Dollar Portraits

On my way home one day I ran into a very pretty girl reading a newspaper. I approached her for a portrait. I don't recall my exact words but it went something like this, "Please don't think I'm a psycho but..." As I approach people on the street some of them look at me with this frightened look so I begin with that line. I'm building an arsenal of lines and reading people very quickly. I won't pretend I get them all right and some will always say no despite anything I say.

One thing I can count on is friends. They never say no and if they do I'll make them turn around and wish me luck. I had a couple of ideas for portraits that don't include the face of those special people that are worried their soul will be stolen. One is crossing fingers behind their back and the other... you'll have to wait and see.

I'm happy to report that I've reached my first hundred dollars with your generous support. Whether you donated your portrait or just donated some money, please accept my thanks. I hope to take many more portraits and maybe some of your money too. ;)

Last Sunday I went to cover a social even known as the Zombie Lurch. Throughout the world in major cities people gather, apply zombie make up and walk around the streets looking for brains to eat. Well not quiet but they do walk around the streets and pose for any photographer with their most fear enducing look they can muster. The Sydney turnout this year was lower than normal so they called off the walk but still gathered at Hyde Park and had a ball. I left early and didn't take any photos unfortunately.

I did however walk around Hyde Park and shot 2 rolls. One was a Fuji Neopan 400 and the other a Fuji Astia 100F. I'm really pleased with the Astia colours. Medium Format slide film looks amazing. No scan can do it justice but I tried to represent the natural colours as much as possible.

It's a long weekend here in Sydney and I thought I'd kick it off on Friday afternoon with a stroll around Hyde Park. I had two rolls of Fuji Neopan 400 in 120 format with me and managed to shoot most of the first one on the way there. Mind you, before I left work 4 people were gracious enough to let me shoot their portrait so I did get a nice head start. Thanks guys. :)

On the way to Hyde Park I met two interesting people. One was an MX employee. They're the ones you see all over the city handing out the free newspaper in the afternoons. He took an interest in my project as he has lost a loved one to cancer. I'm sure the further along I get with this project the more I'll meet. He asked me to come past that corner some afternoon to collect a donation as he didn't have anything on him at the time.

The Lugarno Lions Club holds a Spring fair each year. I've been going because my car club holds their yearly concourse there among a bunch of other car clubs. It's a great day out and it really is held at a great time of the year as the weather in Sydney is just warming up enough to be comfortable in jeans or shorts and you know Summer is just around the corner.

I was there today with my Yashica Mat 124G taking portraits of a variety of people. There were all sorts of characters but I only took a few portraits. I just finished developing the roll and it's drying as I type. I'll get some scans done either tonight or tomorrow.

I wanted to thank Paul whose portrait I took. He donated $20 and as he said, 'It's for a good cause'. I also received a donation from Michael for $2. Those two donations along with the few portraits I need to donate for will take us to $30. Not a bad start.