Strangers III

I think I have the slowest stranger project ever. I shot #1 back in April 2011 and am only up to 21. Here are the previous two threads;
https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1032399
https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1047234

I've recently switched over to an 85mm lens (previously only had a 50mm) and that is making for a nice change. I won't bore you with all the shots (they're all on Flickr if you want to see the project so far), but here are a few of my latest;

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/elistack/667648​0579/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/elistack/667648​8575/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/elistack/689451​0211/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/elistack/689451​1845/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/elistack/689451​3223/

Each and everyone of these pictures tells a different story, good job!

I'd like some smiles! I really like the first shot.

EMSA wrote in post #13920503
Each and everyone of these pictures tells a different story, good job!

Thanks. I'm still hit or miss with my quality though. The above photos are closer to what I'm aiming for but I still stuff up frequently.

Paxonator wrote in post #13922049
I'd like some smiles! I really like the first shot.

A few people do smile (check out the earlier ones) but it is pretty cold right now and I don't guide people in whether they should smile or not, so this is bringing out their personality more than having someone say 'cheese!'.

Nicely done! I like all of them, but love the first one with the B&W.

Any verbal exchange with these?

Do you just stop them and ask if you can photograph them? How do you approach the subject?

First one and last one are nice.

Chet wrote in post #13925919
Any verbal exchange with these?

Yes, some are more chatty than others. I've had everything from maybe 2-3 words to several minute conversations.

toastyphoto wrote in post #13925935
Do you just stop them and ask if you can photograph them? How do you approach the subject?

Pretty much. All of these so far have been taken in the same general area. I usually find a place with decent lighting and background and hang out there for a bit and wait until an interesting subject approaches. I move around a lot to different locations, and some of the shots with less than ideal/blown out backgrounds are from when I was walking and saw someone coming toward me and had to get the shot where I was.
As for approaching them I just go up to them politely, tell them about the project and ask if they would mind if I took their portrait. My approach and skill in picking people out must be improving because in the last dozen shots I have had no rejections, which is a far cry from my 50/50 or worse when I first started out.

great series well done - not an easy task..

At least you're doing your strangers project. I was planning on starting mine, but it just never happened... If I did start mine it would probably take forever to complete...

Martin.D wrote in post #13931026
great series well done - not an easy task..

Thanks. It's pretty obvious I'm not a portrait shooter at all, but I'm slowly improving.

boingy wrote in post #13933595
At least you're doing your strangers project. I was planning on starting mine, but it just never happened... If I did start mine it would probably take forever to complete...

I don't have a set number I'm going for; at this rate I doubt I'd ever make it to 100.

I'll just continue here so I don't clutter up the boards with multiple threads.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/elistack/691077​6969/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/elistack/691077​7489/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/elistack/681449​4018/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/elistack/683744​2974/

If it quacks like a duck.....
I think you are a portrait photographer. Nice work here.

Nice, not bad at all!