Stranger #2/100 *

This picture is #002 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

 

My stranger number two is Kat although I thought it was Kate so replies refer to Kat as Kate; thats my fault. Sorry Kat.

 

Kat works at a well known jewellers that makes customised jewellery along with their own designs.

 

I signed up for a photography course and was given a homework task of portraits, landscapes, street photography and a few others. I opted for Street Portraits with the intention of killing two birds with one stone. Homework and joining the 100 strangers group.

 

I was walking around and looking for someone that stood out. I spotted Kat having her photo taken by a colleague of hers and I guess she was modelling the chain and cross seen in this portrait.

 

As she was about to go back into the shop I quickly asked if I could take her portrait. It was all very quick and I didn't really have time to think about how I was going to approach her or even what to say.

Its all very new to me and I haven't even really thought about how to approach people or how to ask them to stand/sit/pose…….

 

I asked her to step into a doorway that was black as I thought it would be a good background and there were lots of people around that would have been walking between her and the camera.

 

I would like to say that I considered the light but I have to confess that I just got lucky.

 

The conversation was very brief, she was obviously at work and I didn't want to hold her up. I also think she was as shocked to be asked for a portrait as I was to be asking.

I'm also very pleased I didn't have time to think about the situation because afterwards I was wondering if a 44 year old man asking a young woman for their portrait is maybe a bit weird.

I guess I am just going to have to get over that if I want to take images of interesting people.

 

Kat is very pretty and with her style stood out from the mundanely dressed crowd (I include myself in that description). I had to have the images printed for college so told Kat that I would drop of any prints I made. Luckily Kat is aware of Flickr as it turns out she was previously photographed by another member of the group Arnab Ghosal (www.flickr.com/photos/arnabkghosal/10407818943/in/set-721... )and she kindly agreed for me to take her portrait to be post it here.

 

As far a photography technique goes, I am still coming to terms with the exposure and focusing. Although using a fixed 85mm lens and having to use my feet to alter the composition was all reasonably new. Again I guess as we all progress we get used to judging distance and it should all fall together a little more fluidly? (I'm hoping).

 

Thank you Kat for not telling me to bog off!

 

 

 

Done