I stumbled across a fascinating sounding project today, so I though I’d give it a go. It’s called 100 strangers. Participants are to approach 100 people and ask if they can take their photo. If they say yes, They’re to engage a little with them and find out about their story – to be published along with their photo.

It sounds like a very rewarding thing to do from a number of angles. Firstly, from the vibe I get from the 8000+ active / veteran 100Strangers photographers, it seems that the photos they collect and the stories that go with them are often fascinatingly revealing,  beautiful and rich pieces of content to enhance ones portfolio / the intertubes. The second thing that people say is that it teaches you how to be a better photographer. It gives you the confidence and technique (+excuse) to go up to a stranger and as if you can take their photo. It hones ones photojournalism skill by making you ask questions, and dig deeper, whilst interviewing your subject.

It’s already started to make me look at strangers differently.

I started this project today. I went for perhaps a bit of an easy target by asking a busker. In effect, I paid for a photo.  Here’s the resultant image and piece.  As I mentioned in the notes – I was quite nervous about doing this so the natural photographer in me hid. Flat light, used a flash, meh. Still though, it’s a start.  This guy plays beautiful accordion near the One Arch, Harrogate. He’s called Vladimir and he’s got gold teeth.  

I’ll be putting all my 100 stranger photos into the official 100 strangers flickr group>>
 as well as my own 100 strangers project set>>

I’ve also got another idea in mind – 100 acquaintances  .. but that’s another blog post..