Monday, January 5, 2009

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. 

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26 comments:

Wayne said...

These are really good V.

I'm surprised so many people are so comfortable with you taking their picture.

I almost always refuse to have my picture taken. The pic in my profile was taken a long time ago. I was probably high on mothballs or diesel fumes or something.

Tash said...

These are great indeed. The faces just the right distance, the expressions are lovely & there is no distractions in the background, etc. I took one of an owner of a hair saloon my son was getting a cut at, but I didn't get close enough to make a real impact as yours do.

roentare said...

These people's expressions are well caught. Genuine and natural. Beautiful

Olivier said...

tu es une vraie portraitiste, ils sont superbes (surtout avec le choix du b&w)

you are a true portrait, they are superb (especially with the choice of b&w)

Diederick Wijmans said...

You are also a very good portrait photographer, Virginia!! As Wayne mentions, people look very comfortable with you shooting them.

PeterParis said...

Some really wonderful portraits!!

Kate said...

They're all very good, and well-done in black and white.

Laurie Allee said...

Wayne, step away from the deisel exhaust!

Virg, these are so wonderful. You just have a knack for portraits. I can still see that gorgeous mother and son you got at the airport.

Pat said...

Gosh, what else can I say except that these are lovely, and I am envious of your portrait skills, actually of your ease with people. Here from my experience most people refuse to be photographed; fear of more bad press for Serbia or whatever, so I sneak shots most of the time. The man with the baseball cap looks so kind.

Livio Bonino said...

Love these your portrait shots

Jane Hards Photography said...

Well you already know I think portraits are your forte. The last one looks like a British actor who I can't recall. Flowers, then people are my least favourite things to photograph. Unless I can photograph them naturally I just loose interest so you can see why 100 strangers would not be for me. Point a camera at someone and they perfom even slightly then it ruins it for me. That and the fact that it would take me 100 years to find 100 people here. Good luck to all. Top tip to approach is be honest, smile and explain you aren't a professional photographer, but merely participating in a project they may be able to hep you with. Honesty really is the best approach for this kind of thing and again I know, I do it day in day out.

Unknown said...

Great portraits of very different faces!

Thérèse said...

Four a day = 25 days.
Don't go too fast Virginia. We'll miss your portraits.

Virginia said...

I got some really good advice from Snapper and decided to go with all BW today. Glad you like this group today. I will probably only post another day or two's worth in the next week. I really just wanted to share a taste of what the challenge brings if you just give it a go! Thanks everyone!

Halcyon said...

I feel strange about asking strangers if I can take their picture. And I would feel even worse about taking someone's picture without them being aware. I would not like it if someone did that to me. Perhaps I will try your challenge though! The new year is a time to challenge yourself and branch out!. :)

Anonymous said...

I love the expression on the young waiter's face

marley said...

All really good. They look great in black and white.

My photo walkabout resulted in no faces for 100 Strangers. I'll be braver next time. I hope.

Victor said...

I especially like the girl with the nice smile ;)

namaki said...

the kindness in the first portrait is very powerful!

Julie said...

I have opened up my Strangers blog to other Australian bloggers and invited some specific others to join with me. Let's see if they are prepared to give it a go ... it does require immense courage.

Ken Mac said...

nice shots. But photographing strangers in NYC can be dicey to say the least!

Julie said...

Thanks for that encouragement, V. I think I have two more bloggers who will also contribute to the project. Let's see how we progress over the next few days.

Bob Crowe said...

V, these are some of your best portraits. I just love the top one. The irony could bring tears to your eyes. I like the way you crop most of these to bring out the personality in the faces. Keep it coming.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Just thought I had better pop back and clarify my text as often my words are taken out of context. Hope no one thought I was being derogatory by saying non professional. From my experience a non professional gets a better response and a more natural image as people see a peer, not someone who will belittle their poses and manner. They react to the photographer and not act for the camera and the results are far more pleasing than professional staged images. With all the will in the world if someone knows you earn a living pointing a lens then you can see the face and body language become the opposite of what attracted you to them in the first place. Feel free to quote me on this. I'd love to take part but an island has strange people not strangers and everyone knows me as a photographer so no one relaxes around me, it's make up on, hair combined smiles at the ready. Defeats the object really. I'll try and do a post about it in some way as a guideline If that's not sounding too patronising as not my intention. Had a lot of snotty comments about patronising non professionals today- anon of course on someone's blog so I've back tracked my comments to find the culprit and explain my vibes were good.Now bed.

Virginia said...

B., As far as i'm concerned, your comments always give me food for thought and help me as I grow as a photographer. I think you would be an excellent street photographer and regret you feel that is not an option for you in your city. I don't let many people take my photo but you would be one that I would stand in line for! Don't give up on the idea.
V

For those of you considering the project. Give it a go.

Bob,
Your critique is always so important to me. Thanks.

Snapper, Thank you for all your advice my friend.

Marley, Keep at it . You can do it.

Kate, glad you joined 100 strangers.

Peter, Thank you . I honed my skills in Paris.

Rob said...

Excellent work, perfect in black and white, very good choice here. Tough to get stranger shots up in the great white north. Everyone is bundled up like nanook form the north.