Strangers Project - Part 10 - (with brief commentary)

Just a quick word about this project. I get a lot of questions about it so I figured I'd write something real quick.

Its a project inspired by Markus Schwarze. If anyone doesn't know his work, search it out, he's amazing!

I was totally blown away by Markus' work. I couldn't fathom how complete strangers would allow him to take their photo! That was so intriguing to me! And each photo was interesting because each individual was so unique.

Anyway, for my 'down time', sometimes my wife and I will just walk around town, or go some place where a lot of people are, sit, relax - and we'll just people watch. I'll think to myself - Where are they going? What type of lives do they live? ...and so on. There's just so many lives to live, and I just find that facinating - I find people and strangers facinating.

So I wanted to capture it

I approach my project a little different than Markus, and I try to keep my work to not resemble his, but its the same basic concept. Shooting complete strangers.

I was scared as all heck my first time, but with some courage, and a couple of first positive experiences, I started to greatly enjoy the project.
I look forward to going out now each time. I still get very nervous, yes, but its very enjoyable and has been the first real photography 'project' I have done. Hope you enjoy.

Sorry for the long drawn out opening thought, but I wanted to state something other than just posting pics like I usually do - hope you didn't mind.

Anyway, on to the shots:

Stranger No. 37

We're all secretly beautiful. ....Kind of heartwarming for a Sunday morning, huh.

I think I would prefer a touch more DOF on a few of them, like #40, because it might offer more storyline, but it's a tough comment to justify. What I'm thinking, though, is that there might be a simple way to bring out more of the individual story instead of raw individual beauty. #37's glasses tell a story, and #38's cute dimple tell a story. #40's composition is awesome (like the crop), but maybe a little more background would offer a contrast to the model's smile.

Awesome stuff, dude.

Just curious, do you get their contact information to send them a copy of their picture? A good idea would be to give them your card (if you havent done it already) to your website or flickr page to see the project.

M.Shalaby,
Every time you post I have a look. Always good portaits.
You guys are inspiring me to start something like that. I had a look at Markus Schwarze' work, also inspiring. Another photographer's work I've been looking at is Benoit Paille's. He also did a strangers project.
Does the fact that you walk around with your wife help in the approach with the people you photograph?
As Dengar asked, do you just show them the photos on the camera or invite them to see the result on a site?
Good project, keep it up. Now that the limit of 100 is dropped, are you setting another, 1000?

Great shots!!

I'm curious how to approach the subjects. Any insight into what works (and what doesn't!) would be appreciated.

great shots! I love this project! people are fashionable there haha!

do you take email's and send them the pictures or anything?

Every time you post your shots just get better and better! Nice work and keep it up! Perhaps one day I'll gain enough courage to do something like this. haha.

Great stuff! 85L or 135L? Did you shoot this as wide as poss?

^i bet the 135L f2 - f2.5 .

tomme wrote in post #12057804
^i bet the 135L f2 - f2.5 .

^ correct sir ^

Wonderful lens! On my list!

Beautiful shots. You really do some great work.

Darn that MarkII.

I want one of those.

Great shots....absolutely fantastic.

As Alex said, better and better everytima.
After seeing your work and Mark;s , I wondered what was that I liked the most, and found out it was the DOF. So now I am trying to do it , and the results are wonderfull. Thanks for posting, and I will follow your threads all the way