Portraits of Strangers

The Fear Factor

Almost every photographer has a desire to photograph people. Even photographers who say that aren’t interested in photographing people may, on occasion, want to make a photograph of a complete stranger. It’s a desire that arises the moment you step out into a public street or venue and your eyes fall on a person who makes your gut tell you, “They’d make a great photograph.” But too many times, we let that moment pass and berate ourselves for not raising the camera to our eye or making the effort to ask the simple question, “Can I take your photo?” What stands in our way of what could be an awesome photograph? The simple answer is that four-letter word, “fear.”

Nikon F4, 35mm lens, 1/180, sec at f/2.8, ISO 200

Confronting Fear ...