Searching For Joe

Over the last few years I have taken a number of photographs of homeless people. Mostly the homeless people of my hometown Newcastle upon Tyne. It was never my intention to document homelessness; it just happened via a mixture of chance encounters with interesting people. One of the most engaging homeless characters I have met recently is Joe. After taking the initial photos below I have seen him a few times and stopped to chat with him and provide him with some food and a warm drink. 

See 'Searching' on flickr here © Anthony Dorman

Due to a set of random contacts I am about to look specifically for a homeless person willing to pose for a book cover for a novel written about an ex-homeless persons experiences of life on the street. Joe may or may not be a suitable face but I will be out again tomorrow searching for him to see if he will help me in my quest. 

 See 'Joe' in my 100 Strangers Project Here © Anthony Dorman

Despite his circumstances Joe offered a cheery chat and happily posed for his photograph. He offered to help me locate the homeless people of Newcastle if I wanted and we had a good chat about photography, the weather (as you do when you are British) and other things. I saw strangers look at me with some kind of mixture of shock and disgust when I shook Joe's hand when we finished chatting. I am always amazed by how pathetic and prejudiced people can be towards the homeless. I don't know Joe's full story yet but I do know that he spoke to me with a friendly, gentle and honest manner I wish was more common in the more fortunate population.

See 'Joe' in my flickr page here © Anthony Dorman

Connect with me;

facebook  twitter

100 Strangers Fleeting Moments

The personal project that always inspires me to pick up my camera is the 100 Strangers Project. The idea of the project is to learn not only about portrait photography but also to improve social skills by interacting with complete strangers. The flickr group is heavily moderated and there are a number of rules to guide participating photographers through the challenge.

I always have my camera with me as you never know when something or someone interesting might appear. The three images below were taken very quickly in three very random locations including the beach.

71/100 "100 Strangers" view the image on flickr image here. © Anthony Dorman

 71/100 "100 Strangers" view the image on flickr image here. © Anthony Dorman

79/100 "100 Strangers" view the image on flickr here. © Anthony Dorman

I'm always on the lookout for different types of people for my project. You can see my set so far by clicking this link; http://www.flickr.com/photos/16059306@N08/sets/72157624767974686/with/7184948775/

I tweet; https://twitter.com/#!/AnthonyDorman

I tumble; http://digitaldorman.tumblr.com/

Strangers In The Night

I have been shooting more strangers for my 100 Strangers Project recently. Due to the weather, boredom and lack of inspiration I was in some kind of hibernation mode. One night recently I thought sod it go out and see what wonderful strangers would be on the streets of Newcastle at 10PM. I took a few that night but these were my favourite images. Both were taken with the available ambient light, no flash was used.

 View this image on flickr here

View this image on flickr here

ExVivo

I have had a week off to chill, and my God I have needed it. After a few days of boring daytime TV, lie-ins and half a swimming pool of tea I decided to get my lazy bones into Newcastle. I have been shooting street portraits for over 12 months now for my 100 Strangers Project however lately I have been very slow in adding new people. After a few hours and two great strangers that I will post later I saw this lady.

View the image here on flickr

I knew I had to get her in my project as she simply looked amazing, very alternative but very beautiful and photogenic. I saw her about to cross the road on a busy roundabout in Newcastle city centre and raced after her. I told her about my project and she happily agreed to be part of it - result. This was my first shot, at the time I thought the glaring green and red traffic lights where too harsh and moved her to another nearby location. When I got home and reviewed the images I realised the original lighting was just too good not to use. It turns out that this amazing looking lady is an alternative model called ExVivo. I am now thinking of various photoshoot ideas for ExVivo as I really think I could get some great images with her.

And randomly this music is also banging around my head with regards to this image. But they say music and photography go hand in hand.

Radiohead 'Everything In It's Right Place'

www.anthonydorman.com

https://twitter.com/#!/AnthonyDorman

The Kindness of Strangers (Helsinki Bus Station Theory)

Every now and then I am amazed by the kindness of strangers, when someone helps you or takes the time to give you great advice for no other reason than basic human decency. Although generally happy with my photographic progress I do have the occasional wobble. This week was a wobble week! I mentioned this in my flickr posting of the image below.

See this image on flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/16059306@N08/6098242806/in/photostream

Within hours of posting this image on flickr it became an Explore image which means flickr deem it worthy of mention. This like my other Explore images is not what I think is representative of my better images but what others think. Naturally I am happy to have some Explore images but I was happier to recieve some great comments and advice from some flickr contacts and non-contacts alike. One of my flickr contacts James Drury kindly sent me this great post Helsinki Bus Station Theory that all photographers should read especially those having wobbles like me. I have many great contacts on flickr who always pop up with helpful comments and emails, this link was probably one of the best.

www.anthonydorman.com

http://twitter.com/#!/anthonydorman

More 100 Strangers (The Art of Persuassion?)

Due to a mixture of circumstances I have been unable to update my blog and indeed shoot as much as I would like to. When I don't post I feel guilty and when I don't shoot I feel sad. I had a chance last week to get out with my camera with the specific intention to continue my 100 Strangers Project which I started over a year ago. After an initial flurry of shots (a number of them I'm not too happy with) I have really slowed down.

59/100 '100 Strangers' see it here on flickr © Anthony Dorman

The shot above was taken on the Metro which is train/underground system which connects most of the more populated areas of North Tyneside. I had been sitting opposite this guy watching him looking out of the window. The light was illuminating his reflection in the window and I knew I wanted him in my project. With only about 30 seconds to spare before my stop I plucked up the courage to ask him if I could take his portrait. Although slightly bemused by the request he agreed to be in my project. I realised that I had persuaded a complete stranger to not only take part in the project but also take direction all in the space of 10/15 seconds. I showed him the image on my camera to which he said 'let me know if I'm going to be famous' It is bizarre but I have heard this before.

My stranger featured below caused a bit of a spike in my flickr photostream stats, as she featured on Explore. I was on the lookout for strangers when I saw her sitting with a friend near Monument. She really stood out form the crowd with her fantastic vibrant colours and fantastic smile. It took me a while to pluck up the courage to ask her which is weird considering I took 1000 street portraits in 1 day back in March.

60/100 '100 Strangers' see it here on flickr © Anthony Dorman

I asked her if I could take her photograph, which she agreed to and I cheekily walked her and her friend into a more shaded area as the light was very severe that day. Like my metro stranger I was amazed who accommodating people can be once they have agreed to have their portrait taken. I was once told there is a famous quote about how being a photographer is the only profession where you are universally obeyed! I'm not too sure about that, I think there is some truth in it but I also think I managed to find two nice people. I am amazed that I get very few rejections for my 100 strangers project. I find the project helps me see good in people, I have been of late becoming very jaded and cynical about the general public. Having spent the last few years selling my soul doing something I hated as a job I have wanted to distance myself form the general public. Perhaps I have somehow manage to sell myself as someone without an agenda. I'm not selling anything, there is no money required just 2 minutes of your time - sometimes only a few seconds. I always try and capture the best or at least something interesting about the people I choose to photograph. I won't include someone I really don't like, perhaps I am subconsciously choosing people I think I would like.

I posted my 60/100 on my flickr pages and was contacted by my mate and photographer Chris Harrison whom I have posted about earlier in this blog. He had taken this lady's portrait in Northside Tattooz as she is a customer of Low who I have also featured on this blog. Talk about small world!!!!! Here is Chris Harrison's portrait for his Elvis Baby series: http://grimeandglamour.wordpress.com/2011/06/05/margo/

www.anthonydorman.com

now tweeting: http://twitter.com/#!/AnthonyDorman

Ron Bedford

I have been shooting some comercial work recently which has taken a lot of my time and therefore neglected this blog. I have been writing another blog http://www.intynemouth.blogspot.com/ also - this is a blog to showcase the people, busineses and events in my village Tynemouth. I had a spare half hour today so went stranger hunting for my '100 Strangers Project' Before long I saw Ron standing at the traffic lights on the opposite side of the road from me. I waited for him to cross onto my side of the road and asked him to be in my project.

Ron 58/100 '100 Strangers' see it here on flickr © Anthony Dorman

Ron agreed and the image above is the result. the image has been treated in photoshop with a sharpening mask, some surface blur, dodging and burning and contrast tweeks for anyone interested. I gave Ron a card and he gave me his, Ron is a local singer songwriter - this is one of his songs on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDX32jEzNDU I got another interesting starnger on the train my way home but that is for another day.

http://www.anthonydorman.com/

The Tattooist

I went to the Cluny on Saturday to meet up with a friend of mine Chris Harrison as it was his birthday drinks. Everyone was outside having drinks and enjoying the unusually warm weather, its weird to be warm at 7.30PM Newcastle in April. I probably could have finished my 100 Strangers project that night with the amazing characters in attendance. I saw "Low" (as in Now and not No) and knew I had to get some images. He turned out to be a mate of Chris Harrison's and his tattooist. We chatted whilst I took some images including how he knew one of my 100 Strangers "Leon".

 © Anthony Dorman

 © Anthony Dorman

© Anthony Dorman

I'm really happy with the light and atmosphere on these images however it is the character of the subject that for me - makes these images work. Its great when you get to capture the image and character of someone who is both interesting and likable in one.

http://www.anthonydorman.com/

The Beard and the Albatross

I was out walking along Tynemouth Longsands with my girlfriend when I saw Chris (below) and I knew I wanted him for my 100 Strangers Project.

View this image on flickr by following this link © Anthony Dorman

I chatted briefly with Chris and his wife and they told me that people often ask to take his portrait. I'm not surprised with such a fantastic beard. As Chris said "had it before ZZ Top did" I gave Chris my card and continued my stroll. The next day I received an email from Chris to say he liked my website and could I send him the images which I have done. Then came the weird bit, Chris sent me a link to his business which is called the Albatross http://www.albatrossnewcastle.co.uk/ which is a backpackers hostel in the city centre. The weird part is that a friend of mine Chris Fleming provided the hostel with all the stencil artwork you can see on their website. I have recently photographed these stencils in The Albatross for my friend. I would recommend anyone who is traveling to Newcastle who wants a low cost, funky place to stay to try this hostel.

http://www.anthonydorman.com/

07-03-11 My new website is now live http://www.anthonydorman.com/

07-03-11 Today I launch my crazy Red Nose Day 2011 (1000 Faces 1 Day Project)

I will be attempting to take 1000 portrait photographs of the people in Newcastle on Friday 18TH of March. I estimate that this will take between 10 and 16 hours of almost constant shooting!!!!!!!!!! I am aiming to raise as much money for charity as possible. If you would like to take part or help with this project please get in touch at onethousandfaces1day@yahoo.co.uk or a.d.one@talk21.com

Here is the address to my Red Nose Day giving page where you can donate to the charity;

http://my.rednoseday.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=350708

Here is the flickr page where all the images will be available when the project is complete;

http://www.flickr.com/people/60389389@N08/

Many thanks,

Anthony

Good Times Lie Ahead

Today I reached the halfway point of my 100 Strangers Project. I was passing through the underpass at Swan House Roundabout today which has some very atmospheric light. Thanks to my 50th 100 Stranger for agreeing to having his portrait taken.

view this image on flickr by clicking here © Anthony Dorman

Beautiful Stranger

I was on the lookout for interesting strangers for my 100 Strangers Project a few days ago. Unlike most other times when I do this I was specifically looking for female subjects. I thought my project was getting a little heavy on the male quota of strangers. Poor weather and a lack of interesting characters were causing me great consternation until I saw the lady below. She stood out from the crowd witha beautiful face and great style, infact i think she looks a like the actress Rosario Dawson whom I had been talking about earlier that day. After a little bit of persuasion she agreed to have her portrait taken. This was one of those strange experiances that happen rarely where a complete stranger makes you feel relaxed and happy within a few moments of meeting. I hope that this lady 'my French stranger' will see this post and get in touch as I believe my photo did not do her justice, I would love to photograph her again.

View this image here on flickr by clicking here © Anthony Dorman

Going Underground

I was trying to think of an interesting place to take some photos that would be indoors as the English weather was being its usual rotten self. I came up with a plan to take some images of the Pedestrian Tyne Tunnel which is quite a place. After a couple of phone calls to the local transport authority I was granted access to take some photos - you have to be careful these days with secuity concerns. The Tunnel when it was first built carried thousands of pedestrians across the River Tyne, mostly shipyard workers in the once busy docks. The tunnel also features the worlds oldest wooden escalator shown below.

Going Underground

View "Going Underground" on flickr here. © Anthony Dorman

What I did not expect to do on my trip to the tunnel was to capture another stranger for my 100 Strangers Project however that is exactly what I got.

30/100 "100 Strangers" 

View the high resolution image on flickr here © Anthony Dorman

Until yesterday I did not realise that this stranger image appeared on Explore on flickr. Thanks to Simon Bussey for letting me know.

View my entire photostream on flickr here.

Glasgow People and Places

On a weekend visit to my girlfriends family in Falkirk we took a day trip into Glasgow. For my girlfriend and her mum that meant shopping and then the theater. For me it meant a chance to wonder the streets of one of Britain's greatest cities with my camera. My first port of call was a quick bus ride to Parkhead which is the area surrounding Glasgow Celtic's football stadium. I had once taken a wrong turn into Glasgow and discovered an area so run down that it was quite beautiful. I know that sounds strange but some of the old abandoned buildings had layers of peeling paint and amazing colours and textures.

Glasgow Parkhead

   See the high resolution image on my flickr page  © Anthony Dorman

After quite a few hours wondering around some of the more colourful areas on the outside of the city I decided to head back into the center. On Buchanan Street I saw the lady below with a group of her friends and knew that I wanted her in my 100 Strangers Project. Although they all had a a great look and I photographed all of them my stranger below really stood out. Later she contacted me and said how much she liked the photo which was nice.

"Glasgow Girl" 22/100 "100 Strangers"

view the high resolution image here on my flickr page © Anthony Dorman

Later that night I met four more interesting strangers who I will post on this blog at a later date. My day in Glasgow turned out to be very fruitful.