100 Strangers

This is a new project that I started. Right now I am trying to figure out how to add my first stranger.

 

 

This is Hugh. He is my first stranger on my way to meeting and photographing 100 strangers. Hugh works a monument salesman for Collette Monuments in Lewiston, Me. He is also a licensed mortician and a history buff. His great grandfather actually worked as a surveyor with Abraham Lincoln. This picture is #1 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100Strangers.com”

This is Joseph. I met him while waiting in line at the CN Tower in Toronto Ontario. He had just finished school in New Brunswick and is studying Public Administration. “This picture is #2 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100Strangers.com”

I met John while waiting for a flight back to Portland, Me. John has worked for the airport for the past 34 years. John said ” I’ve seen the airport grow”. Currently John helps with the transport of people in wheelchairs. “This picture is #4 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100Strangers.com”

his is Joe. Joe works for Enterprise Car Rental. After my flight got canceled he helped me get a one-way rental to Portland, Me. He had one left a VW Beetle. Like all VW’s it was very comfortable. Joe was very helpful and pleasant. “This picture is #5 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100Strangers.com”

Mark is the night desk clerk at Comfort Inns & Suites In Ludlow, Ma. He has been in the hospitality business for the past seven years. He is also a licensed CPA. “This picture is #6 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100Strangers.com”

This is Marda. She is a bartender at The Corner Room in Portland, Maine. Marda pours a great drink. The best thing about Marda is that she makes you feel welcome and happy to be with her and she laughs at my jokes. “This picture is #7 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100Strangers.com”;

Meet Olyvia. Olyvia is the daughter of one of my customers. She is 18 years old and is taking the year off between high school and possibly going to college. She loves photography and is currently working at C4 designs as a production/designer. I expect she will do very well in whatever she chooses to do. “This picture is #8 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100strangers.com

This is Adolph Kider. He is 71 years old and the beard is real. He has worked at Liberty Tax Service for the last 7 years. He is there from January through April 15th waving to the cars passing by and promoting the service. I have seen him there in the warmest or coldest days always with a smile. He has worked as a roofer, a painter and as he said just about everything. “This picture is #9 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100Strangers.com”

I walk into my favorite watering hole this Friday night to Have a quiet glass of wine and who do I meet but stranger number 8. It’s been a while since my last one and I am a little behind. Anyway William started talking the minute I sat down. William is from Miami by way of Cuba. He moved to the states in 1996. He was a little unclear about what he did for a living but he seemed to have plenty of money and was very friendly. That was proof that he was from around Maine. We talked for quite some time until my dinner when he said his goodbyes and went to another bar. I took this picture with my Droid and sent a copy to my wife who is visiting her sisters in Florida. I added the tag line “this is my date for tonight”This picture # 10 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100Strangers.com”;

This is Erick Empty Pockets. I met him at Tommy Park, Portland, Maine. Tommy Park is a place in the Old Port frequented by street people and performers. Erick is originally from Newport, Maine which is located near Bangor, Maine. It is a small town without much to keep young people to settle down. Erick is an interesting young man who has traveled all over the country. He describes himself as a minimalist. This picture is #11 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at http://www.100strangers.com/

While having breakfast with my son and grandson at Becky’s Diner in Portland, Maine I met Leslie and her boyfriend J.D. Leslie goes to school at Chevrus H.S. and J.D. goes to Cape Elizabeth H.S. This picture is #12 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at http://www.100strangers.com/

Itinerant preacher taken in Tommy Park Portland, Me. This was days before the end of the world so I don’t know what happened to him after that. This picture is #13 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at http://www.100strangers.com/

 

 

 

This is Maccia I think. I found Maccia at the Farmers Market at Deering Oaksin Portland, Maine. The reason I’m not sure of his name is because he spoke with what I thought was a very heavy accent I thought was French. When I asked where here was from he said Portland and he said everybody asks about the accent. This picture is #14 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at http://www.100strangers.com/

This is Nancy Freedman and Millie. I met them at Tommy’s Park in the Old Port in Portland. Nancy is a dog trainer from Windham, Maine. In addition to training dogs for individuals and families she also trains dogs as foster families. Millie is just one of the dogs. She is only 4 months old, very sweet and ready for a new home. Visit Good Dogz in Training for more information.

 

This picture is #15 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100strangers.com/

This is Nick who I met at Bug Lite Park in South Portland, Maine. He was one of many kite enthusiasts that I saw that day. I had a chance to get up close and was amazed at the hardware this young man had just to fly a kite. He told me his investment for just what was using was around $1000. He said the man nearby with the big white van had probably over $10000 invested. I guess when you ladies tell your husband to go fly a kite he just might be dipping into the household rent money.

This picture is #16 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at http://www.100strangers.com/

This is Larry . He is another of the avid sport kite flyer’s I met at Bug Light Park in South Portland, Maine. He has been enjoying the sport for many years. He advised me that I could start in the hobby for only $50 for a decent kite. He told me of a store in Old Orchard Beach, Maine where I could find one. This picture is #17 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at http://www.100strangers.com/

This is Betty True. She comes from Rumford, Maine which a mill town situated in about 2 hours north of Portland. To survive the economy she decided to make and sell on line personalized children’s books. My part in it is providing SEO (search engine optimization). The business is called Books by Nana . This picture is #18 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

This is Wayne Chase. Wayne live in Turner, Maine and he runs Wayne’s Appliance Repair and services home appliances in Cumberland and Androscoggin counties. He has two children, and boy who attends Dartmouth College on a pre-med program, and a daughter who is a senior in high school. One thing I am very sure of is that his daughter loves photography. I will be sure to send Wayne the link to this page.
This picture is #19 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

Kathy & Roland I met on a beautiful day about 2 weeks ago. They were on Commercial Street in Portland, Maine. They had just asked my wife where they could get good lobsters. They were in port on shore leave from a Holland America Cruise. Originally from Balmore I mean Baltimore, Maryland. They had sailed from Boston. I’m not sure where they were heading they were in kind of a rush to get to the lobster.

This picture is #20 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

Carolyn is originally from Connecticut and loves Portland, Maine. She was selling cupcakes and other sweets from a cart on Commercial Street. There was a lot of activity today because their was a cruise ship in town. She loves to meet and talk to her customers.

This picture is #21 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

I met David Bullard in Brunswick, Maine while I was stopping by one of my favorite gelato places Gelato Fiasco. David was playing the guitar at one of the outside tables. So I sat down to listen in with a small cup of caramel with sea salt. It was delicious. The salt served to wake up the taste buds so the caramel flavor was intensified. After listening to David for a while I decided to see if I could take his picture.

I grabbed my camera from across the street and took a few shots. He has bee playing for over 20 years. He has traveled and played all over the country doing solo performances in pubs and bars and has also played in a variety of bands. In fact he told me he was playing this weekend in a five man reggae band with 5 other guys from all over the Caribbean.

As I was leaving he asked if I wanted one of his cd’s. I took it and played it in my car. What I heard was some of David Bullard’s greatest hits. To say that David is versatile is understated. I heard a selection of bluegrass, blues, rockabilly, soft ballads, and even some great flamenco guitar.

This picture is #23 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group

On my first day in Sedona, Arizona I met Dreaming Bear Baraka Kanaan. He was speaking at Unity of Sedona. Dreaming Bear is to quote the brochure a world class musician and inspirational speaker. To say I was inspired is an understatement. He accompanied himself with this amazing electronic drum with magical tones. His delivery was not preaching he spoke the obvious. Things we all should know to lift ourselves to our full potential.
I urge you to check him out at www.dreamingbear.net.

This picture is #24 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at http://www.100strangers.com/

I met Isha my first day in Sedona. She nothing if not unique. She is a gentle soul traveling the universe speaking her truth. Like most people you meet in Sedona she is from another place trapped in the beauty that is Sedona. I highly recommend the video. Her voice is beautiful. The words haunting.
youtu.be/b17xC_mXc80

This picture is #25 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100strangers.com/

I met Janie Layers in Jerome, Arizona. She moved from near Seattle after so much rain became too much rain. She graduated in fine arts from the Evergreen State College. Janie came to Jerome in 1998 opened a “fresh visual horizon” that pushed her to capture images in clay.
She creates her beautiful work in The Old Jerome High School.
You can find her on Facebook. www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.178735408810015.52427.1…
This picture is #27 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100strangers.com/

I met Billie Jean at an art galley/cafe on my first day in Sedona, Arizona. She was helping out the owner of the gallery. The first thing I noticed were her beautiful blue eyes. Billie Jean, like everybody else in Sedona, is from somewhere else. She is from Turtle Creek, Pa. Like everyone else she was looking for something else in her life. I’m sorry I didn’t take better notes. I know that Billy Jean is a single mom with 4 children and she takes care of 3 other foster kids. Like most people in Sedona she has a ready smile.

This picture is #28 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100strangers.com/

I met this couple in Sedona, Arizona while my wife and I were eating lunch at a golf club near where we were staying. I noticed that Carol, the one on the bottom was actively taking pictures while awaiting the arrival of their meals. We discussed her photography and I told her about the 100 Stranger project and asked if I could take their pictures.
Carol II, the one on the top is a physician with a general practice. She is avid avid golfer. Carol I in addition to being a photographer is a nurse now working as a unit supervisor at hospital in Ohio where they live. The couple has been together for many years.

This picture is #29 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100strangers.com/

This is Starr the Pigeon caller. I met Starr in front of the Portland Museum of Art. Who would have thought an art museum would be a good place to find pigeons? Starr has been feeding pigeons and there were literally hundreds of them on the ground and flying around his head. Starr loves these birds and a you can see he has developed a very close relationship with them. Starr is very open and welcoming to the birds, to me, and a lot of people passing by gave him a big wave and a smiling hello. It’s nice to have someone like Starr a part of this community.

This picture is #30 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100strangers.com/

This is Robert Joy. Robert is another one of the street people who hang out in the plaza near the Eastland Park Hotel. The hotel is located in the Portland, Maine art district. Robert has a story to tell. It was a little hard to follow but he has graphics to accompany his Joy Ride project. As one can plainly see Joy Ride project will finally free us from foreign dependence on oil. As you can see Robert Joy is concerned and cares a lot for his fellow man. When I left Robert I handed him a dollar. He thanked me and said he would give it to charity. I left Robert with a smile on my face.
This picture is #31 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100strangers.com/