Assignment 57 - Strangers

pullandbang

I'm hoping this little challenge will push people outside their comfort zone somewhat. This time take a shot of a stranger, someone you don't know. Ideally have the person looking at the camera so they know they're being photographed.
Now I know that it's easy to cheat in this challenge - get your best friend to pose and say you don't know them. We'll never know, but you're only cheating yourself if you try that. The whole point of the assignment is to challenge yourself.

The other easy way is to stick on a 300mm lens and shoot from afar. However, these shots tend to look flat and uninteresting so stick on your nifty fifty and get up close and personal with a complete stranger.

The rules:
-Photos must be posted within 2 weeks of the day the task was set– so the closing time/date is midnight on April 22 2011.
-No old photos. Only photos taken with this task in mind qualify.
-Therefore, the photo must be taken after midnight on the 7th April 2011.
-Photos must be on the given task.
-ONE photo per post. But submit as many posts as you like.
-Stretch yourself – there is no limitation to what you can do to produce the image.
-The next task/subject is to be chosen by the person who has the most thanks after their post at the closing date/time (the post must include a photo).

Some examples of mine - all taken for my Project 52 @ 50 on my blog.

OldGoat

Adrian.Sadlier

I know they worn't looking at me; they were reading, what do you expect :rolleyes:

Jimdagym

Well I dont know who they are......


Photo taken in a playground for added controversy :eek:

homer simpson

Pretty lame entry, but i am trying to get into the habit of entering these again, will try harder during the week .... promise :pac:

leche solara

This girl stopped in Henry Street and posed for her friend to take her picture. I stepped in behind her friend and took my own shot. When she first posed she had a big smile on her face, but when she noticed me taking her picture her expression changed to one of bewilderment.

pullandbang

Full story behind this one on my blog

aidan18

aidan18

aidan18

Fearanpoist

Hi

I need some help. I dont have a @url@ for my photo - how do I submit it.

Fearan

4-age

Homer

Fearanpoist

While strolling on the Mall in Waterford on Sunday morning last I saw a couple taking photographs of each other outside a pub doorway. Assuming they had some connection with same I offered to take their pic as a couple - provided I could also take one of them - and they accepted. They were US citizens in their final hours of a visit to Ireland - and their connection to the Pub? Their name was Hoffman - and hence their choice of unusual location - under the sign of Hoffman!

I used my Nikon dD80 ISO 200 F9"1/320

Regards

Homer

Fearanpoist wrote: »

Hi

I need some help. I dont have a @url@ for my photo - how do I submit it.

Fearan

Ideally you'll need to sign up to a website that will allow you to upload your photos such as flickr or pixie etc and once uploaded you can then display them using the url

e.g

pullandbang

Homer wrote: »

Police officer on duty on Paddys day on Long Island, NY

Rules state no old photos.............

Adrian.Sadlier

I know she's not quite looking at me - even if she was I don't think she'd see me!

Homer

pullandbang wrote: »

Rules state no old photos.............

Doh! Apologies didn't read the rules properly.

I'll get to taking a new one so.

pete4130

pullandbang

Taken on last Saturdays photowalk in memory of Valentia (Danny O'Brien).
His family released Chinese lanterns that night beside Trim Castle and this girl was one of the spectators. A very moving night.......

Tiriel

Met these guys in the Gypsy Rose last night, the two lads from Santa Fe and the lady from Germany - who were also strangers to each other this time yesterday. Looking for an adventure and I'm certain that is exactly what they are going to have!

thatsnotmyname

Firstly great challenge Denis!

Its been a while since I took part in any,
but once I seen this morning I wanted to push myself to give it a go as its something thats definitely outside my comfort zone!!

I have a big admiration for photographer's who can go into famillar or unfamillar setting's and come away with some portraits of people they have just meet.

I had about 90 minutes to kill in town this morning
dropped the missus off at Rotunda for her checkup,

I legged it down Moore Street, all the stalls were doing a brisk trade,I knew from before that the majority of traders are sick of the sight of camera's at this stage!!.
so I was wary approaching any of the women who were bunched together in groups:D

I decided to buy some mandarins of an Asian gentleman, as he was packing the fruit into a bag I asked him would he mind if I took his picture for a project I was doing "no problem" he said until I produced the DSLR then he made a complete u-turn!! "No photo" okay "no worries mate have a nice day"

As I walked up Moore Street I remembered an Nigerian lad that fixed the screen on my phone before Christmas Michael I think his name was,when I got as far as his shop and the shutters were still down

before i knew it I was on Henry Street passing by Carroll's I spotted one of our own!! a tog about mid fifty's grey hair and glasses with a lovely Nikon D700 hanging around his neck.

Easy I taught! a quick are you here on Holidays? where are you from? what do you think of Ireland ?etc etc oh and do you mind If I take your picture and off I go!

mmm.. on holidays from Holland(Amsterdam) with bad English, he taught Dublin was expensive and he would rather not have his picture taken but not in a rude piss off kind of way.

I had to head to Mothercare in the Jervis to pick up something and just about to give up on "THE PROJECT":D
As walked through Jervis I spotted two young lads in a corner messing with a video camera
over i went a quick introduction and straight to the point and about 40 seconds later off on my way with a picture of Brian The media/filmmaker student who was more than happy to pose for me.

not something I could see myself doing everyday but glad I give it a go this morning anyway.

p.s sorry for the waffle heres the picture:pac:

trooney

Came across these guys outside Mount Jerome cemetery. The were happy enough to have their photo taken and allowed me manoeuvre them about a bit to get one with his back to me. Def a little out of my comfort zone. Not so much asking them if I could fire off a shot, more that I was 'arranging' them to do so.

DBCyc

Taken today on Abbey Street, Dublin.

dave66

I took this on Bray Seafront on Friday night, never met the man before, but he'll be working in his kiosk on the seafront all Summer so if you want a 99 then you know who to look for - Jim

trooney

They're not looking at the camera, but there was something in the symmetry that I liked as this couple walked towards us, but I missed the moment, but then caught them from behind and like it a lot -

pullandbang

Adiboo

andy_g

Longtime lurker first time poster in photography so go easy on me.

Strangers of the night. The hedgehog and the dog.

[IMG][/img]

Telchak

People are strange when you're a stranger, Faces look ugly when you're alone :P

Mayor Street

Ghost Train

kheed

Fearanpoist wrote: »

Hi

I need some help. I dont have a @url@ for my photo - how do I submit it.

Fearan

You could set up a profile on pix.ie , upload your pics there and link to them here. The same with Flikr

Hope that helps

kheed

Nebezpeci Mys

Symetric Strangers

Jackobyte

My first challenge submission. Took this today in the Milk Market, Limerick. The guy had a camera so I chanced my arm and asked if I could take his photo and he obliged. It definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone. After I took the picture, I was so embarrassed that I walked away mumbling my thanks before even seeing the picture.

If you is reading this, thank you random guy!

Only edit is cropping the frame.

Canon 500D with Nifty Fifty
f/2.5
1/250
ISO-100

Ettna

picaaf

5 minutes before midnight and i still haven't figured out how to insert a pic and how to vote. see what happens with that url

Cakes.

You got the pic up ok but you have to have 10 posts (I think 10, something like that) before you can thank posts, thats how you vote.

picaaf

Thank you for info.
I realise that there's supposed to be a little story how/why this little boy is a stranger. Too late now, but it can be found in the description on pixie.

pullandbang

And the winner is

OldGoat wrote: »

Well done OldGoat, that's a super jolly shot. What works for me is the fact that you are up close and interacting with the subject. He has a great beard and the retro helmet, sunglasses and the angle of his head all contribute to making it a fun portrait. Well done sir and well deserved!

A close second (and my personal favourite) is this shot from trooney.

trooney wrote: »

What an awesome shot!
Clockwork Orange meets The Thomas Crown Affair. Getting the guy on the right to turn his back was a stroke of genius and the black & white conversion is spot on. Well done you sir!

So now it's over to OldGoat for the next one........

OldGoat

Aha! In yore face Losers!

Thanks to all for the votes, I do appreciate it. Any pat on the back to a neophyte means an awful lot and is very encouraging.

Have to say to Pull&Bang that the challenge was brilliant. It was rather intimidating and exhilarating all at the same time. Initially my first shots were surreptitious and from a distance but using the 50mm makes you get in a lot closer., I found myself hunting out other photographers as they would 'understand' and would be less likely to take offense at the intrusion.

I then found myself taking photographs of characters, sellers, street performers and so on - those used to being photographed. Again it was an easy option. I eventually worked up the courage to just ask people if I could shoot them.

The gent in the photograph was awesome and if anyone recognises him then please pass on my thanks once again. I was still nervous enough to just run in, ask quickly and fire off a burst. I didn't have the balls to ask him to pose or move to get a cleaner backdrop or even to position myself (and his friend) out of reflection areas of the sunglasses.

trooney, you photograph is the true winner. Not only did you fulfil the challenge you went beyond it. You interacted with the subjects and you posed them to compose a shot rather then my quick snap. You photograph is truly worthy of a win. I applaud you for that.

I'll post a challenge later. I have two in mind but have yet to decide which would be a) most challenging or b) of most use to me.

Once again, thanks to all, I'm really touched, thrilled and feeling like an impostor.

John.

artyeva

Jackobyte wrote: »

If you is reading this, thank you random guy!

Dan!!! he teaches photography

he taught me many many moons ago, and i think some of his current students are in this forum, maybe they'll see it and tell 'im.

OldGoat

Next assignment posted. And thanks once again.

FoxT

Well done , Old Goat, that shot just made me smiiiile!

Tallon

Well done OG

farwood

Yes! Well done old Goat....

and there were several others also which are really good in light n atmosphere. Like that


Nina