I have had poor luck getting permission for portraits from one demographic, the businessman/professional dressed in a suit and tie. I suspect that when someone dons this attire, he/she is also assuming a role, and that role does not include interacting with (non-paying) strangers. When I visited Winter park, FL, almost immediately such a man headed my way. When I approached him, I was pleasantly surprised that he seemed relaxed, interested, and a bit amused by the project.
While the camera was raised, I asked if he was from Winter Park. No, Paul is from Lake Nona (part of Orlando) and he was here to meet friends at a restaurant. I said boy, it must be a fancy restaurant to have to get dressed like that. He said, “Oh no, I'm just getting off of work.” Oh, what do you do?” “I work at the University of Central Florida College of Business Administration. I'm the Dean.” Whoa, a home run! This site is him, all right: http://www.bus.ucf.edu/faculty/?page=1850 I said that the university was HUGE. Paul said that the College of Business Administration had over 8,000 undergraduate students, the same as all undergraduates at the University of Notre Dame.
Jacqueline and James (#678) 10-20-14
I was with another photographer as Jacqueline and James walked by. They were happy to be included in the project. They are in Real Estate, and relocated from Savannah. Ah, Savannah. One of my favorite cities and I told them so.
James said that he also liked St. Simons Island, GA. I told him that I'd been there a couple of times, and always ate at a restaurant called Barbara Jean's. He brightened up, “Yes, I love Barbara Jean's crab cakes.” Yikes, me too! That's exactly why I go there. And there is a coincidence, my wife is Barbara Jean. She told the waitress that as a fellow Barbara Jean, she should get a Barbara Jean's tee shirt. Sure enough, she got a free tee shirt! Of course, there was a $15 handling fee.
Jacqueline and James were satisfied with the images, but were not interested in copies.
Bob
Sue (#677) 10-19-14
Sue was waiting for a friend in Winter Park. She lives in Oviedo, in the next county. Originally she was from Noo Yawk and I could easily hear it in her voice, even though she moved to Florida 32 years ago. She worked in the area for 20 years, and is now retired at 74.
I told her that I was in the Navy in the 1970s, and assigned to the Naval Training Center in Orlando. She said that the hospital in which I worked has long since been torn down. Our tax dollars at work.
She doesn't like any pictures of herself (where have we heard that before?) Nevertheless, Sue likes the 100 Strangers concept and took my card.
Bob
Elijah (#676) 10-18-14
While visiting Winter Park, FL, I came across three high school students selling candy to raise money for the football team. Elijah approached me and showed a box full of large name-brand candy bars for $1 each. That seemed pretty reasonable; someone must have donated the bars so all raised funds would be profit.
I wanted to support the effort, but I had been consuming more than my share of junk food, and Insulin shots are very low on my wish list. So I gave him $3, but told him that I didn't want candy. I asked him to give a bar to the next three kids who came by and say that someone bought them a gift. He seemed a bit befuddled by this. I hope that he did it.
Elijah attends University High School, the beneficiary of the raised funds. He is a senior, and hopes to go to a junior college to major in business. And maybe, just maybe, get a football scholarship. He liked this image on the LCD and took my card.
Bob
Cornelius (#675) 10-17-14
Cornelius walked toward me wearing his Yamaka and scarf with Hebrew icons. When I approached him he flashed a huge smile and said, “Of course, of course.” Cornelius is homeless, but is grateful for everything in his life.
“I used to be homosexual. My boyfriend gave me AIDS, Hepatitis C and Herpes, but God cured me of the AIDS and Hepatitis C. Do you know why? Because in my heart I hold no hatred, only positive thoughts about everyone, including the man who gave me those diseases. God smiles on those who know no hatred. He rewarded me.” Then the Lord said, “You are now Jewish. So here I am.” His speech is punctuated by laughter and huge smiles. “The Lord gives back what you put out.”
What a great attitude.
Bob
Theresa (#674) 10-16-14
While driving west, a woman was walking westward on the south sidewalk. She wore a cowboy-like hat pulled back in a jaunty position. I just had to try, so I drove three blocks further, parked, crossed the street and began walking toward her. I spotted a building in shade and wanted that to be the spot where we met. So I stopped until we were equidistant and began walking. When we met, I went through my spiel and she did not hesitate.
Theresa went to nearby Cardinal Mooney High School when Fruitville Road was two lanes – now it's six. She often walks downtown which surprised me, I've never seen her and she is fairly distinctive. I asked if she worked nearby. She said, “No, I can't work, I'm disabled.” I started to reply “Oh, I'm sor..” but she dismissively waved her arm and said not to worry about it. Theresa said that maybe she should try to meet strangers, she used to love to play tennis but now she can't.
I asked her to remove her glasses for the picture. She said that she wouldn't be able to see anything; I assured her that I was the one who had to see. When I showed her the camera's LCD she put her glasses on and got her nose fight to the camera. Part, if not all, of her disability is visual.
Bob
David (#673) 10-15-14
On a sunny Sunday morning, another photographer accompanied me to watch stranger photography in action. We found an alcove in front of a closed restaurant; the buildings on the other side of the street were reflecting bright light. We had a 'studio', and just waited for a likely subject. Along came David.
He was accompanied by his dig, Kiya. Unfortunately I did not write down the breed, and I don't remember. As dogs often resemble their owners, I doubt that it was a Chihuahua. When I asked David, he shrugged and said, “Why not?” I asked him not to smile for the camera and got the first shot.
He didn't like it. “I think that people should smile for pictures. So I went to work again and got the second. He was more satisfied.
As he walked away, he turned toward me and pointed with his index finger, “People should always smile in pictures!” I have been suitably admonished.
Bob
Alaina (#672) 10-14-14
Yep, outdoors at the coffee shop again. I should have a chair with my name on it. Several tables away was a head of glorious red hair, seen only from behind. I considered meeting her when a friend unexpectedly arrived and sat down for a chat. After 15 minutes the red hair was still there, God's not-so-subtle message that I should get to work. So I excused myself and met Alaina.
She was VERY interested in the project and asked for my card. She goes around taking pictures of kids – with her cell phone. I can't imagine being quick enough with a cell phone for that. When I brought the camera to my eye, Alaina immediately assumed this pose with no prompting by me.
Alaina is an artsy design person. Her Facebook page is HERE:
Currently she works at Trader Joe's (a food store), but she is looking for an opportunity in furniture recovery and design.
Bob
Steve and Jed (#671) 10-13-14
They are brothers, and moved to the area two years ago. Jed is the “little” brother, although he is an inch taller. “I guess I ate my Wheaties (laugh).”
Jed
I asked Steve about the best thing that had happened that morning. “I paid off my ticket.” Good things are relative, I guess.
Steve
Bob
Ariel (#670) 10-12-14
I slowly drove past a sandwich joint with outdoor seating, and Ariel was on the phone. She wore a knitted cap and long gray cardigan, while the temperature was in the 90s. To me, she had a Bohemian, artsy-fartsy look. I immediately looked for a parking space, but the first one was two blocks away. By the time that I walked back, she was gone.
So I went in to order a sandwich and there she was, sitting at an indoor table. So I got a sandwich and an outdoor table, facing the door. I was ready. So as soon as Ariel exited, I made my move. At first she was a bit skeptical and asked where the photo would be used. I showed her my Flickr Photostream on the phone, and she relaxed and agreed.
Ariel works as a personal trainer for strength training, yoga, and tai chi. But she works in client's homes, mostly on Longboat Key – a very tony area. I told her that my wife had Parkinson's Disease, and she probably could have used Ariel's services in the past. Ariel had trained one person with Parkinson's in the past, “He was so funny, a real character. I always ended each session with a balance test. I had him stand alternately on each foot and I timed him. The times were pretty short. But one day while on his left foot he was doing fantastic. I watched in amazement until I looked up; his right hand was holding on to a light fixture!”
Then I asked what was the best thing that happened that day. Ariel's face brightened and shoulders relaxed, “After seven weeks, I finally won my fight with my daughter's school. This is a new school for her this year. She was placed in sixth grade remedial math. Finally they agreed that she was misplaced, and now she is in seventh grade advanced math.” I asked how that could happen. “Her transcripts were lost.” But didn't the sixth grade teacher notice that she didn't belong? “I guess that they are protecting their turf.” Apparently students need an advocate, just as patients need an advocate in the health care system.”
As we parted, I Ariel flashed a huge smile and said, “Thanks for asking.” Boy, did THAT make my day!
Bob
Stewart (#669) 10-11-14
I periodically review my Flickr photostream, to see if I am tending to photograph only certain demographic groups. I have not met many senior gentlemen recently, so I kept my eye out for one. And Stewart was sitting outdoors at my favorite coffee shop.
When I approached him, he agreed, albeit not enthusiastically. He is from Staten Island and arrived in Sarasota via Ohio. He was a bit reticent about giving out information. His generation (I guess I'm part of it) didn't grow up with the Internet, Facebook, or incessant 'Selfies.' Ours was a more private era. Nevertheless he liked the image and asked me to e-mail it to him. Consider it done.
I explained to Stewart that when I meet and photograph a stranger in the morning, the whole day seems better. It is true.
Bob
Kisha (#668) 10-10-14
Walking through Bradenton, I passed the Manatee County Courthouse. Most people were pedestrians, in harsh light. But Kisha was sitting on steps, eating lunch. When I approached her, she was quite reluctant, and I thought that I would lose her. Until I mentioned the red flower in her hair, that seemed to turn the tide.
