189/200 - Luc
Oddly enough, there is more to be said about the before and after of this Stranger encounter than about the encounter itself which was very brief.
Still downtown in Toronto on a the same rainy day I photographed Alica, my Stranger #188, I used a different approach for this Stranger encounter. I always emphasize the person and try to minimize problems the background may provide. This time I realized, while on my way to a coffee shop, that the scaffolding tunnel I had to walk through because of a building renovation in progress, would make a good setting for a photo and I positioned myself toward the southern end of the “tunnel” where the overcast sky could illuminate the subject. I just missed two great potential Strangers because I wasn’t ready and hadn’t figured out how I wanted my camera set. After that, there was a distinct lack of possibilities and I was quietly bemoaning the great opportunities I had not been prepared to capture. I was starting to give up when this man came out of the coffee shop and headed into the tunnel. I immediately liked his face and the jaunty angle of his hat. I pounced and he said “I usually don’t like pictures taken of me but, oh well, go ahead if it’s quick.”
Meet Luc. I positioned him where I could get light on his face and also get some of the scaffolding. After the first couple of photos I also asked him to tip his head up just a bit and keep his eyes open. I think he was amused at this coaching and I fired off a few photos, explaining the project and my “insurance shots” to guard against blinks and camera movement. All I learned about Luc was that he was coming out of the coffee shop and was in a hurry to get to the library.
Although I had been somewhat aware of Luc having a rash on his face, I did not pay much attention to it until I was preparing the photo for posting to Flickr. I found it both unflattering and a visual distraction, but I loved Luc’s face and expression. It was then that I remembered the approach taken by another photographer on the project whom I admire (Paco) who had converted a Stranger portrait to black and white quite successfully to overcome a technical problem. (Subsequent note: the "technical problem" was actually a skin condition which involved patches of red skin which were distracting.) I tried it and it worked. Thank you Paco! Ironically, after choosing the background first, I wound up cropping most of it out of the final photo. I guess I’m just destined to be more fond of Strangers than backgrounds. Go figure.
Thank you Luc, for your participation in the 100 Strangers project, even though you don’t like having your picture taken. You are now Stranger #189/200 in Round 2 of my project.
Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
To browse Round 1 of my 100 Strangers project click here: www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157633145986224/
189/200 - Luc
Oddly enough, there is more to be said about the before and after of this Stranger encounter than about the encounter itself which was very brief.
Still downtown in Toronto on a the same rainy day I photographed Alica, my Stranger #188, I used a different approach for this Stranger encounter. I always emphasize the person and try to minimize problems the background may provide. This time I realized, while on my way to a coffee shop, that the scaffolding tunnel I had to walk through because of a building renovation in progress, would make a good setting for a photo and I positioned myself toward the southern end of the “tunnel” where the overcast sky could illuminate the subject. I just missed two great potential Strangers because I wasn’t ready and hadn’t figured out how I wanted my camera set. After that, there was a distinct lack of possibilities and I was quietly bemoaning the great opportunities I had not been prepared to capture. I was starting to give up when this man came out of the coffee shop and headed into the tunnel. I immediately liked his face and the jaunty angle of his hat. I pounced and he said “I usually don’t like pictures taken of me but, oh well, go ahead if it’s quick.”
Meet Luc. I positioned him where I could get light on his face and also get some of the scaffolding. After the first couple of photos I also asked him to tip his head up just a bit and keep his eyes open. I think he was amused at this coaching and I fired off a few photos, explaining the project and my “insurance shots” to guard against blinks and camera movement. All I learned about Luc was that he was coming out of the coffee shop and was in a hurry to get to the library.
Although I had been somewhat aware of Luc having a rash on his face, I did not pay much attention to it until I was preparing the photo for posting to Flickr. I found it both unflattering and a visual distraction, but I loved Luc’s face and expression. It was then that I remembered the approach taken by another photographer on the project whom I admire (Paco) who had converted a Stranger portrait to black and white quite successfully to overcome a technical problem. (Subsequent note: the "technical problem" was actually a skin condition which involved patches of red skin which were distracting.) I tried it and it worked. Thank you Paco! Ironically, after choosing the background first, I wound up cropping most of it out of the final photo. I guess I’m just destined to be more fond of Strangers than backgrounds. Go figure.
Thank you Luc, for your participation in the 100 Strangers project, even though you don’t like having your picture taken. You are now Stranger #189/200 in Round 2 of my project.
Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
To browse Round 1 of my 100 Strangers project click here: www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/sets/72157633145986224/