- BLOG -
Guest Speaker
Recently, I have been surprised beyond believe if i’m honest. I have been asked to be a guest speaker at one of the Photography Club meetings in Falkirk, Scotland next October (2020).
The reason and subject of my presentation is “Photograph a stranger Project”. I am presuming you have already heard about my work in this field, but if you haven’t, then please go ahead and read all about it here. You will find on this page aside of detailed interview and all the photographs, two videos (one in English and one in Polish) if you prefer my talking out loud about the entire experience. :)
The project was widely applauded and admired for its consistency and commitment, followed by 4 page long publication in one of the most popular American photography magazines “Summerana Magazine”.
On my instagram account: @mkcphotography.uk I have been systematically posting every photograph. That is one person per day for a year. You can find numerous of InstaStories in the Highlights.
Needless to say that I am extremely excited for this event. I couldn’t be more honoured for the appreciation and opportunity to stand up and talk about one of the most committing self-set goals that I have happily and successfuly completed.
Photograph a stranger project
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OF A PROJECT I HEARD SOME QUESTIONS THAT WERE RATHER REPEATING THEMSELVES SO I THOUGHT, CLEARLY THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE CURIOS ABOUT. LATELY I ALSO ASKED MY FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM TO LEAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT. I’VE GATHERED EVERYTHING SO HERE AND NOW I PROVIDE THE ANSWERS :). ENJOY THE READ AND LET ME KNOW WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT IT IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. <3 DID I PHOTOGRAPH YOU?
I would like to thank my amazing boyfriend who was supporting me in this project throughout its entire time. :)
(NA SAMYM DOLE ZNAJDUJE SIE FILM W WERSJI POLSKIEJ :)
HOW IT ALL STARTED?
I think it all started with a new camera. Last summer (that is the summer of 2018) I bought a Nikon d500 which replaced my Nikon d3300. And just like that my desire to photography reborn. I was in real ‘need’ to photograph people. Harassing my friends and family was not enough. I thought that there must be a better way to get people to model for me. At one point I thought about posting in a facebook group (for models and photographers)l, but something didn’t feel right. In our current world there is plenty of reasons why you would like to avoid some online groups, so I haven’t. All that was quick thinking, a process or a road if you wish. Simply, I was trying to figure out how can I practice and get my social media flow more frequent. In other words, create some consistent content. Aaaaaandd I left it like that.
At some point at time.. - I’m not sure when exactly, but in the meantime anyway - I noticed a movie on Netflix called “Julia&Julie”. I had never heard about it before, but because I like Meryl Streep and few other actors in it - I watched it. And it mesmerised me! It was a very pleasant, family movie. Apart from the story that I liked on its own, I absolutely LOVED what the movie was about. If you haven’t seen it - I strongly recommend it. I don’t want to spoil anything if you haven’t heard about it before, so let me just tell you this - it was a huge inspiration for what I did next.
You see, I have that habit of watching something on youtube in a background when I am getting ready to bed. One night I came across video by Jessica Kobeissi - photograph a stranger (the link to this video -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psaY0JrDkDk) and it grabbed my entire attention. I thought - OMG! THIS IS IT! That is absolutely IT! BRILLIANT IDEA - That is what I want to do -> This is what I WILL do!
I started planning the entire thing. Some of the questions that I was asking myself were: Can I publish photographs of random people? How to take a picture of a person that I will for sure not get kicked in a bum for doing it? How can I make sure no one will break out the argument for “don’t take a photo of me! / do not dare to use them”, etc. What will the photos look like? Will they be any good? I was looking for the answers online and apparently, you CAN take a photograph of a person in a public without their knowledge and post it, BUT I didn’t want the risk it, because of other stuff that I mentioned. Not only it would be super unpleasant, but I knew for sure, it would result in ending the project and probably cave me more instead of develop.
(One of the biggest challenges for me is the fact that I can be super shy :D - I thought that it would be FANTASTIC exercise to overtake the fear of talking to people. English is not my first language and even though I graduated University I am not using it without frequent and rather stupid mistakes - this makes me very nervous to talk to strangers or in front of the group if I have to speak in English.)
Finally, the last motivation was desire for exposure. I thought that if I come across so many people I will give away some of my business cards, people will start following me on social media and eventually will get in touch - at least some.
WHY 365?
Most projects of photograph a stranger are set for a hundred (100) of people. Perhaps perversely to what I mentioned above I actually knew that if I will start doing it I will achieve this - 100 in no time. So, after the movie “Julia&Julie” the idea of having something ongoing for a year was simply ‘cool’ and I wanted a task, that will keep me focused for a longer period. The last thing is that I imagined myself in a year ahead (which is now) - and I was happy and proud that I DID IT (a whole year). I hate the feeling of failure, so that was keep me going.
WHO WAS YOUR TARGET? HOW DID YOU DECIDE WHO TO ASK?
Anyone! I was trying to focus on anyone above 18 years old (I did not want to deal with complications in case someone was underage). I hope everyone was. There were days that I have been walking around for ages (that’s how it felt at least), passing street after street and not being able to ask anyone, sometimes it was a matter of catching quick eye contact, sometimes it was just a roulette on “the feeling” that the person will be nice ;) and open enough that will let me take a picture of him/her. Once I took that first photo it was much easier to ask the next person. Once I asked few people I was in a motion for getting those photos done.
HOW OFTEN WERE YOU TAKING PICTURES?
Realistically, I knew from the start I will not be able to go out in the city to take pictures every day. Think about it. A YEAR of photos.. Holidays, celebrations, events, going away, days with the family, hangovers, other projects, other photoshoots, another editing bonanza..and so on. In my opinion and this realistic vision it was IMPOSSIBLE to do it that way. Ok. Maybe not that it was impossible impossible, but knowing myself - it was impossible for me. I decided then to take few photos in advance to start with. The very first time I asked my ‘strangers’ for a photographs was on my way home from another photoshoot. I asked several people that night, so I could be prepared in advance for at least a week. I was actually scared of a break. I was worrying that something will happen that I won’t be able to go and take the pictures and I will have holes in the project. That was actually my biggest fear about it. Happily that didn’t happen. First few times I was taking only few photos to cover a week. My daughter was taking guitar lessons on Saturdays morning in the city centre and I was working on the project during this time. Then I changed formula. I was travelling to the city in different days when I needed and by accident I manage to get more and more of them at one go. First time when that happened I covered - almost 3 weeks! It was a great feeling :) Amazing actually. Feeling of security - I won’t run out of photos - security. After that I was going once a month. I walked around the city for 1-2h and coming home with around 30 days worth of pictures.
POSING. YES? NO? WHY?
I know that it would look much more interesting if I would at least pose everyone to take more street - fashion kind of photo. (Think about it..I could build up a great portfolio that way! :D ) If not posing, then maybe candid photos - capture everyones real emotions. However, the idea was overwhelming me in terms of consistency. I knew that I need 365 photos and the idea itself of getting them was already challenging enough, but to think of finding a person not only willing to have their phtoograph taken, but to feel comfortable enough to pose for me, even if it would be for only few minutes - was scary. I didn’t see it happening all at once. I wanted also to be sure that the entire project will have the same structure and that no one will have a problem with the fact I am going to post it online. Now - I think it could be possible.
HOW MANY PEOPLE SAID - NO - TO THE PHOTO?
Some. Not many. Once in a while I was thinking about the frequency and ‘on eye’ I would say that 2 on 10 people said - no. The reasons were all sorts. They didn’t have to even always give the reason, it was rather clear. Some people blushed red immediately at the thought of having their photograph taken and completely refused. Some people were in a rush (although I was trying to avoid them, I couldn’t always see that they are…but when they responded…I heard in their voice). Some people were soooo confused of what I am telling them that they preferred to stay ‘safe than sorry’ (I think) :) and declined. Others weren’t sure what I mean by ‘Stranger’, and I’ve seen on them - a worry - that maybe I am targeting their ethnicity. Several local people were telling me “you are bigger stranger than me”. The rarest reaction was looking down at me with ‘wtf- how dare you even talk to me’. Yeh, happened, but rare. Before I began this project I was ready to take a ‘no’ for an answer. I was completely aware that this will happen, therefore maybe surprisingly it completely didn’t bother me, nor discouraged.
WHAT WERE YOU SAYING TO PEOPLE AND WHY THIS?
“Hi, excuse me. I do a photograph a stranger project. Is it ok if I would take a quick photo of you?” That was the final version of what I was saying to everyone for months and months and months. I started with introducing myself..I was saying that my name Is Margaret and I do this project, etc. It felt long. I still wanted to have the element of introduction, so I changed Margaret to Gosia. It still felt long. People very rarely listened until the end - instead they were just simply shaking head/saying “no” and passing through. They were reacting to me like I would like to maybe sell something or I was one of those people that won’t let you pass them on the street without signing up to something. I was always on my own, I wasn’t very chilled out to start up some loose conversation with everyone, so I decided what I say to them have to be quick and as informative as possible before they will switch off. What I was saying..worked.
WHY CITY CENTRE? WHY (ALMOST) THE SAME AREA?
Accident really. I wasn’t planning at first that I will focus on Glasgow’s city centre only. I knew I will be going abroad in the meantime and hoped I would have some people from those places..but that didn’t happen. I didn’t even attempt, as I was too busy with the purpose of my trips. Once I had a walk around the place I live, but only once. The route was an accident. Resulted ‘in washing’. I was simply parking in the same spot and when I was walking to the city centre I was asking people on the way. After few trips I noticed that every street have their own behaviour. Argyle St was usually full of people in rush, shopping, or going back from work, etc. They looked and were reacting to me - tired. No one almost ever agreed to the photo there. However once I turned to Buchanan Street the people there were different, more leisure, more tourists, more calm enjoying their purpose there. They were more likely to have their photos taken. Buchanan Street was super easy for me to get it done. Merchant City, was very similar, BUT there was much less people as well, so I was getting them there, but much less because of that. I was looking for the situation where taking pictures would be as much invisible for others as possible. I didn’t want us to be centre of attention for crowds.
WHAT WAS I EXPECTING FROM THE PROJECT?
I was expecting to challenge and test myself. I wanted also to know how does it feel to have such big thing completed. Such a consistent task! I would lie if I said I wasn’t hoping to be slightly more popular..this didn’t really happened haha.
WHAT FOR?
An exercise I suppose. I wanted to see what happens. Simply.
WHY INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES?
First of all it is very difficult to come up with an interesting story about the person - if you haven’t really talked with, or the photo - you took as one of 5 from the same location, or a day - if you took 30 photos that day. I thought inspirational quotes would fill up the silence. Why silence wasn’t what I wanted? Let me tell you first about another project called ‘People of New York’. Similar photos to mine were posted and there was a quotation under every post which I was sure that particular person said - I don’t know that for sure, but I think so. I loved it. I loved that entire project. Made you notice individuals of such a big city. When I started however, I wasn’t asking anyone to tell me something about their life. (Maybe that would be something I would include in the structure if I would do it again.) Therefore I couldn’t do anything like that other project. Let me tell you. All the inspirational quotes..surely inspired at least - me ;) Good affirmation exercise. That’s for certain, because even if no one else did - I read them all :D ;)
HOW DO YOU FEEL AFTER COMPLETING THIS PROJECT?
Satisfied. Relieved. Happy. I feel like I can do anything I set my mind to!
WHAT CHANGED BECAUSE OF IT?
I am definitely more confident in terms of fulfilling my plans.
DID IT HELP YOU? HOW?
In some meaning - yes. I feel like I can do anything. It is a matter of confidence to make your plans to work out and I feel like I gained this confidence.
NEXT PROJECT? ANY PLANS?
Nothing similar to this one for now. I have other ongoing projects, completely different to ‘Photograph a stranger’. I am trying to expand the scale of my business at this point and let me tell you..it absorbs much more time than I expected :D
IF YOU WOULD DO IT AGAIN, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE AND WHAT YOU WOULD DO THE SAME?
Change:
-> If I would do it again, now that I know I can, that I know it is possible and I also know how people reacting I could go further and try to pose my strangers and create street fashion collection.
-> Do less, but more thought through. No need for time pressure.
-> Maybe, ask people to say some short and unique story from their live..
Keep:
-> Short introduction.
-> Location.
-> Attitude ;)
YOU CAN FIND ENTIRE GALLERY HERE.
Recently my blog was published by The Ardent Lens Magazine.
Go, give it a look: https://www.theardentlensmagazine.com/post/photograph-a-stranger-project?fbclid=IwAR0YkcHGyFE90Kd6ziqq_zQpQ0JnEAUr3YaqbivVLMcG6QC9PrPp9_-DrcA
IF YOU PREFER TO HEAR ABOUT IT:
Feel free to leave some comments below.