CHAT - Photograph a Stranger - Jan 6-12, 2014

[Reinardina]

As I continue my efforts to import and reivew my past mistakes images for review and cull, I've found one of a certain Mr Abers getting one of his pics. 

Process seemed simple:

• Go to Speakers Corner
  Select and walk up to Speaker
  Place camera in speakers face, allowing enough room for sound to continue leaving mouth
  Press shutter button a few times and walk off whilst reviewing image.

Clearly this method works, judging by the number of published images and books he has on offer.

I've done close ups too, but this one was a sneaky one.

[Andrew]

i would take my hat off to you - but you would probably photograph my grey hair as well as an X-Ray machine 

[Reinardina]

i would take my hat off to you - but you would probably photograph my grey hair as well as an X-Ray machine 

I would. If it's a good hat though, I'd be happy to photograph that. There aren't many left in this world.

[ABERS]

How's this for a 'Stranger' picture. Taken by a lady member of the camera club.

How often do you come across a picture that makes you chuckle?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43952118@N05/11918989065/in/pool-1215209@N25

[Reinardina]

How's this for a 'Stranger' picture. Taken by a lady member of the camera club.

How often do you come across a picture that makes you chuckle?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43952118@N05/11918989065/in/pool-1215209@N25

Great expressions and great title!

[jinky]

Great shot by your friend Abers but was this a stranger shot  that would fit the comp brief? I guess I am shooting strangers a lot at weddings / events  I cover in that I don`t know them but I wouldn`t class them as real stranger shots given that I am there in a specific role where people expect me to take photos of them, as at christenings. I find it much more challenging going out as I did on Sunday and shooting with and without permisson on the public street. Not sure if I`ll get a chance to edit them or even whether to bother  to be honest but I always find that type of shooting challenging. I don`t know how many times I can lie that it is "for a project I am doing " 

[ABERS]

Not saying this would necessarily fit the brief, but why not,  the brief was so open ended that a photograph of anyone you did'nt know would do. Walking around snapping all and everything isn't my idea of a particularly onerous task and producing images of people in the street is something my 8 year old niece could do.

I wonder if my friend knows the name of the vicar and the pop-eyed verger?

[jinky]

Yeah guess so Abers. Just deleted most of mine from weekend as they were just boring street shots with no real story or interest in them for me so decided why would anyone else be interested. Funny I've been out 3 times in a row now armed with camera without a shot to show for it.

[Reinardina]

My brain's going, I fear.
Took me ages, to remember what bird my two tone stranger reminded me of.
It finally dawned: a peacock of course. Changed the name accordingly.

[ABERS]

Yeah guess so Abers. Just deleted most of mine from weekend as they were just boring street shots with no real story or interest in them for me so decided why would anyone else be interested. Funny I've been out 3 times in a row now armed with camera without a shot to show for it.

It's a bit like angling, you can easily catch a bag full of small fry, but you need to find a spot where there is a better chance of a good specimen, and have the patience of an angler.

I used to wander round thinking it's so simple, which it is if you are satisfied with a collection of snaps. What I think you need to do is firstly find  that spot. It usually is a poster board, a piece of graffitti, an unusual background of some sorts and wait patiently for someone to come into the picture. Someone who is strange in themselves or just fits in with the background or conversely stands out from it.

There you have a street picture that in some way tells a story.

Let them come to you, saves a lot of effort. 

[SimonW]

Really good advice there Abers.

Can I add that while waiting, you need to somehow be inconspicuous. If the passer-by notices you the shot could easily be spoiled. You might then consider asking them to pose, depending on circumstances.

Simon

[jinky]

Yes that`s what I usually do Abers. Find the advert, the colour background or poster etc and wait. When I popped out on sunday it was just so slow ad empty with the weather, post Christmas blues  and  Leeds` new parking charges for Sunday instead of free doesn`t help keep it busy. I`m finding at the moment whether street / park or byway I`m just seeing nothing of note and come back empty.
Never mind - off to Cuba next month and if I find little to shoot there I`ll  know it`s me!

[jinky]

Had a look through what I`d got from a couple of  half hearted trips out with the camera during the week and deleted all but 2. I was looking for typical shots of Leeds people and kept one of a "chugger" those awful people that accost you in the street to sign up for charity monthly donations thinking somehow you don`t already give or dare not say no in public. I always vow never to support charities using such people and methods but so many now - 4 within 50 yds on that day. The 2nd I kept was rather illicit as I decided to shoot in Leeds Market where they do not allow photography - if they catch you  .
I asked a butcher and fishmonger for a shot and was met with polite no thank yous but this lady, whilst shy, was happy to pose. Her stall is full of the most exotic fruit and vegetables from all over the world and a mass of colour. I now know she is called Frieda and has worked there for 28 years with produce from Ghana,Mauritius,Columbia, Kenya and the West Indies to name just a few. I did a conversion to black and white but as her stall is all about colour it seemed a shame. I know her name now but didn`t at the time of the photo.

[DigiDiva]

Jinky, the colours are amazing

[spikeyjen]

Chris (DigiDiva), I'm all ready to go with the poll, but I can't find your image in the gallery. Its interesting that you have writing under your image, but no one else does. I also notice that you had trouble uploading.

Can someone direct me to where the image is.... (The Bird Man of Herrington Park)

thanks