100+ Strangers Challenge -The Drummer

Stranger 101

Sunday, I visited the Magic City Blues Society's Phelan Park Music Series for the first time. Well I've been missing out on some mighty fine music, I can tell you that much! Today I add Stranger 101 to the ongoing challenge. This is the drummer for Robin Rogers' Band. What a nice guy! More from the festival in days to come.

Number 100!!! 100 Hundred Strangers Challenge

Stranger # 100 !!!!!!!

Drum roll puhleeze!!! I've hit ONE HUNDRED STRANGERS! Meet Maria. As you know, I don't usually put a name with a face when I post my 100 Strangers. I don't know why, but I just want to share this lovely lady's name, since she holds the place of honor today. I guess if you want to "nit pick" as we say down south, she might not be an absolute stranger to me. When I frequent The Cantina, she is usually there, smiling and very busy. A few days ago I went for lunch, and she waited on me. After I finished my delicious fish taco, I asked if I could take her photograph. She agreed, so I ran to the car for my camera. She graciously posed while I found the right light. Maria, thank you for being my Stranger Number 100!

Now there's some blog chatter about what I'll do next. Well.......I'm going to keep right on. Why would I stop now?

Doggone Books - 100 Strangers Challenge

Stranger # 99

Meet my new friend Voris Williams. Voris opened Doggone Books - Used Books & Other Neat Stuff , in "downtown" Irondale when he retired. Actually he really was a stranger for the first minute and a half after I walked in to have a look around. After that we starting visiting and found out we had a mutual friend and learned a lot about each other! Voris is Stranger #99. One more to go. It could be this week. Stay tuned. Oh and did I buy anything here? You bet, a pocket map of Paris! :)

100 Strangers Challenge - The Peanut Depot

Stranger # 96

Strangers # 97 & 98

A few weeks ago we paid another visit to the Peanut Depot here. Well while I was there, I met these nice ladies, who had stopped by to stock up on a BIG sack of peanuts. They were nice enough to pose on their cycles before they roared off down the cobblestoned Morris Avenue. Inside, this very friendly employee let me photograph him as well. My Strangers # 96, 97, and 98. We're almost there!!

The Faces of Artwalk

Stranger # 96

What a great smile, and love the hair!

Java remembered me from our chat at the 2008 Artwalk. We had a

good visit, and of course I had to take a photo of my friend while he painted right there on the street.

Let's be honest here. I am as busy as you are, and when I perused my photo stash, there was just nothing current to post. OH NO POUTING NOW...... I dug around and found three nice portraits I took last September at Birmingham's terrific ARTWALK! It all worked out and look, you get to meet one new stranger, one bagpipe player and say hello again to our artist friend Java Lewis. I promise to take my camera with me tomorrow. Fair warning, you might get some shots from inside the Apple Store or Target or....... the mess, I mean the wrapping station in my basement. HO HO HO!!!

The bagpipe player was in conversation so I quietly took her photo.

100 Strangers Challenge - Pepper Place Guys

Strangers #93, 94, 95

Oh you thought I'd forgotten all about my 100 Strangers Challenge didn't you? Well umm...I had. How could I forget these three nice gentlemen? They had staked out a prime spot in front of the General Store at the Pepper Place Market, so they could have a ringside seat for the antique car display last fall. I have 5 to go before I hit 100. Now I'm thinking I might want to sign on for another 100. This has been so much fun!

Oh, and the guy below? Well he could have been #96, but I couldn't wake him up for a chat now could I ?

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS CALENDARS are $9 off right now. Click on the calendar on the sidebar!

Bluff Park Art Show - 100 Strangers Challenge

Stranger #91

Last Saturday my friend Karen and I crammed a whole lot into one day. We started out at the Pepper Place, did a little shopping, had lunch at Zoe's, and ended up at the Bluff Park Art Show. One of Birmingham's oldest and most respected art shows, it was a grand way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon. I saw artists that I've known for years and met a few new ones. And may I congratulate my friend Leo Ticheli, who won a blue ribbon for one of his photographs! I also met Atlanta photographer Lorrie Dallek as well. I regret I didn't get a photo of Lorrie. Please visit her website and treat yourself to her amazing photographs! Birmingham readers, you can find her work at Jennifer Hunt Gallery.

Print artist - Debra Riffe from Birmingham

Debra's linoleum block relief prints are wonderful! I loved getting to talk with her. Please visit her website.

Stranger #92

Attention Birmingham Bloggers/Readers

On Wednesday October 7th from 3:00-7:00 Channel 13 will be hosting the first

Blog- a -Thon For Voices Against Violence

Sponsored by The Women's Fund it will raise much needed funding and highlight the issues of domestic violence. I will be participating and will have photographs and a full report of this event! You can follow the interviews from Channel 13's live feed.

100 Strangers Challenge - The Cutie Patooties!

Stranger # 89

Well I just sat myself on the steps at the Pepper Place Market last Saturday with my friend Bill and watched the people and the dogs parade by us. These two little strangers just practically plopped in my lap. The "Ice Cream Girl" and her family sat down with us. She wanted to "pose" for me, but for once , I waited. Eventually the ice cream won out, and she had to have an unposed LICK! The little curly head below, walked right up, gave me a very serious stare and said, "Will you take my picture?" Well you bet sweetheart. I snapped and snapped and she continued to stare. I knew the shadows were too dark so I waited, eventually she glanced away and I got this shot. I'm almost at the end of the 100 Stranger Challenge. I'm thinking this is way too much fun. I' m not done.

Stranger #90

Nice Folks at the Pepper Place

Oh I know that I post photos from the Pepper Place Market all the time. Well it's just as my blog friend Bob Crowe, calls it - A Photographer's Buffet! I haven't been in town much this summer, so this was only my second vist. I just love it because of all the great people that work the booths. Today a sampling. The lady in the top photo is an example of "Southern Hospitality". She is having a nice chat with a customer . She's probably giving her a delicious recipe, explaining how ripe it is, or telling her all about their farm and how that gorgeous peach is raised. ( She might even be telling her how cute her grandchildren are...who knows! ) Southerners like to "visit". It's what we love, and we're damn good at it! ( Excuse my French!) The gentleman in the bottom photo was shucking corn at lightning speed. I took the liberty of stepping behind the table of fresh vegetables in order to get a good shot of his technique! He's yet another on of my 100 Strangers Challenge. In case you're wondering. I have no idea how many I have at this point. Well close to 100 I'm thinking. Why stop now? This is a blast!!!!

Catching Some Rays

We're back at Samford University again.  Do those balusters look familiar??  While taking a few shots of them, I walked up on this student hard at work on his tan on the steps of Cumberland School of Law.  I think I woke him up so we chatted and he told me he was from Georgia.  A new "stranger" to add to my cache!  ( Other Samford posts here and here.) I don't know about any of you, but when I was a coed at Auburn University, spring quarter + serious tanning time = less class attendance!

* My friend Marie Reed sent me to this blog yesterday.  Wonderful Birmingham vintage postcards and you will get to see the Alabama and Lyric Theaters on one!  

100 Strangers Part IV

The Artist

A few more of the nice folks I've met while trying to gather 100 strangers' photographs around town.  For privacy reasons, I have chosen not to use the names for my portraits.

Buddies

100 Strangers Part III

Please visit my new blog

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

The Tune du Jour is " What the World Needs Now" by Jackie DeShannon

Discover Jackie DeShannon!

100 Strangers Part II

I am thrilled that some fellow bloggers are embarking on the 100 Stranger Challenge, either on Flickr or unofficially.  Let us see your wonderful portraits.  We'll all help each other! Today I share a few more of my favorites. 

Please visit my new blog. Click below

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

The Tune du Jour is " It's Not For Me To Say" by Johnny Mathis

Discover Johnny Mathis!

                             

One Hundred Strangers....a real challenge Part I

Many of you that have followed this blog know that I embarked on an unofficial 100 Strangers Challenge last summer. For the official version check out this Flickr site. The purpose of the challenge is to encourage photographers to hone their street photography skills as well as become more at ease approaching strangers and taking their photograph. I'll be honest. I can pretty much talk to anyone, but approaching a stranger and having some type of interaction with them before taking their photograph ( a challenge requirement ) was hard for me at first. I am making progress, but what I need to really focus on now is setting up my shots and taking the portrait beyond just a "head shot". I have heard from some of you that you are interested in the project as well. I have decided to take a few days here and there and post some of my portraits that I have not previously shown. I have chosen not to include names or where they were taken in order to protect privacy. If I can be of any help, please contact me by email.

Please visit my new blog- click below

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

The Tune du Jour is "Walk On By" by Dionne Warwick

Discover Dionne Warwick!

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus"

This is probably my most recognizable addition to my 100 Strangers Challenge.  I'm serious! This particular Santa's helper was a stranger,  and we had a nice chat when I told him what I wanted under my tree this year.  He got a good chuckle out of that and promised he would deliver. Santa Baby, I'm counting on you!  ( I hope Santa has some French speaking elves!)

Actually, this nice Santa was the star of Brunch with Santa at Birmingham's Summit Club on Sunday.  A very kid friendly event enjoyed by all.  

Please Visit My New Blog

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS!

The Tune du Jour is "Santa Baby" of course!

Discover Various Artists!

100 Stranger Challenge - Mother and Son

I took this photograph in the Charles de Gaulle Airport on my way back from Paris. I regret I cannot tell you more about this mother and her son.  She spoke no English.  The little boy was very well behaved and delighted when I showed him his pictures on my camera.  What a a special privilege to be able to capture their beautiful faces!

Please visit me new blog:  PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

The Tune du Jour is " You're Still You" by Josh Groban

Discover Josh Groban!

TWO THINGS CHALLENGE: Texture/Pattern

This week's Two Things Challenge is Texture/ Shapes.  My top photo is obviously TEXTURE, a shag bark tree common in Birmingham. Isn't it just great?  You want to run your hands all over it don't you!  SHAPES, well again I am really stretching for this one.   The shapes of these crape myrtles at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens formed such a graceful ailee ( yes I know it needs an accent mark but i couldn't find it when I changed to French!) in the late afternoon sun.  For more interpretations of the Challenge this week click here.

100 Stranger Challenge

Several days ago I featured a street portrait that is part of my 100 Strangers Challenge.   Some of you expressed an interest in finding out the specifics.  I am including Flickr's official site so that you can read all about it.  As I stated, I decided I had enough on my plate so opted to just do a personal challenge and not actually join the Flickr group.  D.C. Confidential has jumped in and is getting her toes wet with some fine examples.  We simply share our latest efforts from time to time.  I have been keeping track of mine in a Web Album,  and have now added them to my Photography Web Site as well.  Let me know if I can help in any way.  The more the merrier!

The Tune du Jour is...."Autumn" from Vivaldi's Four Seasons

PARIS COUNTDOWN....14 DAYS! ( That's just TWO weeks!)

Discover The Vivaldi Orchestra!

A Stranger No More

As many of you know, I have embarked on an unofficial "100 Strangers Challenge".  The object is to help photographers feel more at ease at approaching strangers and asking to take their photo.  It's daunting I can tell you.  The hardest part of the  challenge is that you must have some type of interaction with the subject.  You MAY NOT sit in your car and snap photos from afar!  Hence the challenge.  I have shared a few with you along the way, but today I want to highlight one that is very special.  Meet my friend Herman.  He is a character for sure, but he is also a proud man that I consider myself lucky to have met.  Somewhere on that hat is an Olympic pin that I shared with him.  He accepted it as a token of our friendship.  He returned the favor by saying, " You  can take my picture, now."  The bottom photo is one of a series of photographs of hands that I hope to share as a series in the future.  Herman.... thank you for allowing me to make your portrait.  You are a stranger no more.

The Tune du Jour is " You've Got A Friend" by James Taylor

PARIS  COUNTDOWN.... 17 DAYS!

Discover James Taylor!