Melissa (Explore)
I photographed Melissa as part of my Flickr 100 Strangers project. This photo of Melissa with reflections of me in her sunglasses was one of the portraits I took of her. The one I selected for the project can be seen here: www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/18960305355/in/photostream/
I was on Front Street in downtown Toronto this morning, checking out an historic building that was redesigned by Aaron, a retired Architect and my Stranger #818 (www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/18248730940/in/dateposted/). Part of the building is complete, including a multistory addition above it, and part is still undergoing renovation. I was starting to unlock my bicycle to move on when I saw her. She was coming toward me on the sidewalk with her beautiful blue scarf and circular sunglasses. She had a composed, relaxed air about her as she passed me and my curiosity was tweaked. I stopped her and she removed her earphones. I proceeded with my usual “Excuse me. My name is Jeff and I’m doing an amateur photo project….” She agreed without a second thought and said it sounded like a great project. We shook hands. Meet Melissa.
We were on a busy sidewalk with the building front on one side and a huge street construction project on the other side. It was “scramble time” as I looked at the immediate surroundings to come up with a way to make use of the opportunity. I posed Melissa between the building of interest and the building next door: The Hockey Hall of Fame. I knew the bright light in the laneway was less than ideal but I proceeded. I asked if I could straighten her sunglasses and she said “Sure. That’s ok. They might not straighten. They’re kind of wonky.” She was right. “Ok” I said. “That will be part of the character of this photo.” We shared a laugh. I had to photograph from the other side of the sidewalk and I appreciated the pedestrians who stopped to wait between “takes” so as to not get in the way. People can be so accommodating.
Not sure that I had a good enough image (see comment photo) I asked Melissa to move a few steps to the open doorway of the building under renovation. The workmen were inside and I called to them to ask if it would be ok to step inside the doorway for “just one minute” to take a photo of Melissa. They looked at each other and waved me in. I positioned Melissa inside the door with construction disarray behind her and balanced myself on the step outside the door. It was somewhat precarious but it worked. I asked Melissa to remove her sunglasses and suggested that she follow up her smiling photo with a relaxed, neutral expression and figured I had the photo. Thanking the workmen, we stepped onto the sidewalk to chat.
Melissa, 22, was born and raised in Toronto. She is a recent college graduate with a major in Public Relations. “Oh, so you’re probably just hitting the job search?” “Well, pretty much. But I think I’m going to take a little break for travel first. I’m going to Quebec where I hope to learn some French which will make me more marketable.” Smart strategy. What was she doing when I interrupted her progress? “Oh, I was just walking to the park to relax and read a book. I like to alternate fiction pleasure reading with more serious reading.” I can remember one of the joys of finishing university was being able to read whatever I wanted to read without guilt that it wasn’t a textbook. “Any words you would like to share with the world?” Melissa laughed at the scope of the question. “I know, I’m just making life difficult for you” I said. She replied “No. Just give me a second. Uh, I think I would say to make time to do the things you value and don’t put them off.” I think she was talking about travel. “What do you like to do when you’re not going to the park to read?” I asked. “Well, I like food. I mean I REALLY like food.” “Your favorite food?” “Let’s just say I REALLY like food.” (smiling)
From the few minutes we spent together Melissa came across as very friendly, relaxed, and sincere. There was a gentle honesty about her and I thought it striking that she responded to my unexpected project request as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I think these nice qualities show in the portraits.
With that I thanked Melissa and freed her up to get to the park on this beautiful, sunny Toronto morning. Thank you Melissa for taking the time to meet and for participating in 100 Strangers. You are #834 in Round 9 of my project. Have fun in Quebec and good luck with your job search. And be sure to enjoy some of that Quebec cooking!
Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by the other photographers in our group at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page.
Update: I received a very nice email from Melissa saying she had enjoyed our meeting and she was positively impressed by my photos. She thanked me and wished me well on my continuing project. It was very nice feedback.
Melissa (Explore)
I photographed Melissa as part of my Flickr 100 Strangers project. This photo of Melissa with reflections of me in her sunglasses was one of the portraits I took of her. The one I selected for the project can be seen here: www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/18960305355/in/photostream/
I was on Front Street in downtown Toronto this morning, checking out an historic building that was redesigned by Aaron, a retired Architect and my Stranger #818 (www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/18248730940/in/dateposted/). Part of the building is complete, including a multistory addition above it, and part is still undergoing renovation. I was starting to unlock my bicycle to move on when I saw her. She was coming toward me on the sidewalk with her beautiful blue scarf and circular sunglasses. She had a composed, relaxed air about her as she passed me and my curiosity was tweaked. I stopped her and she removed her earphones. I proceeded with my usual “Excuse me. My name is Jeff and I’m doing an amateur photo project….” She agreed without a second thought and said it sounded like a great project. We shook hands. Meet Melissa.
We were on a busy sidewalk with the building front on one side and a huge street construction project on the other side. It was “scramble time” as I looked at the immediate surroundings to come up with a way to make use of the opportunity. I posed Melissa between the building of interest and the building next door: The Hockey Hall of Fame. I knew the bright light in the laneway was less than ideal but I proceeded. I asked if I could straighten her sunglasses and she said “Sure. That’s ok. They might not straighten. They’re kind of wonky.” She was right. “Ok” I said. “That will be part of the character of this photo.” We shared a laugh. I had to photograph from the other side of the sidewalk and I appreciated the pedestrians who stopped to wait between “takes” so as to not get in the way. People can be so accommodating.
Not sure that I had a good enough image (see comment photo) I asked Melissa to move a few steps to the open doorway of the building under renovation. The workmen were inside and I called to them to ask if it would be ok to step inside the doorway for “just one minute” to take a photo of Melissa. They looked at each other and waved me in. I positioned Melissa inside the door with construction disarray behind her and balanced myself on the step outside the door. It was somewhat precarious but it worked. I asked Melissa to remove her sunglasses and suggested that she follow up her smiling photo with a relaxed, neutral expression and figured I had the photo. Thanking the workmen, we stepped onto the sidewalk to chat.
Melissa, 22, was born and raised in Toronto. She is a recent college graduate with a major in Public Relations. “Oh, so you’re probably just hitting the job search?” “Well, pretty much. But I think I’m going to take a little break for travel first. I’m going to Quebec where I hope to learn some French which will make me more marketable.” Smart strategy. What was she doing when I interrupted her progress? “Oh, I was just walking to the park to relax and read a book. I like to alternate fiction pleasure reading with more serious reading.” I can remember one of the joys of finishing university was being able to read whatever I wanted to read without guilt that it wasn’t a textbook. “Any words you would like to share with the world?” Melissa laughed at the scope of the question. “I know, I’m just making life difficult for you” I said. She replied “No. Just give me a second. Uh, I think I would say to make time to do the things you value and don’t put them off.” I think she was talking about travel. “What do you like to do when you’re not going to the park to read?” I asked. “Well, I like food. I mean I REALLY like food.” “Your favorite food?” “Let’s just say I REALLY like food.” (smiling)
From the few minutes we spent together Melissa came across as very friendly, relaxed, and sincere. There was a gentle honesty about her and I thought it striking that she responded to my unexpected project request as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I think these nice qualities show in the portraits.
With that I thanked Melissa and freed her up to get to the park on this beautiful, sunny Toronto morning. Thank you Melissa for taking the time to meet and for participating in 100 Strangers. You are #834 in Round 9 of my project. Have fun in Quebec and good luck with your job search. And be sure to enjoy some of that Quebec cooking!
Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by the other photographers in our group at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page.
Update: I received a very nice email from Melissa saying she had enjoyed our meeting and she was positively impressed by my photos. She thanked me and wished me well on my continuing project. It was very nice feedback.