21. Dani

Walking through the city, looking for a stranger to meet, a pattern of places has emerged where I am likely to find someone to talk to. I try to widen my circles every once in a while, but whenever it is getting late, and the cold makes my eyes water, I tend to fall back to the old trails.

I met Dani on Bahnhofstrasse, where there are usually many nice people - who usually don't have much time. He had just been to the cinema and was on his way home, but decided to take the time to get to know me. We went to the lounge of the local vegetarian restaurant, and ordered coffee and fruit juice at the bar. I was fascinated by Dani's background and his development from commercial pilot to art therapist - and by his current project, kaCHIna.

Conditions in the lounge were difficult, with colored lights throwing odd shadows. I took 10 pictures, and had a hard time deciding which one to use. I finally settled for a cropped version of a technically unsatisfactory shot, that nonetheless shows Dani how I saw him - thoughtful, open-minded and fun to be around.

Dani: thanks for your curiosity and your insights, and may kaCHIna have the success that this brilliant idea deserves!

20. Franske

Here's my latest recipe for having a good time:
1. Meet a Belgian
2. Go to a pub that serves trappist brew
3. Talk shop

I had already been walking through the city for quite a while, and was about to make a couple of passes through the old town, where so far I had had the most luck finding someone to talk to at this time of night. Franske was on the way back to his hotel when I approached him, and - after I had repeated my introduction in English - was instantly ready to go for a drink with me. With our jobs in IT as a common background, there was an immediate rapport; we had a long, interesting and highly pleasant conversation - so much so, that when the café we were in closed for the day, we decided to continue our chat in a place that serves Belgian beer.

I took six portrait shots, and have selected the very first one - showing Franske's curiosity and directness.

Franske: thanks for the chat, and all the best - we'll meet again!

19. Lara

There are days when people only seem to move in packs (and while it is possible for me to approach groups, it is much harder to form a relationship and take portrait photos if my focus of attention is divided). Today was one of those days, and what's more the few solitary passers-by were all on their way to meet up with friends and form a flock. I had already given up hope and experimented on a self-portrait, when I decided to ask one more person.

That person turned out to be Lara. She was sitting on a bench at a nearby tram-stop, and reading a book. When I explained about Meet a Stranger a Day, she was genuinely interested, but since it was late and she was on her way home, and it was cold and trams come in 15 minute intervals at this time of the night, she was reluctant to miss the one which was just pulling in. We decided that I could take the tram to the end of the line with her and barely made it in the doors in time.

The ensuing chat was short - we arrived all too soon at the terminus. But in the little time that we had, we managed to gain a good overview over each others personality. Whether it is in a pub or outside, there is always a sense of being watched when I start taking pictures of my vis-à-vis; but in the tram I had much more of a feeling of playing for an audience - which might have kept us from delving into deeper topics even had there been more time.

I took eight pictures, in which Lara shows a lively and humorous set of expressions; the one I've selected best captures her wonderful laugh.

Lara: thanks for your spontaneity and cheerful attitude - you've saved tonight's post!

18. Gidi

Due to today's full schedule, I had my cello with me when I went out to meet a stranger tonight. I had expected people's reactions to be considerably different: being approached by a camera-wielding stranger is weird enough, but I would have expected a cello case on my back to give the situation a distinctly surreal character. As it turned out, there was no perceivable change in people's attitudes; if anything, I must have looked even more harmless.

It was getting late - nearly to the point where meeting a stranger would have made me late for rehearsal - when I met Gidi. He listened to all of my pitch, and without apparent hesitation agreed to go for a drink with me. Having grown up in the french part of switzerland, his german was much better than my french, and so our conversation was held predominantly in german. Gidi was a good listener, asking just the right questions in the right moment, and at the same time he was unafraid to talk about himself. Later on, we walked to the train station together; and once again I realize that the trust and depth of our conversation grew as we were walking.

I took 16 pictures while we were talking, and have selected one that was taken near the middle of our time in Café Zähringer. It shows Gidi from his thoughtful and calm side.

Gidi: thanks for your time and your interest - and all the best with your studies and your travels!

17. Self-portrait

No portrait today. It had to happen at some stage - there were always going to be the days where I could not find anybody to have a chat with. Today I was late getting started, and when - after several tries - I was turned away in a particularly nice and encouraging way, I decided to quit on that positive note, call it a day and grant myself some much-needed beauty sleep.

I also decided that whenever I found nobody to meet all day, I would compensate with a self-portrait - starting today with a long-exposure shot. If you can't see me walk through the picture above, try looking for my feet.

16. Francesca

Talking to a stranger can be liberating - the likelihood of meeting again by chance is so small, that issues you would be embarrassed to share with your colleagues may lose their taboo. This fact is particularly pronounced when travelers meet, two people on their way to somewhere else, sharing a moment's confidence.

When I approached Francesca, she was on her way home from a literary reading, waiting for her tram and looking at the local confectionery's display. She seemed intrigued by the idea of Meet a Stranger a Day, and when I had explained the project in more detail she accepted my invitation to a cup of hot chocolate. We walked the rest of the way to Zurich's most ornate and flowery café, and had a long and interesting conversation; she told me about her travels and we philosophized on the nature of conversations between strangers. I was intrigued by Francesca's animated past, and by the serene optimism with which she was looking toward her future.

During our chat I took 23 pictures. Francesca showed many facets of her personality; the photo above shows that thoughtful confidence that in my eyes stands for the essence of her character.

Francesca: thanks for your insights and your acute questions, and all the best for your studies!

15. L.

Happy Chinese New Year, everyone! We've just returned from a new-year's eve dinner party, and since most of my blood is needed in my stomach right now to help digest all that delicious good fortune I've ingested, there is a definite lack of it in my brain - which is why today's entry is a bit shorter than usual.

I met L. by the lake, where she was taking a stroll with her baby daughter. I took most of the photographs right where we met; afterwards we walked together for a quarter of an hour, and talked. It is remarkable how different the rhythm of a conversation becomes when it takes place during a promenade; there is more space for pauses that might be considered awkward in a stationary situation, there is less eye contact, but - possibly - more trust.

I was impressed by L.'s strength and self-confidence, and by the apparent ease with which she combines the life of a successful business-woman with that of a caring mother (and in case this sounds sexist to you, dear reader: I believe that feat to be just as difficult to achieve for a man).
Of the twelve photos taken, I've selected the one that shows L. from her most direct side, approachable and friendly.

L.: Thank you for your time; I wish you and your family all the good fortune in the world!


On a clear day you can see the alps in the distance.

14. Lola

In the course of the last two weeks, I've developed a ritual: every day, as I go out to meet a stranger, I start by trying to capture the mood of the city on a couple of pictures. It might be a shot of the city by night, or a close-up of a fountain, or the unusual contents of a shop-window that catches my eye. This helps me get into the right frame of mind, and reminds me which way up the camera should be held. I've decided to add one shot of each of these daily warm-up exercises to the end of each day's post.

I met Lola and her partner in the old town, on their way to a club. They agreed to let me hold them up for a while, and we went to a nearby bar. While our chat was initially relaxed and casual, I inadvertently steered it towards a topic that for Lola had a more somber quality. From that point on, though we had a thoughtful and serious discussion, I failed to make her feel as comfortable as I had hoped to.

The 15 pictures taken during our conversation show Lola with a wide range of emotion and expression; friendly, engaging, funny. The one I have selected for today's post best portrays her in that thoughtful mood with which I walked away from our exchange.

What I need to learn:
Improve difficult lighting situations with an external flash.

Lola: thanks for your trust and your time - I hope you went on to have a lovely evening!


Church spire, photographed from the unlit side.

13. Haps

If I had thought that I had seen this winter's worst weather, I was sadly mistaken. Conditions worsened just as I was getting ready to embark on today's search for a stranger, with a harsh, cold wind blowing and a deluge of sleet and rain pounding on the roof. On top of that I was working on a severely limited time budget - I was planning to attend one friend's concert and another one's birthday party out of town. The concert was going to take place in the conservatoire, where - when I had studied there a long time ago - there was always somebody to be found taking a quick break in the hallways; I decided - rather than brave the storm - to go early and try my luck there.

When I arrived, Haps was already standing at the door to the concert hall. Since it was immediately clear that we both knew my Violist friend, I introduced myself and found that I had just met my friend's father. At that point I was not sure whether I should proceed: I was worried that this known connection between us might put him under pressure to talk to me when he normally might not. On the other hand, exploring the intricacies and nuances of human interaction is exactly what this project is about - and (on a more practical note) it would be rude of me to break off our conversation and look for somebody else to talk to. When I finally made up my mind and told Haps about Meet a Stranger a Day, he graciously agreed to become a part of it.

There was a certain amount of tension: we both wanted to secure good seats for the concert, which put a deadline on our talk; furthermore the hallway was noisy which led to a somewhat fragmented conversation. Even so, Haps came across as a good-natured, amicable personality - and when I offered to call the whole thing off, if he felt uncomfortable in any way, he declined. It was highly interesting to learn of his work counseling the state in ecological law, and I would have liked to find out more about what I perceived as his deep-seated passion for ecological matters.

What I need to learn:
It would probably have been worth finding a quieter spot - I need to take the time to ensure both I and my vis-à-vis are comfortable with the surroundings.

Haps: Thanks for participating - without you, today's page would probably be blank. Please let me know if there is an exhibition of your artwork!

Short respite from the torrential rain.

12. Oli4

Sometimes - and today it happened twice in a row - people will tell me that they can't or won't accept my invitation for a chat, but thank me for asking. Most of the time it is a matter of catching a train or having some other prior engagement, occasionally the blogging context, that keeps them from participating, and so I have no reason to doubt their sincerity. I have no way of knowing what exactly happens in their minds, but I imagine that they experience a moment's feeling of unlooked-for importance. What a wonderful thought - that I should be able to make these people's days just that little bit brighter!

When I met Oli4, he was one of the few people standing outside in the cold winter night, just finishing a can of beer and simply passing the time until he was to meet up with his date. He joined me for a drink in a café just across the road, where we talked about the intricacies of relationships and the time and effort required to entertain two circles of friends. But mostly we talked about sports - about the ice hockey team of which Oli4 is an avid fan, and about how a victory that would have been truly sensational had been snatched from their gloves in the last minute of yesterday's match.

I tried to find a balance between taking many pictures (and getting a good one by sheer luck), and ensuring Oli4 felt at ease. Of the resulting 16 photographs, 5 made it into the final selection. The one I eventually chose strikes a compromise between technical qualities (it's slightly blurred and has a bit of an uncontrolled slant), artistic expression, and character expression.

Oli4, thank you for your trust and your company - enjoy being young!

I just can't resist coffee...

11. Dominik

Today I was on a deadline. Since I was not going to have any spare time in the evening, I needed to find a sympathetic soul in my lunch break - a daunting task, given the fact that everybody else in the city was going to spend that exact same time actually having lunch. I got lucky nearby the university: Dominik had a look of stunned disbelief when I explained my project to him, but was up for a short chat.

Dominik did not talk much about himself, but rather wanted to know more about my motivation for Meet a Stranger a Day; as it turns out he has found a different, excellent way to get to know people - he's a couch surfer. For those of you not familiar with the concept of couch surfing: couch surfers all over the world offer to provide you with a roof and a bed in their home for a few nights, under the condition that you will do the same for others (edit: Dominik has emailed me to correct this - there is no such condition. See also my shiny new couch surfer profile). It's a concept that enriches the life of both the host and the guest; whoever offers a couch can meet people (and make friends) from all over the world without all the hassle of actually traveling - and in return, the traveler is a guest more than a tourist.

Dominik was not very comfortable with being on camera, and seemed to grow more and more self-conscious. We decided to wrap it up after 16 photographs, of which I've selected the third.

My thanks go to Dominik, for his spontaneity and goodwill.

Camera-shy.

10. Laura

Today marks the tenth dieiversary of Meet a Stranger a Day - time for a pat on the back and some introspection: how do I deal with rejection? The day started quite hopeful and people were politely interested, but at 9 in the evening, after walking through the city for two hours, I had still not made today's acquaintance. The reason, besides those who simply did not have time, was predominantly the thought of being published on the internet. Nearly 20 people had declined to meet with me; most of them wished me luck, a few seemed very peeved indeed about being spoken to. What carried me through was threefold. First: the knowledge that on the previous nine days, I had always prevailed in the end - and that, even if I would return empty-handed, at least there would be much to write about. Second: I was not going to give up today of all days - I was going to earn my second digit! And third: even though none of them had resulted in a portrait, some of our brief encounters had contained moments of that delectable human communication that is the essence of meeting a stranger.

I met Laura in the old town near the local fitness center, where she had just been for a workout. When I had explained my project to her, there was a moment where it could have gone either way - but to my surprise she accepted. We went into a nearby café where, initially, we both talked mostly about ourselves, outlining our respective places in life. But soon we were talking about more personal things, and Laura began asking me in-depth about Meet a Stranger a Day. With her intelligent questions she quickly revealed one characteristic of this project that I had not fully realized: I try not to give away too much about my vis-à-vis, and in consequence write primarily about myself.

Conditions in the café were somewhat difficult, which is why I took a new record of 53 pictures. Even so it was difficult to choose a photograph; ultimately I decided to favor character over technical perfection. Both composition and lighting in the selected photo are lacking - but it does show Laura's curiosity, amiable directness and confidence.

Laura: you've made my day - thank you very much!

9. Simin

Rain, and darkness, and rush-hour; those are the conditions in which meeting a stranger becomes a true exercise in stoicism. When it pours like it did today, people in the city leave their homes and offices only if they must - and when they do, they hide behind their umbrellas or inside their hooded raincoats. At rush hour, everybody is on their way to somewhere, and most pace through the streets head-down and at speed. The collective disposition is cantankerous, and being approached in the dark by a man wielding a camera does nothing to lighten the mood.

What delightful serendipity, then, to find a gem like Simin. Like everybody else she was on her way home from work, but unlike most she had an untroubled and approachable air. She seemed genuinely interested in my project, and agreed to join me for a cup of coffee with confident cheerfulness. We had a lively conversation, the topics of which spanned 50 years and two continents; and when I mentioned my musical past we discovered that she also knew a good friend of mine.

Simin was a bit camera-shy at first, but in the course of the conversation she appeared to become more at ease. I took 36 photographs, of which I chose the 18th; it lies just on the cusp of that change of temperament, and has both bashful and confident facets.

Simin: thank you very much for your time and courage - I hope you like the picture, I know I do!

8. Konrad

In a city of roughly 380'000 people, it was probably just a matter of time until I met somebody with whom I share a mutual friend. Nevertheless, finding out is an elating moment! When I approached Konrad, he was taking a photograph of the city and lake, and - with his backpack and hooded jacket - could easily have been a tourist. Due to a misunderstanding, I gave my introduction in English, until we both realized that German would do nicely. Since the weather was wet, cold and dark, and my first few shots were hampered by a splashed lens, we decided to go for coffee.

Soon we were chatting about life in Zurich, about how it compares to Konrad's native Vienna, and how both cities are, in some respect, provincial. What's remarkable about this is that we both perceived that city in which we had grown up as a small town. Knowing people around you makes the world a smaller place... That's approximately when we found out about our mutual friend - approximately, because I can't remember exactly how we reached the topic of sports teams; interesting how the mind works - well, mine anyway - as soon as it perceives an outstanding fact, it latches onto that and discards the preceding few seconds.

This was the first time I took the majority of my pictures indoors (27 of 36), which made for a new and interesting situation. The background was nicely chosen, and I've managed to work well with lighting from several sources. While we were talking, Konrad seemed to relax quite quickly, and so the photo I've selected was taken pretty much in the middle of our conversation. It portrays his confident and friendly character.

What I need to learn:
It would have been easy to take the free chair out of this picture, had I thought of it. I've tried several variants of cropping it, but all of them seem to take the life out of the shot.

Konrad, thanks very much for your time and amiable company - all the best!

7. Andrea

Democracy is a challenge. In Switzerland, we the people are asked to vote on diverse issues several times a year, and the next batch of propositions includes - among other things - an initiative that proposes to place the Patumbah park under protection. This park was created in 1890/91 by Evariste Mertens, and commissioned - tunnel and all - by the owners of the Villa Patumbah, in order to cover the new railroad that was being planned just in front of their home. The issue is somewhat complicated, since the estate has been subdivided for many years, and preventing the rightful owner of one half of the land from developing it creates a legally uncomfortable situation. I had never been to Patumbah, and realized that I did not know enough about the matter to cast a well-informed vote; I needed to see the park with my own eyes.

I met Andrea at the lower entrance to the park. He was walking his dog, taking a break from cramming for his end-of-term exams, and assented without hesitation when I asked if I could take his portrait. My first impression of him was that of an open, serious and trusting character - a perception that intensified during the ensuing frank exchange of ideas. I took 37 photographs while we were talking; the one I have selected shows his relaxed expressiveness quite well.

Later on I had the pleasure of running into a small group of supporters of the initiative, and by joining them and listening to their stories learned much about the park's history. This experience caused me to re-read the official documents - and ultimately to change my opinion: I have come to believe that it is worth trying once more to save Patumbah in its entirety, regardless of the obvious difficulties.

Things to remember:
Democracy only works well, when our votes are well-informed and our decisions deliberate.

Andrea: I wish you all the best for your exams, and for your future - senza rimorsi.

6. Ashanty & Vero

One of the things I've been wanting to try out, is how the dynamics of my daily adventure change if I approach a group of people instead of just one person. I had a chance to find out right at the beginning of my lunch break: just as I climbed the steps that lead through a park overlooking the city, Ashanty and Vero were taking possession of a bench. They were bubbling with laughter when I asked them for a bit of their time, and immediately agreed to play along. What struck me as the most prominent difference to my previous experiences, was that while I was welcome to participate, they did not need me to drive or shape the conversation.

There were giggles and laughter throughout the twenty minutes of our chat, but both Vero and Ashanty also displayed a more serious side, particularly when talking about the relatively pronounced protective armor of reservedness that people in our region of the world seem to have sometimes - and which stand in stark contrast with Vero's experiences in Spain, where the exchange of ideas between strangers is perfectly usual.

One difficulty in dealing with more than one vis-à-vis I had not anticipated: when taking pictures, keeping up with one spirited person is already a challenge. Even more so with two of them! I took 36 photographs, none of which do the two vibrant personalities justice. The one I've selected captures some of their good-natured laughter I enjoyed so much.

What I need to learn:
Composition, composition, composition. Check all four edges for crop, cruft and clearance.

Ashanty and Vero, thank you both for your time, your laughter and your insights. I wish you both all the best!

5. Luisa

Today, I was on a quest. On a day like today, when the city is securely tucked under a thick blanket of clouds and the temperatures are high enough for snow to become slush, Zurich dresses in dark, somber and distinctly grayish tones. I wanted to find a speck of color and try to capture it in a way that shows the power and visual strength it commands. This turned out to be a challenging exercise, because it severely cut down on the number of people that I allowed myself to approach. Interestingly enough, most of the people I did ask were interested and would probably have stayed for a chat, had they not been otherwise engaged - obviously, in my desire to catch the remaining daylight, I had picked a less than optimal time of day.

Luisa turned out to be not just wearing a colorful scarf - she's also a colorful character! She patiently listened to me as I tried to explain what this project is about, and when I had finished, she just asked: "italiano?". She had understood what I asked of her, but was concerned she might not be able to explain her views on life in swiss-german. My italian is worse than patchy, but there was no question - I wanted to try to make the conversation work across the language barrier. Luisa had a lot of insightful views about life, love and spirituality to share - and whenever I was not sure that I had understood, we switched languages. We both tried to accommodate our vis-à-vis, she in her broken german and I in my shattered italian.

I took 26 pictures while we were talking, and Luisa kept me on my toes. Her conversation is a very physical one - she likes to move, and she seeks closeness to her dialogue partner and a central position in their visual field. I, on the other hand, needed enough distance to compose a meaningful picture and wanted to explore different visual angles, leading to a somewhat contradictory movement which had us dancing a little dance. The photo I selected captures the essence of our confabulation and of Luisas lovely, friendly and at the same time strong and arresting personality.

Things I need to learn:
While walking around makes for a larger selection of people to portray, it makes controlling and composing the background much more difficult.

Luisa: thank you very much for your insights and your good wishes - I hope you get a chance to see your portrait on the internet...

4. Am See

I've been thinking about the term "subject". From my point of view of a native swiss-german speaker, it doesn't properly describe the relation in which I aim to stand to the person portrayed. This train of thought started during my conversation with today's portrayee, when she asked how I decide whom to approach - and used the word: "not-victim" which, had she not said it in a joking tone of voice, would have sounded just as uncomfortable in swiss-german as it reads in english. Funnily enough I have no trouble finding the right word in german: today, Am See was my "Gegenüber", the person opposite me, my vis-à-vis.

I approached Am See, who was sitting on a park bench by the lakeside, towards the end of my lunch break. What struck me as remarkable and encouraging, was that it wasn't being approached by a bearded stranger, not the thought of letting me take her picture, but the idea of her portrait being published on the internet that seemed to give her pause. Fortunately I managed to reassure her, and once she had decided to give me half an hour of her time, we had a highly engaging and enjoyable chat. I took 33 photographs, in the course of which she displayed a beautiful depth and richness of emotions. Many of these show facets of her personality - thoughtfulness, fire, and humor - and best portray her when seen together. I've selected the one that can stand by itself most easily.

What went well today:
How I approached Am See today was good: I had the right kind of body language, the right tone of voice (polite but not apologetic), and finding a level eye contact helped a lot, I think.

Things I need to learn:
Don't cut off part of people's heads - it's just not polite.

Am See: thank you very much for your open-mindedness, your time, and for the story about the three old ladies - what a wonderful image!

3. Andi

Perseverance. If there were only one lesson to be learned from today - there are in fact many - it would be not to give up. Admittedly that may be a trite and unoriginal notion; but after several hours of dealing with rejection after rejection, the thought of giving up had acquired a warm and fuzzy quality. What had gone wrong? Whereas I had previously approached potential subjects with my camera in hand, today I had it stored in my small camera bag; partly to protect my hands from the cold, but also because the area around Kreuzplatz has no features that could stand for themselves in landscape photography. It took me quite a while to realize that without the camera clearly visible, there was - from the point of view of a potential subject - nothing that could distinguish me from the various peddlers of salvation that people are used to being approached by.

Having failed spectacularly both during my lunch break and after work, I decided to try again after dinner. Two hours later I met Andi at the river, where he was waiting for his tram home. My pitch seemed to pique his curiosity, and he agreed to participate after asking a few well-chosen questions. On our way to a local pub I took 11 pictures in difficult lighting conditions, 4 of which made it into the final selection. The very last one best portrays Andi's openness as well as his gentle and friendly enthusiasm.

As we talked over dark beer, there appeared to be three stages of a developing relationship. Initially, we were sharing data points - profession, age, leisure activities - and Andi was unafraid to discuss closely personal matters; but soon enough we started discussing interpersonal relations and the roles of society and culture - we were sharing and comparing opinions, which I believe reflects that our mutual trust had deepened. Finally, after a most enjoyable hour of chat and discussion, we had got to know each other well enough for our conversation to develop into friendly banter.

Things to try out:
Try to approach groups rather than single individuals - which may give potential subjects additional security.

Andi: thanks very much for your time, your trust and your interest. You have single-handedly saved my day!

2. P. Sz.

One of the topics I hope to explore with "Meet a Stranger a Day" is how easy it often is to find at least one thing two strangers have in common. I approached P. Sz. just as the sun broke through the thick cover of clouds that hangs over Zurich throughout most of the Winter. As is to be expected, he asked some very legitimate questions about the nature of my endeavour - on what platform was I posting my blog, what was my occupation, what was my company's area of expertise - but it seemed that as soon as he had made the decision to allow me to portray him, he started telling me about himself. That moment may perhaps have hinged on what the two of us have in common: an interest and profession in computing. Now ten years retired, P. Sz. witnessed the early years of electronic computing in Switzerland, working with the ETH's ERMETH - one of Europe's first computers.

As we walked towards the restaurant "Le Café", where he was meeting some friends, I took 15 Pictures, many of which sadly are a testament to my limited abilities - it seems that by suggesting I could photograph while accompanying P. Sz. to his destination I inadvertently introduced the additional complication of both myself and the subject being in motion. Fortunately we soon developed a nonverbal understanding that allowed me to take a short time to compose my pictures without breaking the flow of conversation. Of the three or four resulting useable portraits I've selected the one that in my opinion best portrays P. Sz.'s keen intellect and willingness to engage. I'm not too happy about the background, but as it turns out the mannequin acts as a curious echo of the subject.

Things I need to learn:
Deal with the time-constraints that arise from most days of the week being workdays, both for me and potential subjects
Take the time to do multiple shots, check the result and redo, especially if the composition appears to work

I would like to thank P. Sz. for his kind words of encouragement - I had expected the second day to be much harder than the first, but his interest and conversation made for a most enjoyable experience!

1. Alex Bär

Wow. What an experience! Inspired by Skull-a-day, I've been thinking about this project for a while now and today finally had the guts to actually get started. Each day starting today, I will walk up to a perfect stranger, have a conversation with (and about) them and take their portrait. While that sounds simple enough in principle, none of these things come easy to me. Walking up to a perfect stranger? And talking to them? Not something that the Swiss in general and I in particular are very good at... And taking somebody's portrait? Well, while I am very interested in photography, the kindest thing I could say about myself is that I dabble.

So what amazing luck that the very first person I walked up to turned out to be Alex Bär. Alex is an artist - which made my task that much easier, since he was unafraid of stepping into the metaphorical spotlight. I had originally planned to take a series of pictures of my subject, then get to know them better over a hot chocolate in a nearby café, and close with a second series. However, Alex had to catch a bus, so the process was somewhat compressed. I managed to take 12 Pictures, of which 3 are completely unuseable for technical reasons (bad lighting, closed eyes, motion blur). In the course of the remaining 9, I seem to have managed to make Alex feel more and more at ease, and so it is the very last one that I have selected for today's post. I'm still not too happy with the composition, the lighting and the overall quality (the picture is very grainy in high resolution), but I think I managed to capture the amiable depth of Alex's personality.

Things I need to learn:
Talk while taking pictures - I like to keep visual contact in a conversation, which gets a bit awkward when I'm trying to look through the camera at the same time.
Get a better eye for composition and lighting.

I would like to express my thanks to Alex, whose friendly cooperation helped me make the first step - and direct you all to his website, where you can see some of his beautiful paintings.

Please leave encouragement, tips and criticism in the comments,
thanks, h.