My Nikon is my mentor

It was in December 2013 that I initiated my Friday Faces project. I don’t post one every Friday, and I took quite a few weeks off this past winter, but since this first Friday Face and the two I posted today, April 17, 2015, I have posted the faces of 38 different people. Each time I gather the gumption to approach a stranger and request a  photo opp, I have taken a step forward. Photographically, I have learned from my mistakes. Although I now know that I am never going to open a portrait studio, I have learned how to approach strangers, put them at ease, produce a reasonably good photo of them, and enjoy the process. And I think my victims models enjoy it too. Most are surprised to be asked to pose for a photo shoot, but only two people have turned me down, and while some are self-conscious, others are very natural in front of the camera. When I started the project, I printed out each person’a portrait and gave them the print, but these days I just explain the project and hand them the business card I have printed up with my name and the address of the blog where I post their picture. That seems to work well for them and for me too. One man told me that his picture is sitting on top of their TV and another proudly reported sending his portrait out to all his family members that live far away. I felt pretty honored by that! The best part of this project is the way it has changed me from a solitary introverted walker focused (pun intended) on taking pictures of the birds I see on the park trails into an open, outgoing individual able to initiate interactions with an amazing variety of people. Best of all, I have a lot of new friends. I owe it all to my camera, which is why I can claim my Nikon is my mentor.

Written in response to the Mentor Me prompt on the Daily Post

Here is another post on the Friday Faces topic.

Carolyn aka Skip