Thursday, February 10, 2011

Thematic Photographic 134 - Strangers


Teatime in...Boca?
Boca Raton, FL, December 2010

It's time to break a long-held photographic rule, the one that says you may not shoot strangers without their permission. Because to do so opens up a whole new layer of interpersonal complexity, with release forms and potentially irate mothers-in-law defining the two edges of the spectrum.

Since I began shooting, I've stayed away from pointing my lens at people I don't know. I couldn't be bothered with the hassle of obtaining permission, of explaining why, of being accused, in this litigious age, of being a stalker.

But something, perhaps a none-too-little dose of mischief, came over me while we were down south. Perhaps it was the total lack of structure, or the fact that I was out with the boys and we were in a grand adventure mood. But as we sat on a bench in the middle of the mall, this scene played out in the store before us. Before I knew it, my shutter finger was twitching.

Whether I should or shouldn't have taken the shot is almost immaterial now...I'm rolling the dice and posting it here because I like the result. My non-guilt notwithstanding, I was pleased to see that service still lives in the world of retail.

Your turn: You know the drill (if you don't, click here.) Shoot a stranger - with a lens, please - and post it to your blog. Drop a comment here, and share the joy with other participants by visiting their entries, too. Repeat. Drag your mother-in-law into the fray, because you know she secretly wants to take pictures of total strangers, too. Have fun with it, as we'll be getting ourselves into trouble with this one for the next week.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Laughing myself silly with your caveat "with a lens, please". I'll see what I can do.

*quietly slips the Beretta back out of sight*

Anonymous said...

Awright. Mine's up... and I'm still chuckling.

There's something pretty darn funny about those unexpected "stranger" shots. Throw in a maximum security prison and you've got yourself a recipe that's good for laughs for years to come.

kenju said...

I'll see what I can do....lol. Since I am working this week, it could be a good theme.

fredamans said...

I went somewhere else. Hope you still find it fitting.

http://fredamans.blogspot.com/2011/02/thematic-photographic-strangers.html

21 Wits said...

He looks impressive like Mr. Business, the girl I'm not so sure about... Anyway strangers away...check them out!

http://twincitiesblather.blogspot.com/2011/02/thematic-photographic-134-strangers.html

Smitha said...

here is mine. Check out.. Who knows, you might wanna pack your bags and go!!

Bob Scotney said...

Lawyers and police go together in my post this week;

http://bobscotney.blogspot.com/2011/02/strangers-thematic-photography.html

dennisthemennis.co.uk said...

what a great subject, challenging too.

Here is Mine

A Paperback Writer said...

Here's my first one. It's good for a chuckle, I think.

http://apaperbackwriter.blogspot.com/2011/02/photo-non-contest-134-strangers.html

Cathy said...

My link:

http://nccathy1.blogspot.com/2011/02/thematic-photographic-134-strangers.html

hapzydeco said...

Carmi, yesterday while out looking for ducks to photograph saw this woman cross-country skiing on the other side of the Owasco Lake outlet. On impulse took her picture. Checked your meme this morning thought why not.

me said...

its far too cold for me to venture forth to take a photo of a stranger, i will simply have to enjoy all of your strangeness...i mean strangers.

Vicki said...

Strangers ... eh??
I had to hunt, but I think these might work.

http://vickijf.blogspot.com/2011/02/strangers-thematic-photographic-134.html

Betty said...

Good shot.
I gave up good manners a couple of years ago and have enjoyed capturing strangers unawares since.

http://lavendersblue-betty.blogspot.com/2011/01/sitting.html

A Paperback Writer said...

And here's one more set from me:

http://apaperbackwriter.blogspot.com/2011/02/photo-non-contest-134-strangers-part-2.html

Alexia said...

Love your shot and the instructions therewith!
My stranger pics are here

hope bodwell said...

Great theme! My first time...a virgin thematic photog! Thanks for letting me share! http://hopebodwell.blogspot.com/

Max Sartin said...

Now that I've got mine taken care of, I get to check out all of yours. That's at least half the fun.

Max Sartin said...

Here's my second one.
Strange Stranger

Juniper said...

Windswept stranger

Max Sartin said...

Ok, one more. then I'm done.
New Roommates

Mark said...

I'm a bit late to the game, but this is my first time participating. Your Gramma post in this round reminded me of one I shot in Memphis.

http://blog.markwill.com/2011/02/12/thematic-photographic-134-strangers

Mark said...

One more try, this time because the link didn't automatically format as a link.

Strangers

Mark said...

Carmi, please forgive me for that dead link, and remove it if you can. Here it is, double and triple-checked.

Strangers

Boy, I'm really blowing it on my first time in this Thematic Photographic thing.

Cathy said...

One more...

http://nccathy1.blogspot.com/2011/02/thematic-photographic-more-strangers.html

Somewhere round about said...

Stranger eh?

Maybe this counts even though the face is obscured? We were waiting for a tube train in London this weekend....

( i don't quite have your nerve!)

Somewhere round about said...

oh and here....

21 Wits said...

A huge hug for you today, (can you feel it) and along with it, a second offering of stranger

http://twincitiesblather.blogspot.com/2011/02/thematic-photographic-134-strangers_14.html

srp said...

My brother helped me out with this one too... he really gets around... this time... Geneva.

Chibi Janine said...

Here is my contribution for this weeks theme

Unknown said...

Yes! taking photos of strangers is a definite conundrum! I have posted one of my favourite photos of a stranger. It was a public place, people snapping photos everywhere, and it is really hard to "identify" the person in the picture, but I still feel a bit guilty about putting it out there.

http://randomoutrageous.blogspot.com/2011/02/strangers.html

Alexia said...

Had to have a second go at this theme:
More Strangers

Smitha said...

One more from me..

This was also taken a while back.
I give my being in office the whole day, mon-fri as excuse for putting old pics. or may be I'm just lazy :P

Chibi Janine said...

Here are some more of my train related strangers

marina said...

Here are "my" strangers