Dollar Portraits

From time to time I'm reminded that what I do here reaches people. Yesterday was one of those times when I received an email from a recent migrant to Sydney. He had discovered my site through APUG which is an analog photography community I take part in. He expressed his concern at walking up to strangers and asking for their portraits but took great comfort in seeing my success and felt confident enough to try it himself. He told me he was going to go out today to do some shooting with his film camera and I wish him all the best. One more person out on the streets saying hi to a stranger in an all too busy city can't be all that bad!

His email prompted me to get started on something I've been meaning to do for a while. An evolving guide to taking street portraits. I say evolving because I'm certainly no expert and I plan on adding to it as I learn more. It won't be all technical photography stuff. I will concentrate on how to pick subjects, approach people, opening lines and body language as well as some of the photography skills required to make a quick portrait work in an environment you have little control over.