MMOOOOoooooo

Moo Cards. The coolest thing since sliced bread in the business card world. When I upgraded my flickr account to pro status (no that has nothing to do with my skill level, it just means unlimited storage capacity), they gave me 10 free Moo Cards as a promotion...actually there were 9, the 10th card was a reminder to order more! In a nutshell, it's like using any image (photograph, graphic image, crayon drawing, whatever) as a business card. You upload said image as the front of the card, and then you can add whatever text you want on the reverse side. Ingenious. For photographers it's even sweeter in that they'll let you upload any of your photographs straight from your online album or off your computer. What better business card for a photographer than one of your own images!

So almost immediately after receiving the "10" promotional cards, I went ahead and ordered a box of 100. I needed something to give people I photograph and I don't have any regular business cards. I needed something with my name, my email, and the address to my flickr site, so that people could find the photos I took of them if they so wanted to. More importantly, when I came across people I wanted to photograph, it gave me a tiny bit of legitimacy as a photographer if I could give them a card while talking them into letting me photograph them :) ...tricked ya!

Anyways, after starting the 100 Strangers project, I really do need something to give people. After photographing my Strangers I'll give them a card and let them know to check the website in a couple days to see their portraits. Sometimes they ask before I can give them a card. It beats having to write it down for them or asking them for an email so you can send it to them.

But now I'm starting to run out of cards and need to order new ones. I'm not actually out yet, but the ones I have left look like doodoo and don't really want to give them to people. The format for the Moo Cards is about half the size of a regular business card, cut lengthwise, so it's slim looking. Given those dimensions, what may look decent as a photograph may not always look good as a Moo Card. So the ones I have left fall into that second category. Small details (wide angle photos) don't really stand out in Moo format. Larger graphic like photos and bold colours seem to work best.

So this time around I'm trying to pay more attention to the photos I use. These are the ones that I've shortlisted. Some are from the first box, ones that I really liked and want to keep using. The rest are from newer photos, so we'll see how those look. And as I go along, I'll keep all the ones that work well in a set so I'll have easy access to them when I need more. The company is based somewhere in the UK and cards seem to take about 2 weeks to arrive in the mail. So I'm ordering tonight before I run out.

Portraits of Aoife

Portrait shots of a new friend Aoife. Very interesting name, it's pronounced ee-fa. I forgot to ask her if it means anything. She's originally from Ireland, but grew up in various countries in Europe, Germany and Switzerland are the only two I can remember.

Super cool girl, and like all Irish, very friendly. When I dropped her off at home after shooting, it turned out that she and her boyfriend live in a building that I've always wanted to get into, an apartment complex converted from an old warehouse. Large metal panelled windows, exposed brick and hardwood floors. I've been interested in finding an inside connection because it would make a great shoot location.

Since I have always wanted to look around one of the units, she invited me in and I ended up having tea with her and her boyfriend. Irish hospitality.

We took these shots at the Wellington Botanical Gardens in the late afternoon during the week. I left work an hour early in hopes of catching a bit of the magic hour light. A little earlier would've been better, but there was just enough left to snap off a few shots.

I wanted to get some twilight shots with Aoife, but it wasn't one of the warmer summer evenings in Wellington and she was getting cold, so we just packed it in. I'm still in the process of going through all her photos, so I'll add more as I go along. And you may notice a new slightly annoying watermark running through all these images....Roger Wong Roger Wong Roger Wong... just taking some extra precautions these days on uploaded images. In the end though, if someone wants to swipe something, they're going to take it regardless.

The botanical gardens were perfect because nobody else was around! A few people walking through on the footpaths off to the sides, but other than that, nobody on the lawn...the people on the footpath didn't even stop to check us out. Usually people will stop for a bit to see if the model is some famous actress/singer/celebrity.

Trying a sort of cross processed look.

A typical looking headshot, using a reflector (gold side) for some warm fill light on the side of her face.

Some fun on the lawn...lying down on my stomach getting the worm's eye view.

Cropped square cause I'm in love with the 6x6 format of the Mamiya. I did take a few pictures of Aoife with it, but I still have to get them developed! You remember developing film don't you? :)

I tried a few poses of her playing with her hair. It wasn't until we were all done that she told me she doesn't like the way she looks with her hair behind her ears...haha...oops. I like the way they came out though...haven't asked her what she thinks of them yet, we'll see...

Same series as the first image but slightly different framing 'in camera', and tweaking the post process. I think I like these tones more and it shows the highlights in her hair better.

Testing some other shots in black and white.

100 Strangers

It's all about the people we don't know...yet. 100 Strangers is an online photo project, based off a flickr group by the same name. The concept is simple, shoot street portraits of 100 people you've never met before. Get up close and personal, no candid or stealth shots from miles away with a big zoom where they have no clue you're even pointing a camera at them. You gotta get up into their personal space and engage them. Have a small conversation with them. You don't need to know their date of birth and social security number, but enough of a conversation that you walk away knowing 'something' about them.

These are my Strangers. I'm only posting their portrait shots and their basic information, but you can read their full descriptions in more detail in my 100 Strangers set on flickr, you can also see alternate pictures of them in my 100 Strangers Alternates set. To see Strangers from other participating photographers, check here, or skip that and just check out the more interesting submissions as filtered by the group administrators here.

As I work to complete the 100 portraits, I'll keep adding them to this blog entry. Ya, that's gonna end up being one loooooong post by the time I'm done, but I figure it's better to keep them all together. Here we go!

Stranger Number 1: Bailey Tuiomanufili. The surname is Samoan, but her family lives in Wellington. Student and hardcore rower (ie. sculling).

Stranger Number 2: Dimitar Dimitrov from Bulgaria. He is a waiter aboard the newest Cunard Lines cruise ship the Queen Victoria.

Stranger Number 3: "KJ". KJ is Kiwi but lives and works in London as an IT Lawyer. She's currently in New Zealand on a one month vacation visiting family and friends.

Stranger Number 4: Mike Cochrane from Auckland, NZ. Computer Software Programmer, and avid ocean distance swimmer.

Stranger Number 5: Ali Tutamahori of the Ngati One One Maori tribe.


Stranger Number 6: Lorraine and Allen of Wellington. Lorraine is an employee of ANZ Bank and Allen is retired. The day I took their photo was also their 35th wedding anniversary!


Stranger Number 7: Richard from Wellington, Pharmacist. Having an afternoon coffee with Alex (below).


Stranger Number 8: Alex from Wellington, Property Lawyer. She was having afternoon coffee with Richard (above). They live in the neighbourhood and this new cafe is now a favourite of theirs.


Stranger Number 9: Amy Lumsden from UK, traveller. On a global vacation for 1 year, she's been in Wellington for the past 5 or 6 months.


Stranger Number 10: Anja Beintker from Germany, Architecture student at The University of Applied Sciences in Leipzig. On vacation in Wellington for a couple months before returning to Leipzig to complete her fourth and final year of her studies.

Stranger Number 11: Holly from Wellington. Studying Law in university and enjoying pomegranate truffles.

Stranger Number 12: Nick Ponniah from Wellington. Born in Malaysia, but after living in Wellington for 17 years considers New Zealand home. Studying Law and Commerce in university.


Stranger Number 13: Lozz from Australia. She's a Circus Performer in the Gravity and Other Myths show. She specializes in Duo Silks, Duo Trapeze, Arials, and Adagio.


Stranger Number 14: Daniel Lee Smith from Christchurch. Like Stranger #13 he's also a Circus Performer in the Gravity and Other Myths show. His specialties are Arials, Acrobatics and the Triple Rope act.


Stranger Number 15: Helen from from Nelson, a Conservation Biologist specializing in Marine Mammals. Her favourite marine mammal is the New Zealand Sea Lion found on the South Island.


Stranger Number 16: Oliver Wilson from Wellington. High school student and rugby player. Works in his dad's comic book store, but ironically doesn't like comics :)


Stranger Number 17: Vanessa from Auckland/Wellington. Props Master for Dreamworks New Zealand (DWNZ), working on Avatar and The Lovely Bones. She's actually working on the same films as I am, but just a different side of production. Her office is about a 2 minute walk around the corner from me :)


Stranger Number 18: This is "El Jefe" from Lyall Bay. Obviously not his real name. Avid surfer, Jiu Jitsu student, and owner of an urban clothing store in Wellington. I think he looks like Vinnie Jones :)


Stranger Number 19: Karyn Taylor from Dunedin, an Installation Artist and Tango Instructor. She currently has a work being shown in the Dunedin Fringe Festival based on 7 booths of colour and sound, representing the 7 Chakras.


Stranger Number 20: This is Nicky Samuels from Whangarei, Professional Triathlete and Beijing Olympic Hopeful. She's competing against her training partner for the third and final position on the 2008 New Zealand Women's Triathlon team. It all comes down to one race at the end of March in Mooloolaba, Australia. Good luck Nicky!


Stranger Number 21: Jenny from New Zealand, another Professional Triathlete.


Strangers Number 22: Bob and Charlie Symon. Bob works for ANZ Bank in the Computer IT department, managing the team that handles ATM and EFTPOS software.


Strangers Number 23: Baly from Auckland and Mothla from Hamilton. University Students studying Graphic Design and Law, Politcs, and French respectively.


Stranger Number 24: Taraka from Melbourne, Business Analyst.


Stranger Number 25: Laura Brophy originally from Sydney but moved to Melbourne 6 months ago, University Student studying Psychology.


Stranger Number 26: Kate Myers originally from Wellington, but moved to Melbourne 1 month ago, University Student studying Fashion Business.


Stranger Number 27: Colin from Melbourne, Lolli Maker at Suga.


Stranger Number 28: Stef Brooke from Melbourne, an Arts Major in university, pictured here working as Event Staff at the 2008 Formula1 Australian GP.


Stranger Number 29: This is Murray Paternoster from Melbourne, University Student studying Outdoor Education, and Carer at the 2008 Formula1 Australian GP.


Strangers Number 30: This is Sain Kennedy from Melbourne, a Sign Writer, and Jacinda Smith from New Castle, a Waitress. Seen here watching "So You Think You Can Dance Australia" on the giant outdoor television in Federation Square.

Stranger Number 31: Mark Galloway from Wellington, Tenor Saxophonist in the Jazz trio "Finger Snappin' Goodness".

Stranger Number 32: Michael from Auckland, Double Bassist in "Finger Snappin' Goodness" and Bass Guitarist in the Kiwi rock band "Supermodel".

Stranger Number 33: Cliff Leatherbarrow from Wellington, part time Substitute Teacher for Primary School, part time Music Teacher for guitar and bass guitar, and part time Musician...Guitarist in "Finger Snappin' Goodness".

Stranger Number 34: Anna from all over the world. Originally from Chicago she's on a worldwind tour riding on the back of her yoga mat...and a damn fine pianist as well!

Stranger Number 35: Yoshifumi Kono from Ishikawa, Japan. Chef and Team Leader at Wagamama noodle house in Wellington.