Alissa & Nathalie ~ Strangers 19 & 20 { 31 Strangers Project } Central Ohio Environmental Portrait Photographer

I'm very behind on my strangers posts and trying to catch up! It's been quite a summer!

One evening I was at the park of Roses in Whetstone Park to do a 1 year old's birthday session. I always get to my location early to check out lighting and settings. This evening I spotted Alissa & Nathalie strolling through the gardens. They had such a happy carefree mood about them that was hard to miss!  I started a conversation with them and learned they were on their way to Taco Bell to grab a quick bite and then were heading to the Robert Plant show in Columbus, Ohio. Nice! No wonder they were in a fabulous mood!  I loved their jackets (very cool) & they asked if I could take some shots to show them off - no problem! I hope you had a great night at the concert Alissa & Nathalie!

Peace out.

Strangers 15, 16, 17 & 18 {31 Strangers Project} Columbus Ohio Portrait Photographer

The North Market in Columbus, Ohio is a fabulous place to visit for wonderfully diverse foods. And it's a great place to people watch! These "strangers" were kind enough to take a moment out of their day to be photographed and talk a moment!

Meet Brittany ~ Stranger 15. Brittany works at Brezel Pretzels. I was drawn by her creative look and focus on her work!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Strangers 16 & 17 ~ Tabitha & Anthony
This couple has been engaged one and a half years. They were at the market exploring and trying different foods.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


And Stranger 18 ~ Andrew
Andrew was quite interesting to talk with. He works at the Green Grocer and is an aspiring paleo-anthropologist. We might see his face again one day on a Nova or Nature program about a new discovery in Australia or Africa!

I realize how much I love doing this project - slowing down & taking a moment to really connect with people.... & watching them smile back - no longer strangers!

Strangers 13 & 14 ~ Columbus Ohio Photographer

I have been a bit remiss about my blog posts - blame the lazy hot days of summer. I just can't seem to focus - I'm so easily distracted lately. But... I am going to make it a pint to get back to the blog!

The North Market in Columbus, Ohio has always been one of my favorite haunts - & also a fave of so many others! I stopped by one day for Jeni's Splendid ice cream. I spied Stephanie & Joni eating ice cream at a table outside & knew they had the craving, too! They are friends & coworkers, & were taking a break from their jobs at the downtown Hilton. Stephanie was in heaven over Jeni's Lemon, while Joni was enjoying Turtle. Once I got inside I had to get my new fave.... Brambleberry Crumb.... mmmmmm!

Strangers #10, #11 and #12 - Bass Lake, Sleeping Bear Dunes - Northwestern Michigan Portrait Photographer

 One of my favorite haunts in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is Bass Lake,  a beautiful tranquil little "no-wake" lake. This gorgeous, sunny day, I was there with a friend Vicki & my dog Maggie. It's Maggie's favorite place to enjoy doggie dock diving!

While there, I decided to do some stranger shots for my 31 Strangers project. Cat was at the lake to do some kayaking with her long haired daschund "Willie", & just enjoy the fabulous day. She was kind enough to stop for a quick shot! It was so cute that Willie & my Maggie were wearing doggie life jackets! Randy & Tom were also out that day in a paddle boat to do some fishing & spend time in the sun. They were eager to get out on the lake, so I just got a quick shot!

Patty & Bob - Strangers 8 & 9 /31 Strangers Project { Michigan Portrait Photographer }

While in northern Michigan, the Strangers Project came with me! For 2 days, we had incredible dense fog along the Lake Michigan shore. It made for some spectacular shots while hiking, but it also was beautiful in Crystal Gardens in Frankfort, Michigan - one of my favorite places to wander & look for plants. While there, the fog rolled in even heavier & I thought I should take advantage of it for my stranger shots. Meet Patty - Stranger 8. She came to Crystal Gardens one day about 22 years ago looking for a job. She got the job & has loved it so much she never left! She said that what is even better than being in northern Michigan, is being there & having a job you love! I don't think I have ever met an unhappy person while on my trips Up North. I also ran into Bob (Stranger 9) wandering through the greenhouses. He said he is an amateur photographer who is inspired by the beauty of the area.

Strangers 6 & 7 - Marsha & Ruth Ann [ Michigan Family, Child & Fine Art Portrait Photographer ]

As much as I like to think I color outside the lines and blaze my own trail instead of following the one already marked & mapped - I do sadly realize I am also a creature of habit.  And so, on my travels to my beloved northwestern Michigan to do an environmental portrait session & a commercial shoot of a cottage vacation rental - I found myself stopping (as usual) at the Clare Michigan Welcome Center. This is always my last rest stop on the journey north - only 2 hours from my final destination of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

It seemed only fitting that I capture some strangers for the 31 Strangers Project at the Welcome Center! Marsha & Ruth Ann were happy to oblige! Marsha (left) usually works at the Port Huron center, but was called to duty to the Clare Center. They obviously were very happy to be Michiganders (Wolverines?) and were delighted to impart some facts about their state.

Michigan has over 64,980 inland lakes.
Other than California, Michigan grows the widest variety of fruits and vegetables..... and Michigan doesn't have to irrigate.
The name Michigan is a French alteration of the Ojibwe word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake".
A person in the state is never more than six miles from a natural water source or more than 85 miles from a Great Lakes shoreline.
Lake Huron rushes into the St. Claire River at the same force as Niagara Falls.
Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state.

... And just some of the reasons I'm always heading north!  Thank you Marsha & Ruth Ann for participating in the Strangers Project!

31 Strangers Project/ Spring Summer 2011 Edition! [Columbus Ohio Photographer]

I loved doing the 31 Strangers Project so much that I decided to start it again. What is 31 Strangers? It is a project that expands not only your photographic comfort zone, but also your personal comfort zone! In 31 days, you walk up to 31 strangers and ask to photograph them. I tell them about the project, get their first name (so we are no longer strangers!) and get to know something about them. I am a bit behind in posting and photographing as I just returned from a photo shoot in Michigan, but the fun is in catching up!

Meet Judy, Elizabeth, Susan, Mary Alice and Elin. I saw them one Saturday morning at the riverfront in downtown Columbus, Ohio participating in the Dragon Boat races. It was the first Dragon Boat event in Columbus. Boats were brought in from Pittsburgh, Pa and these ladies were part of a team called the MOV'n Dragons. MOV in Mov'n is for Mid Ohio Valley and the group was from Marietta, Ohio. The team members were all either cancer survivors (or as Judy said - "thrivers") or were a support person/caregiver for someone with cancer. These gals inspired me to start the Strangers Project again! I hope to see them next year at the Dragon Boat races on our riverfront!