i_see_everyday
stranger182
In my original 100strangers project, I tried a few profile shots just for something different. In this newest addition to my project, I thought I would try the profile shot over my shots of him facing me. With a bit of post processing, this was my preference for a number of reasons.
Although he was comfortable talking about his background and about being photographed, I thought there was a certain anonymity that I wanted to give him as I told his story. In the political climate of our country at this time, I feel I owe even more respect for people who have immigrated here looking for work and a better life compared to that of their country of origin. He is Haitian. Although we did not get into a discussion of the circumstances of his moving to the states, I sensed he was looking for a better life. Over the 12 years he has lived here, he has worked to improve his vocational status and continues to aim for higher goals. He said he enjoyed his position at the museum because he gets to talk to a lot of people and has never encountered any confrontation where he had to intervene, other than advising visitors not to touch the exhibits. He was dressed impeccably in a suit and tie and spoke with an ease with the language he has mastered here, although his accent was definitively foreign.
At the time I noticed him, he was "guarding" the entrance to an exhibit that was under construction. As I mentioned, he was not the focus of my original shot, but after I noticed him in the shot, I approached to ask if he was uncomfortable with being in the shot. After he said he was not, and we conversed for a few minutes, I asked if he was willing to participate in my project.
I had some difficulty with the exposure because I didn't want to approach to better meter his skin tone. The white wall distorted the light reading on my limited camera. I apologized when I showed his the shot for the exposure problem.
So I chose to accentuate rather than try to fix the exposure, and after giving it a high key appearance, I posterized it slightly. Your comments on my choices are welcomed since it is a different presentation than most of the stranger shots posted in this group.
He is the 182nd person I have approached to participate in this project. You can see more at 100 strangers. I have also added this to another group, an offshoot of the strangers project at The Human Family.
stranger182
In my original 100strangers project, I tried a few profile shots just for something different. In this newest addition to my project, I thought I would try the profile shot over my shots of him facing me. With a bit of post processing, this was my preference for a number of reasons.
Although he was comfortable talking about his background and about being photographed, I thought there was a certain anonymity that I wanted to give him as I told his story. In the political climate of our country at this time, I feel I owe even more respect for people who have immigrated here looking for work and a better life compared to that of their country of origin. He is Haitian. Although we did not get into a discussion of the circumstances of his moving to the states, I sensed he was looking for a better life. Over the 12 years he has lived here, he has worked to improve his vocational status and continues to aim for higher goals. He said he enjoyed his position at the museum because he gets to talk to a lot of people and has never encountered any confrontation where he had to intervene, other than advising visitors not to touch the exhibits. He was dressed impeccably in a suit and tie and spoke with an ease with the language he has mastered here, although his accent was definitively foreign.
At the time I noticed him, he was "guarding" the entrance to an exhibit that was under construction. As I mentioned, he was not the focus of my original shot, but after I noticed him in the shot, I approached to ask if he was uncomfortable with being in the shot. After he said he was not, and we conversed for a few minutes, I asked if he was willing to participate in my project.
I had some difficulty with the exposure because I didn't want to approach to better meter his skin tone. The white wall distorted the light reading on my limited camera. I apologized when I showed his the shot for the exposure problem.
So I chose to accentuate rather than try to fix the exposure, and after giving it a high key appearance, I posterized it slightly. Your comments on my choices are welcomed since it is a different presentation than most of the stranger shots posted in this group.
He is the 182nd person I have approached to participate in this project. You can see more at 100 strangers. I have also added this to another group, an offshoot of the strangers project at The Human Family.