stranger166

While participating In this project 100 strangers, I always find it refreshing to talk with a person who will step aside from their job persona and share a bit about themselves. Not only is it an acknowledgement of their individuality, but it's an opportunity for me to talk about why I started and continued this project. I am not participating to create the perfect portrait, although I have made some attempt to improve my shots. The focus for me is making a connection, putting the person at ease without taking too much of their time (usually one, two, three shots), and catch a glimpse of their personality without "modeling" them.

 

While I noted her cheerfulness in charging up my purchases, I also noticed what a perfect match her glasses were to her hair, so that was an easy segue to start the conversation. She shared she is an artist by choice, a painter, although all her siblings (there were eight in her family) chose teaching careers. She also talked about her two Australian shepherd dogs whose photos I'm sure she would have willingly displayed had we had more time to chat. Alas, there were other customers to tend to, and I was content that I had the opportunity, as brief as it was, to share a few moments of her time.

 

In an ideal world, we all might be able to combine what we are passionate about with a job that also pays the bills. But whatever the job, if it's performed well and with a smile, it doesn't really matter what the job is as much as how well you feel when you go home at the end of the day.

Done