Tristan (Stranger #20/100), Venezia Rialto

Tristan (Stranger #20/100), Venezia Rialto, a photo by flatworldsedge on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Tristan Rà is a French painter currently working in Venice ahead of a December exhibition in Zurich. I'd hugely encourage everyone to check out Tristan's work here.

Tristan - thanks for your time, thoughtful conversation and email. Really looking forward to seeing how your Venice project evolves.

He let me interrupt his work on the Rialto bridge, where he was painting "small" 4'x4' canvases which he'll take back to his studio to transform into vast final versions over the rest of the year.

We chatted in an enjoyably juggled mix of English, French and Italian over fifteen minutes, noting the vast assortment of tools we both used in pursuit of our respective art forms (reflector, softbox, etc. vs. oils, thinners, brushes, etc.).

Having taken a few quick shots whilst he worked, and not wishing to intrude too far with the light changing, I suggested a final shot with eye contact. Tristan rounded on the camera with storm-front level intensity and a twinkle of a smile. He noted with a wry smile the abstract feel graffiti behind him and that he felt it appropriate, and then we were done.

In terms of any image, it's easy to dream up extra kit that would have been nice to have. This is one, however, where I feel the need for a second flash goes a little further. The reflector and on camera softbox give a neat fill, but I'd love to have shot a rim light between Tristan and the backdrop to give a little more drama to the separation.

This is portrait #20 of my 100 Strangers Project - check out the group page and get involved.

Hope everyone is well and enjoying their weekend. I've been off Flickr for the last week and a bit, so am looking forward to catching up.

Rain Shadow (Blea Tarn Rain Clouds), Lake District

Rain Shadow (Blea Tarn Rain Clouds), Lake District, a photo by flatworldsedge on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
A quick posting as I try to keep on top of a New Year's resolution to upload more the shots I'd normally let slip into archive. This one's deeply imperfect, but the rain drops splashed across the front element kind of capture the grim weather I enjoyed that afternoon.

I went for a slightly heavier black and white processing than normal, so any thoughts on that would be appreciated! Too much?

Slowly catching up - hope everyone is well.

Walking On Water (Peverill Point Long Exposure), Swanage

Walking On Water (Peverill Point Long Exposure), Swanage, a photo by flatworldsedge on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I've still got a couple more strangers shots to post from Venice, but thought I'd mix things up a little. The project is already overwhelming my Photostream!

Here's a quick long exposure from last night, out on Peverill Point in Dorset. I used a flashlight/torch to paint in the seaweed and spray - it could certainly be more even, but I only got one go before the sea reclaimed my vantage point.

The light from the left is a mix of blue hour and Bournemouth's light pollution. The shots that followed were a little too orange from sodium vapour lighting.

UPDATE: This is my second upload of this shot. The compression on uploading the first brought out a lot of banding, that was unapparent in the Lightroom version. I get a lot of issues uploading skies, and note contacts saying the same thing, so hope it's an issue the magic donkey is working on. I added 2% noise and a brush>splatter filter to the sky in an attempt to protect it this time round. It looks fine on iPad, but if I lower my head on the desktop monitor it still looks a little harsh. Commentary on this front would be hugely appreciated.

Hope everyone is having a great Easter!

Spindrift (Jessica In Snow), Rickmansworth Aquadrome

Spindrift (Jessica In Snow), Rickmansworth Aquadrome, a photo by flatworldsedge on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Quick post from recent snow. Jessica is reasonably keen on it, and somewhat tolerant of the cold.

It's the last week of the quarter, so my Flickr access is sporadic at best this week. Look forward to catching up with people on the other side.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Naomi (Stranger#18/100), Venezia San Marco

Naomi (Stranger#18/100), Venezia San Marco, a photo by flatworldsedge on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
The Venice trip marks a milestone in my (early) 100 Stranger's Project; the point where my approach has (perhaps temporarily) crystalised to (a) find a background (b) determine exposure (c) wait for a stranger (d) shoot.

In some cases that gobbled up a little too much time, waiting for the right stranger to come by. In this case, Naomi turned up and kindly agreed to join in.

She was over from England on a photography trip with 100 others, and had just taken a solo trip out from the rest of the group. This is just inside one of the side alleys running parallel to the "Bridge of Sighs". Naomi is holding a gold striped reflector and I've shooting with an on camera softbox, to get a decent exposure in the shadows. It was a little tricky to judge - thank you Naomi for being patient on that front. It felt important to make sure the distant light of the alleyway was darker than her face, to make sure the emphasis was correctly balanced to give her centre stage.

Thanks Naomi for taking part in the project - as per our chat, I can't recommend it enough and really hope you decide to start one of your own. In any case, hopefully you got some great shots of Venice on your trip.

This is portrait #19 of my 100 Strangers Project - check out the group page and get involved.

Giovanni (Stranger #18/100), Venezia Arsenale

Giovanni (Stranger #18/100), Venezia Arsenale, a photo by flatworldsedge on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I met Giovanni on the Riva Ca di Dio, at the turning up to the Arsenale. He saw me spot him from some distant, and watched me walk the few hundred feet up to him with a sombre smile.

Whilst he was mid Sunday morning ritual - a walk up the Fondamenta Forni to stand and smoke looking out at the busy channel - he agreed to stop for a moment and allow a portrait for the project.

Not wanting to disturb his ritual I took a couple of steps to get a nice smooth background of Venetian building front. The chalky orange seemed to fit with his shirt and tinted spectacles neatly. I took a couple of shots straight on, but with the curve of the glasses it was impossible to avoid being reflected. A couple of steps to the side allowed for their reflection to shift to a nicely Venetian bridge - hence going with this shot without the eye contact.

A little while later walking back along the front I saw Giovanni smoking and we exchanged a solemn, but friendly, wave that made me feel a little 0.5% more rooted in this fantastic city.

Thanks Giovanni for allowing me to intrude on your morning - I hope you enjoyed your meditations on the lagoon.

This is portrait #18 of my 100 Strangers Project - check out the group page and get involved.

Apologies to my contacts for my sporadic presence - we're working quarter end at an Amercian company, so things are very exciting, but outrageously busy!

Niamh (Stranger #17/100), Venezia Arsenale

Niamh (Stranger #17/100), Venezia Arsenale, a photo by flatworldsedge on Flickr.

Re-edited version. Thanks to everyone who advised on Flickr!