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.