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100 Strangers
Daily Ink
Stored in: Groups
Posted On: January 10 2008
By: Brittney Bush
Photo © Teppo
The thing about photographers is, we get pretty used to hiding behind our lenses. We feel safe back there, and anonymous, and we don't really have to deal with scary things like, say, other people.
Unless we join the 100 Strangers project.
Founded by Utata member Teppo, 100 Strangers is a flickr group and accompanying website encouraging people to take on one simple, if ambitions challenge: talk to and photograph one hundred people they've never met before.
Want to be a better street photographer? Want to develop as a photojournalist? In order to be one you often need to have the courage to go and talk with people you don't know.... The ultimate challenge for the members is to take 100 portraits of 100 strangers. Candids are not allowed. Little by little, learning by doing you'll get better results. You might even find that taking [sic] contact with strangers isn't as scary as you thought it would be.
Push your boundaries and become a better photographer. It's a simple concept, but the execution is terribly frightening to most of us. Heck, I wouldn't do it -- but am filled with admiration for those who do. And certainly members are reaping personal benefits as well as artistic: "It forces me to talk to various different people I might not otherwise," says Utatan and 100 Strangers member Sean Young. By the completion of the challenge, surely he'll be able to approach almost anyone.
Browsing the group's photos is as absorbing as reading a good novel. Engaging face after engaging face appears, each with a story beneath it. Ilkka has given up on marriage after four attempts. Ghana-born Lesley is now a street musician in England. Pauli enjoyed a moment in the spotlight during the Eurovision song contest. For nosy curious people like me, this stuff is crack.
Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to take on this challenge. (For now, I'm content to tell myself that I CAN approach people, I just don't want to.) Until then, I'll be wishing the best of luck to the five-hundred-plus crazy kids already in the group, and selfishly enjoying the fruit of their efforts.
2 comments on this Ink
On January 10, 2008, Lori Hale Williams said ...
i too, wish i had that kind of courage. great ink, thanks for bringing the group to my attention!
On April 27, 2008, Lucidcats F said ...
it's easy to walk the streets and take pictures of the homeless and poor. just fill your pockets with cigarettes and silver dollars, then offer them up in exchange.
Otherwise, in Groups:
- Previously: Mundane Suburban Neighborhood Shots With Partially Cropped Cars
- Next: Less Is More
Utata Ink is a daily publication edited by Bryan Partington (striatic). Photos used on utata.org are stored on flickr.com and obtained via the flickr API unless otherwise noted. To make a contribution to Ink, please visit Ink Me.
