#488) 12-20-13
I just show up on a Saturday morning, and presto!, an unexpected small arts and craft show in the middle of a main road. What a great start to the day! And as I walked down the first isle, there was Natasha turning into her booth. Yes, a great start.
When I approached her, she did not hesitate to agree. In fact, I think that she was flattered. Natasha lives in Naples, FL, and makes hand-made jewelry. Her website is HERE.
She was thankful that the weather was decent on this Saturday morning. But the forecast was for rain the next day (it did), so her artwork would be in jeopardy.
The background was bright, so Natasha's face was a bit underexposed. The tone was easily corrected in Photoshop. But I have noticed that when a subject is underexposed, the autofocus is not so effective. I am disappointed by the lack of sharpness of the eyes.
Bob
Photographer Colin Strain (#488) 12-18-13
A Wednesday, so someone else’s work. And the next two Wednesdays are holidays! So, here goes…
The 100 Strangers Flickr group periodically interviews one of it’s star contributors. Usually these members have well over 50 posts (separate strangers) and contribute via comments to the education of other members. This month it is Colin Strain, from the UK. I find the essay very insightful. See it HERE.
Enjoy.
Bob
Gary (#487) 12-17-13
Gary was standing at the end of a street, in harsher light than I like. But I liked his expression and gave it a shot. He had no reservations about being photographed.
Gary is a painter – an artist painter, originally from the Baltimore/Annapolis area. He paints murals. At the time, he was waiting for a city bus to take him to his next job on Longboat Key, a very exclusive neighborhood. Gary has been commissioned to paint a mural in a bathroom – a mural covering three walls. The bathroom is small, so the (ahem!) 'sitter' will feel like she is at the beach, with the beach mural surrounding her on three sides. This will take Gary a week. His genre is realism, which is subject to the following scientific equation:
Realism + Mural = Lots and Lots of Small Brushstrokes.
His most lengthy project to date took 100 hours to paint. Whew!
Bob
Brenda (#486) 12-16-13
I sat outdoors, savoring a cup of Joe from my favorite coffee shop. The coffee isn't special, the light is. Brenda brought her cup outside too, and sat at a nearby table. So I walked up to her table, introduced myself, and 'popped the question.'
She said sure, and that she would talk to anyone (even me!). Brenda recently moved to Sarasota from New Jersey, and loves it. She left her three 'kids', ages 42, 48, and 50 – they were not happy about her leaving. But only a couple of years after a painful divorce, Brenda felt that she owed it to herself to live wherever she pleased. (By now, I was sitting at her table).
The worst thing about Florida is “I feel like I am always on vacation. I have to get a job, sometime.”
Bob
Anthony (#485) 15-12-13
Each Saturday morning at a Farmer's Market, Anthony plays his didgeridoo. What, you aren't familiar with a didgeridoo? Well, it's a wind instrument from down-under, and has been around for ~1,500 years. Read about it HERE.
It has a very characteristic droning sound. Honestly, it isn't something that I would snap my fingers, or tap my foot to. But it is a large part of Anthony's life. In fact, he MADE this one!
He lived in St. Augustine, and actually was more successful there financially. But his family and fiancee are in Sarasota, so here he is. Anthony has taught how to play the didgeridoo to circus performers, and hopes to be hired for parties, etc. It IS unique. His Facebook page is HERE.
After playing for a while, Anthony comes up for a “breather”, so to speak. His lips begin buzzing, and he needs a few minutes to regain full feeling. Notice the imprint on his upper lip.
Remember that, if you consider getting a didgeridoo.
Bob
Bill (#484) 12-12-13
While walking to a street corner, Bill came the other way and we nearly collided. I was taken off guard and almost excused myself and walked on. Fortunately, common sense took over and I introduced myself and asked for the chance to meet him and get a portrait. He had no problem with that. The light was not optimal and this image required more post processing than I like. Still, I am satisfied with the outcome.
Bill, 55, was born and raised in Sarasota. The west coast of Florida is populated by folks who have moved down from “up north.” A Florida native is a rare find. He was a construction worker his whole life, but lost his job in the real estate downturn a few years ago. He has yet to find employment, and is currently homeless. He spent a cold night, as his sleeping bag had been stolen the day before.
I offered him a few dollars; he immediately brightened up and walked toward a coffee shop. “Thanks so much, now I can get a cup of coffee.” This brought mixed feelings. I was glad that he didn't buy cigarettes or beer. However coffee has no nutritional value, a nutrient dense food would make more sense. Still, as a coffee hound, I can understand his priorities.
Bob
Aria (#483) 12-12-13
Aria was sitting on a street corner playing a bright blue guitar. This spot is often occupied by homeless buskers, but Aria did not fit the mold. She brightened up as soon as I asked for the opportunity to photograph her. I asked where she was from, and she said that she was traveling around the country, “This is my college education.”
Aria graduated from high school in Texas last year. She is very poised and well spoken – I bet that she was near the top of her class. Her parents are financially well off, but she left home without their blessing, so they will not send her money. She said, “I'm living in a tent with homeless people, so I guess I'm homeless.” There was a bit of defiant pride in her voice and body language. I said, “You have to be careful, not everyone is nice out there.” Aria answered, “I'm lucky that I made a couple of friends. They will help protect me.”
Yeah, riiight.
I'll bet that her parents are worried sick, and with good reason. She seemed so out of place that it crossed my mind that she could be a student doing a thesis about the homeless life, by embedding herself into the culture. But then she wouldn't keep herself so clean and tidy. And her speech immediately gives herself away as someone educated. I felt uneasy about all this.
As we parted, I shook her hand (again), looked her squarely in the eye and said, “Stay safe.” I hope she does.
Bob
Will Barnes - How to Approach Strangers (#482) 12-11-13
I’ve gotten away from posting someone else’s ideas on Wednesday. OK, so here we go again. Will Barnes is a young portrait photographer in the UK. As a guest on photograpyblogger.net, his views about street portraiture are HERE.
Enjoy.
Bob
Laura and Jonna (#481) 12-10-13
On a beautiful Saturday morning, I just couldn't get my mind into it. A couple of times I thought, “Oh, that's an interesting looking person” as they were walking by. Had my head been straight, I would have noticed them 50 feet ahead and been prepared to stop them and go into my spiel. I'm not sure why, but when I'm not doing well, meeting a young couple seems easy, and a way to 'prime the pump', so to speak.
So when I spotted Laura and Jonna half a block away and walking toward me, I was prepared. I asked for a favor, and as the words were flowing from my mouth, both smiled broadly and shook their heads 'yes'. My morning was salvaged.
They are originally from Philadelphia but recently (wisely) relocated to Sarasota. Jonna has found work here, and Laura attends the University of South Florida, in Tampa. Right now, Philadelphia is in the grips of a blizzard, while south Florida temps are in the low 80s. They are happy. Both liked the 100 Strangers concept and took my MOO card. Hopefully they will see this and e-mail me – I'll attach the pics and return. I really like how they turned out.
Bob
Judy and Frank (#480) 12-09-13
Judy was leaning against a dark outside wall, with a cane in one hand. Her expression was neutral. Prior to this project I was afraid to approach strangers. But when I got into it, I was still very wary of approaching people with physical problems. But just a quick breath and I introduced myself. While I was speaking, her husband, Frank, walked up. He seemed protective of Judy and took a step toward me, asking about the project, what would I do with the photos, etc.
I showed him my Flickr Photostream on the smartphone. Both of them looked at several screens worth and became quite interested. Frank asked why every stranger was looking right at me. I explained that I photograph people from all social classes, and that eye contact assured an egalitarian approach that 'levels the playing field.' He really bought into that, and opened up.
They spend half of the year in Sarasota and half in New Hampshire (snowbirds). Judy said that a man named Phil was in charge of the local Farmer's Market; they described Phil for me. He used to have a carpet store in New Hampshire. The three of us conspired; if/when I saw Phil, I would say, “Hi. Didn't you once sell me a carpet in New Hampshire?” A neat prank. I haven't seen Phil yet, but I will...
Bob
Nathalie (#479) 12-07-13
Nathalie was 'manning' her booth at an outdoor art festival. Her oil paintings all had a theme, people in hammocks. Hence the name, “Art Swings by Naty.” Cool! Her logo is “A Piece of Peace.” Who wouldn't like that? Her website is HERE.
So when I approached her about 100 Strangers, she was more than eager to help. Naty is originally from Columbia, but found the U.S. More conducive to artists making a living. Three comments about this image:
1. I post images in color infrequently. When I do, the colors are almost always complimentary, to isolate the subject and other spaces. This might be the first time that I have worked with harmony of analogous colors.
2. Naty is 42. Can you believe that?
3. I did not (could not) direct her, she just naturally fell into this pose. Do you think that she has ever seen a camera before? :-)
Bob
Laura (#478) 12-06-13
Laura walked toward me on a warm morning, wearing a sweatshirt with a hood. I guess that now it is known as a hoodie. Anyway, it seemed a bit overkill for the temperature.
She confidently walked up to me and asked if I could spare a few dollars, that she had been homeless for six days. I fell into my mantra, “Yes, I can spare a little, but I wonder if you'd help me with a photographic project, yada, yada...” No problem. So I got several shots, smiling and not. I did not direct her, but just clicked as we talked. A huge coincidence: Laura is from East Islip, Long Island, NY. As a youngster, I lived there for three years. She is familiar with the location of our old house.
I asked what had happened six days ago that made her homeless. She and her mother were evicted from a mobile home and were hoping to stay in a shelter that cost $20, could I spare it? I was taken aback, as I am not used to such a brazen approach. I told her no, because I give a few dollars to lots of homeless people (true). As we parted she said, “God bless.”
This encounter was a bit of a conundrum: to post, or not to post. My aim is to NEVER embarrass someone, or portray them in a condescending light. A few years ago I was moved by a photographic project in Naples, FL, a VERY wealth community. Photographer Michelle Tricca photographed MANY residents – head shots – and obtained permission to post prints on the outside wall of an abandoned building. It was impressive. In a newspaper article, she showed side by side headshots of two men. One owned a 10 million dollar house on the beach, the other cleaned his pool. From the headshots, a viewer cold not tell who was who. A description of the project is HERE:
This was powerful to me. I always strive to have strangers be equals, with each other and with me. One way (I think) is to always have eye contact. That way, we are ALWAYS on equal footing for at least 1/100 second. I am not interested in photographing poor people in compromised positions. I always want to show dignity and humanity.
So, Laura's images haunted me a bit. They are certainly not complimentary, and I debated posting them. But the images are her, at least on that day. And the expressions reflect exactly the way she was for that five minutes. They are authentic. Thus, I feel (almost) OK about sharing them.
Bob
P.S. While writing this, I learned of Nelson Mandela's death. There can be no better reminder to focus on the positives in humanity. I'll not forget the day he was released from prison. I expected vitriol and riots. Instead, he spoke like a kind gentleman, only calming words. Amazing. If 27 years of my life had been stolen...
Gregory (#477) 12-04-13
Gregory is my third (and probably last) stranger encouraging voters to sign a petition. The initiative is Medical Marijuana. If 750,000 Florida residents sign it, a Medical Marijuana bill will be on the Florida ballot.
Gregory said that he has scoliosis, with periodic severe back spasms, and would be eligible for Medical Marijuana himself. He recently moved from Colorado where Medical Marijuana has been available for three years. I asked him if the initiative fails, would he move back to Colorado. He said, “No, the warm temperatures make my back spasms less frequent.”
Bob
Kaitlin (#476) 12-03-13
Yesterday's Stranger jumped up and got in position for a portrait. Kaitlin was far more reserved, but finally went along. As is often the case, if one stranger allows me to photograph, the other will go along. If the first one says no, well...
So after getting several shots, I showed Kaitlin the images, and she approved. I really lie the looking-up-white-under-the iris look. But not everyone does.
A couple of weeks age, Peter Hurley had a guest post on Scott Kelby's blog. Peter is a portrait guru who sells instructional DVDs for $300 (not to me). In this post, there is a 15 minute (free) embedded video in which he introduces 'squinching', as a powerful portrait pose. Squinching is a cross between squinting and pinching, in which the lower eyelid is raised. I think that my stranger #216 is squinching. See him HERE.
Then Hurley shows several portraits before squinching (bad) and after suinching (good). He condemns wide eyes with white showing below the iris, like Kaitlin. You pays your money and takes your choice. Anyway, I think that this is worth a look. See it HERE.
After all that, I asked Kaitlin if she did any modeling like her friend. She said, “No, but I probably ought to.”
I agree.
Bob
Connor (#475) 12-02-13
A young couple was having a snack al fresco. It was in an area where I had photographed previously and the light is always good. Si I introduced myself and explained the project. The woman seemed a bit surprised and reticent and will be tomorrow's stranger. The man shot up and stepped aside while I was talking.
I thought, “Darn! He's running away to avoid me.” But then he turned toward me and said, “Is here alright? How do you want me to pose?” Yeah, my kind of guy! Connor was born and raised in Sarasota. Recently he modeled for a friend, hence the willingness. The friend was an amateur and used a film camera (not that amateurs use film cameras).
After a few bursts of images, he approved of the images on the LCD. Good. Having modeled before, I felt just a teeny bit of pressure. :-)
Bob
Matt (#474) 12-01-13
Another Saturday, another group of volunteers trying to get signatures on two petitions. One was (is) an environmental initiative, and the other is to legalize medical marijuana use. I had photographed a couple of these folks in the past, and figured that I'd give it a rest.
Until I saw Matt. I have been hesitant to photograph people with backlighting. I love the look, but I have had some very dark faces in the past. Matt's hair just lit up, and a building behind me reflected some light back into Matt's face. He immediately liked the idea of the project. But I had to wait for a break in the action, as he continually approached people for the petition. When I got a few shots off, he was satisfied with the result.
Matt has lived in Sarasota for six years, but was born in Australia. I said, “You have no accent!” Matt replied, “After a few drinks in a bar, it comes out” (laughs).
Bob
John (#473) 11-30-13
John was sitting alone on a park bench. A bicycle was next to the bench and a large sack was along his side, the classic sack of homelessness seen all too often. I stopped and explained 100 Strangers; John shrugged and had no reservations. I think that he appreciated the attention.
I took a few bursts of 3-4 images. In each shot, he was looking down. That's because John cannot raise his head to horizontal. A scar on his upper back and neck is deeply depressed, giving the surrounding soft tissue a buttock-like look. Seven months ago, a car knocked John off of his bike, fracturing vertebrae in his neck. The driver was under the influence and has been sentenced to six years in prison. John is due an insurance settlement, but has yet to receive it. So, for now, he is homeless.
After talking for several minutes, I handed him a few dollars: he said that he'd head to McDonalds for a meal. As we parted, he said, “Almost nobody cares, you care” as he got a bit misty. I too, had a slight lump in my throat – partly for seeing so many people in pain in such an affluent community, and partly thinking of how many times I have walked past people without acknowledging them. And realistically, I will often do that in the future too. Just can't stop and talk to everyone. It is emotionally draining.
Bob