Photography
From my 100 Strangers Project - I asked, “What’s your name, young man” and he said “Bobby, sir” and every time I see this photo, I think “There’s Bobby, sir.” That’s his sister with him. They were at a park down by the Congaree River in Columbia, SC.
From my 100 Strangers Project - Lydia - The very first street portrait I ever took. It was totally spontaneous. This woman walked by my wife and I on the sidewalk with our cameras and spoke to us. I instantly asked he if she let me take her photo. She told me she’d modeled some before tattoos.
From my 100 Strangers Project - I didn’t even ask Bob and Sherry about the beer cans they were wearing around their necks. I’ve always loved the fun look in her eyes in this photo though.
From my 100 Strangers Project - Daniel was a Civil War re-enactor for the winning (Union) side at the Battle of Ft. Fisher near Wilmington, NC.
From my 100 Strangers Project - Rusty was at the West Columbia Riverwalk Park in Columbia, SC walking his dog when I asked if I could get his picture. Despite his punk rock appearance, he was a seemingly shy, soft-spoken man with a very friendly labrador for a companion.
From my 100 Strangers Project - DJ was fishing off the pier at Sunset Beach in Brunswick County, NC during the annual blue fish run when I interrupted him long enough to take this portrait.
From my 100 Strangers Project - Meg was sitting at a table on the sidewalk outside a bar, doing a little day drinking and having a smoke on a crisp December afternoon. Her comment when I explained my project - “How fun!”. And, she said it with a big smile. I love the reflection in the window.
From my 100 Strangers Project - I met Shawn and Erica at a demonstration jump by the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team who are stationed at Ft. Liberty adjacent to the town where we live. Erica was happy to pose for me. Shawn was a little reticent and reserved, but a good sport, nonetheless.
From my 100 Strangers Project - Stone (his name) manages this tattoo business. A few days after I shot this, I saw him again and we had a conversation. Turns out he is a photographer too. We talked about it for a while. He looked me up on Facebook and we’ve now been friends for 10 years.
From my 100 Strangers Project - I met Jenny at a craft fair, where she was smoking this big old stogie and composing poetry on a cloudy spring Sunday. How could I not get a picture of that?
From my 100 Strangers Project - Eric and his partner were waiting for breakfast outside a busy diner when I approached them. He seemed kind of grumpy and I didn’t think I was going to get this one, but she told him it was OK, so in the end I got my man.
From my 100 Strangers Project - Office Scott. I couldn’t tell if she was flattered or embarrassed, but she was cool with having me snap a photo. I take picture of police officers because it’s good for them to get used to it. I’m not pushy or confrontational about it and most of them don’t mind.
100 Strangers Project - This lovely lady sold newspapers on an off ramp near my house for years in all kinds of weather, always smiling. I bought from her whenever I had cash.
From my 100 Strangers Project - Jessica - a member of an anarchist pacifist theater group dating back to 1947. I saw them rehearsing in a park in NYC and struck up a conversation. The didn’t just talk at me though, truly curious they asked about my project and my own artistic history.
From my 100 Strangers Project - This guy wanted to remain anonymous. I met him on the street in Charlotte where he was busy selling tickets before a Panthers football game, but not too busy to pose for a quick street portrait.
From my 100 Strangers Project - Miranda, a real-life Roller Derby Queen. I thought Roller Derby died in the 70s and she told me that it had in fact done so but the 21st century has seen a revival. Miranda was a slight, if athletic woman with a definite energetic presence and a sense of enthusiasm.
Another sticker for @maique - The building this is stuck too belongs to American photographer Jay Maisel in NYC and it serves as an impromptu art gallery in the neighborhood.
“I’ve been an artist myself. Anything I can do to promote art, I will. Art says things about its creator, whether it is good or bad.” - Robert
100 Strangers - Robert is an artist & philosopher. I saw him sitting on a bench, legs crossed beneath him on the periphery of Central Park reading a book he’d just purchased from one of the stalls along the street. He wore a quirky pair of glasses that drew my attention. His reaction to my portrait request was a huge smile and 100% cooperation. I knelt on the sidewalk and gladly listened to his thoughts on art for several minutes.
A street portrait from my 100 Strangers Project. This is Joey, an aspiring actor I met at a street festival. He was an agreeable model and we had a nice chat after I took his photo.
From My 100 Strangers series of street portraits - When I told her that she had a beautiful smile, she thanked me. I meant it.
