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I did a 20-tip-series from stranger 51 to 70. Ill post them here, as seen in my set:
Tip #1: Consider the assignment as a learning process. In the beginning it's more important to learn to ask for permission to take pictures than to take excellent photos. Don't give up if your first shots aren't instant classics.
For the first ten shots or so, it's all about the contact and none about the picture. Switch your SLR to autoexposure and autofocus or use a simple point and shoot. Concentrate on the essential: the people.
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip #2 for 100 strangers assignment group: Shoot several pictures of strangers during the same day, but limit it to 5-6 max. Taking a series of pictures during the same walk helps you to build up your routine in approaching people but too many contacts with strangers in a row can get you exhausted.
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip #3 for shooting the 100 strangers assignment: Allways approach your subject from a direction where he/she can see you approaching. Sneaking on people makes a bad first impression.
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip #5 for shooting 100 strangers: Be brave. When you see a person you'd like to capture, don't hesitate, but go to him/her/them and start a conversation right away. Hesitating too long makes starting a conversation feel unnatural. (This is known as the 3 second rule in seduction manuals)
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip #6 for shooting the 100 strangers assignment: Prepare yourself before starting to shoot the assignment. Think about what you're going to say when asking for a photo - what's your pick up line that catches the interest of your subject and makes him/her feel she/he can can let you take a photo without the risk of betting the picture published in a porn website? Develop a routine so you know what you're going to say - it keeps your mind from going blank if you feel tense in social situations. Practice in front of a mirror, if you feel really uncertain.
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip #7 for shooting 100 strangers: Like them to make them like you. Be relaxed to get them relaxed. Be sure that your not abusing them, to keep them from suspecting your just ripping them off. Things are fairly simple, really.
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip #4 for shooting 100 strangers assignment: Print yourself a set of cards with at least your name, email and the address to your photos on the net. They come handy when explaining your project to your subjects and when telling them where they can see the photo. They make you look more professional as well and help you promote your project to friends and family. (I printed my cards after getting fed up in using pen and paper for a dozen of times.) Use your full name and a credible email address (firstname.lastname@somecompany.com is certainly more plausible in a card than iamateenagermutant@hotmail.com) to gain trust and credibility from your subjects.
Check out Moo cards: they are cool, reasonably priced for the treat and you can print your best photos on the back of your cards for a reference of your skills.
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip #8 for shooting 100 strangers: If your subjects seem to be uneasy in front of the camera, you can train them on location: shoot a lot of frames to help them getting used to the sound of the shutter. You can shoot from the hip and fool around, just keep shooting and talking. Eventually (after 50-100 shots) most people relax as they notice there's nothing to be worried about.
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip #9 for shooting 100 strangers: Make a studying plan for the assignment. There are a lot of things to learn and it's good to concentrate on one thing at a time.
If I started the assignment from scratch now, this is how I would do it:
Step one: Snapshots. (20 first strangers)
Get used to talking with strangers and showing them the camera. Don't mind how the pictures turn out. Try to build up a routine in approaching the strangers. Go out 4 times allways coming back with photos of 5 different strangers. Don't be too picky about the people you ask.
Step two: Headshots (20 next strangers)
Take tightly framed headshots, because they are compotionwise easy. All you have to do is to get your subject relax. Concentrate on this for the next 20 shots. Learn to talk with strangers while taking photos, try different tricks to make them feel more comfortable. Again, go out 4 times (2-3 hours each) to get the 20 strangers on film. Don't be too picky on whom to photograph, it's not the time yet.
Step three: Waist up -portraits - Start to pay attention to surroundings (20 next shots)
OK, now start to work on harder compositions. Try to find interesting locations to take photos. You've learned to approach them, how to get them relaxed -n ow try if you can keep up being social AND paying attention to composing an image at the same time.
That's it, you're free to try out new ideas for the last 40 shots.
You've built your routine, now start developing on it. Try to talk people into strange poses. Get picky, choose only really interesting people and places to shoot. The sky is the limit. Remember you can always go back to steps 1, 2 or 3 to do a little bit of repetition to touch up your basic skills.
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip #10 for shooting 100 strangers assignment: A good way to get a nice photo is to find an interesting place/background/setting first and then wait for somebody to walk by and ask him/her to be your model. You can use this in your pick-up line as well: "I've found a perfect place, and now I need you to help me. Would you pose for me, please."
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip #11 for shooting 100 strangers assignment: After each session do a little self-evaluation. Take two minutes to think what you said and how the people reacted. Why did they say yes or why didn't they want to have their picture taken? Could you improve your output? How? Try to learn as much as possible from your successes and defeats.
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip #12 for shooting the 100 strangers assignment: adams k said it well on the group discussion board: "Basically you have to convince yourself that it is the most normal thing on the planet of talking to strangers and taking their picture. That way the other person will take your view on it and relax."
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip #13 for shooting 100 strangers assignment: It strikes me I haven't said the most basic tip yet: smile! (I'll get back to gestures and attitudes later on, but this will do for tip 13.)
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip #14 for shooting the 100 strangers assignment: You don't always have to start the conversation by asking for a permission to take a photo. If it is more natural to start chatting by talking about the weather of fishing, go ahead. Ask for the permission later.
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip # 16 for shooting the 100 strangers assignment: Make your model feel like she/he is special. Say "You look like you would be a great model" or "You'd be a perfect model for this shot".
If somebody neglects to being photographed, don't ask a person that has seen the situation. It makes him/her feel he/she is only the second best option for a model.
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip #17 for shooting 100 strangers assignment: If somebody says "no" when you ask for permission to take photos, it's not a catastrophe. If they haven't been outright hostile, I've kept on talking with people for a while after they've neglected my proposals. This habit has definitely improved my skill in handling (shy) people - some change their mind after getting to know me a little better, but the conversations always help me to understand the way people look at the world, photography and other people.
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip #18 for shooting the 100 strangers assignment: Have fun. The more you enjoy talking with strangers and taking photos, the easier it becomes to take good shots. When you're relaxed, they relax.
Posted 18 months ago.
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Tip #19 for shooting 100 strangers assignment: This is an addition to Richard's tip about practicing without your camera: Ask the people you're photographing to take a photo of you. It's a nice piece of interaction that can really loosen the atmosphere. And an idea well worth it's own project: 100 strangers taking a photo of me, with my camera.
Posted 18 months ago.
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L8o sent me an invitation to join this Group. The idea intrigued me & here I am.
I find, not every photo in the pool carries a serial no. After a little experimenting, I have started to add a line to my posted photos : “This is my X / 100 strangers”. I hope it complies with the group rules.
Posted 18 months ago.
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Discussion: Any tips for backing out when you just know someone is going to say no?
Posted 17 months ago.
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Discussion: How to get beyond the snap and move along approach?
Posted 17 months ago.
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Here's a tip for beginners (like me): for the first few strangers, find people who not only look friendly, but who are on their own and look like they've got a bit of time to spare. Then you don't have an audience and they're more likely to give you a bit of time and chat in a relaxed way.
Posted 17 months ago.
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