100 STRANGERS

#9. Amanda

#9. 'People ask me that all the time.' That is, how a native Hawaiian moved from a place surrounded by oceans to Madison - far from any oceans - to study Oceanography? However, that's exactly what Amanda did.

She is in her first year of the oceanography graduate program. When I meet up with her on Memorial Union's Terrace she was reviewing some of the basics of the science. Someday she wants to work on using the ocean as a form of alternative energy, and told me that Hawaii just started doing it.

This picture is #9 in my 100 Strangers Project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100strangers.com

Also, click here to see more of my strangers.

100 STRANGERS 

#8 Ben

#8.  'Kind of a late bloomer' Ben replied when I asked him how long he's been skateboarding.  The 21 year old UW Student started 4 years ago.

When I first started talking to him Ben assumed I wanted some action shots of him and he directed me where to stand in order to get the best view.  He told me he skated "Goofy" which means his right foot is forward.

This picture is #8 in my 100 Strangers Project.  Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100strangers.com

See more of my strangers

100 STRANGERS

#7.  Travis

#7.  "Like a Leprechaun?"  Travis asked me that when I asked him if he could sit on that ledge.   I stopped him because of his awesome hat, and of course it's St. Patrick's Day.

Travis was on his work break, taking a stroll because it was so nice today.  He's a bartender at Zanders and had a couple hours to spare between shifts.

I also asked him about his shirt, if it said anything on the back.  He said no, and that his mom gave it to him.  Kind of funny.

As you can tell I'm back at this project.  I haven't posted a stranger for a while, but now I'm recommitted to this project.

This picture is #7 in my 100 Strangers Project.  Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100strangers.com

See more of my 100 Strangers

100 STRANGERS
#6. Korrin


#6. I meet Korrin in Indianapolis, but she's really from Seattle moving to Southern California. I was doing a freelance job for a motocross website - www.mxpreview.com when I met Korrin. She works for Alpinestars one of the biggest motocross boots companies.

Korrin was awesome. She seemed to enjoy the portrait shoot. She even told me about this Dolphin pose she created one night with some frineds, but she wouldn't recreate it for me. I defiantly would of posted that one if she did.

One thing I've noticed is most everybody I've photographed so far has seemed to enjoy it. I know I've got a long way to go but people have been really cool so far.

I took some awesome wide shots of Korrin showing more of the Alpinestars booth in the background, but in the end I chose this picture just because she has a beautiful smile.

I originally wanted to take more photographs of strangers in Indy but I spent so much time working that I just didn't get around to it. Oh well.

This picture is #6 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100Strangers.com

100 STRANGERS
#5. Annette

#5. I discovered this lighthouse a few miles from where I used to live when I was in college. I never knew it was there. I was taking photographs of it when I thought I really wanted to get a stranger with it. That's when Annette came running by.

She was in the middle of a 4 mile jog when I stopped her. She told me she tries to run at least once a week. Annette was very patient with me because it took some time to get the lighting right on her face.

This picture is #5 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100Strangers.com

100 STRANGERS
#4. Julie


#4. I meet Julie at the University Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Union. She was reading a book for her lit class. I went up to her because I always found it hard to study in the Union because of all the activity going on there.

When I asked Julie to model for me she did not decline. I asked her questions about herself, but she wasn't very talkative. I did find out that she was a senior graphic design major.

For this picture I asked her to keep reading. I stood on top of a chair to get this angle, probably attracting more attention to us then she may of wanted. Oh well, it got a pretty good shot.

This picture is #4 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100Strangers.com

100 STRANGERS
#3. Bob, Dave, and Colin


#3. I was hanging out with some friends at the University Wisconsin's Memorial Union when I encountered these three guys. I had told my friends about this 100 stranger project (in fact some of them saw me photographing Dawn the night before). They liked the idea and encouraged me to go up to these guys. I was hesitant at first only because I didn't think I was ready for a group of strangers. However, after the portrait session I was glad I met them as they were very interesting guys.

Bob, Dave, and Colin are 3 playwrights. They were hanging out together after seeing some of Dave's work being read that night. The guys seemed to be getting into me taking portraits of them. They were even making jokes about where these pictures were going to end up online. Bob is the chair of Playwrights Ink - a Madison area writers group. Throughout my time with them Colin would repeatedly mention how Bob was famous to the city theater, even calling him a superstar at one time. Bob, all the while, modestly denied these claims.

Colin also wanted me to let everyone know that he was in a local movie called "Mad City Chickens." I think he played Geezer #3. Anyways, if your interested the DVD release is March 10. You can find out more about the film here.


This picture is #3 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100Strangers.com

100 STRANGERS
#2. Ben

#2. Blackhawk Church has this huge atrium. It's long and skinny with a high ceiling and interesting lights. I wanted to take portraits of someone and capture this depth of the room with a wide shot. So, I waited until the atrium was almost empty hoping there would still be someone left willing to be photographed.

That's when I found Ben. He is a Blackhawk Janitor by weekend, and a Poli Sci major at the University Wisconsin by weekday. Other then his senior portraits in high school he's never done any sort of portrait shoot before.

I took a few wide shots of Ben with the depth of the atrium and some turned out well. However, I really liked this prayer pose I had him in. So, next time I go back to church I'll have to work on that depth pose with someone new.


100 STRANGERS... the idea is not original, but rather it came from a Photographer named Teppo. Check out his 100 Strangers. Also, check out the 100 Strangers group on Flicker.

100 STRANGERS
- #1. Dawn

100 STRANGERS... the idea is not original, but rather it came from a Photographer named Teppo. Check out his 100 Strangers. Also, check out the 100 Strangers group on Flicker.

The ASSIGNMENT... to take 100 different portraits of different strangers in my everyday life. Teppo started this project because he found it hard to walk up to people he didn't know and ask to take their portrait. For me, that's not a problem. I go up to strangers and film them with a video camera everyday of work.

My personal goal is to learn more about portrait photography. I think I'm great at candid moments. When it comes to directing people - telling them what to do and how to pose - I seem to struggle. After this first photo, I know I have a lot of learning to do.

#1... The first person in this series taught me the simplest lessons. Make sure to write down their name right away. I can't remember whether this ladies name is Dawn, Emily, or something completely different. So, I'm choosing to call her Dawn.

I met Dawn at Blackhawk Church after an evening service. She works as an Event Coordinator for InterVarsity, a student ministry.

I wish I spent a little more time on this shoot. I think I ended it early because I was actually nervous, and couldn't think of any more ideas as to how to pose her. I think for future, I need to say calmer.

RASCAL FLATTS