Since 5th May 2012 I have been regularly walking up to strangers and asking them if I can take their photograph. I’m drawn to the stylish and the interesting and all of the people featured here are one or the other or both. I’m extremely grateful to all of them for letting me take their photograph – Londoners (temporary or permanent) are a really cool bunch.
When I started out I continually forgot to ask the person their name (it was the nerves). I’m getting better at remembering now, but there are still occasions when I get caught up in the moment and forget, and I can only apologise to those people I didn’t ask.
Most of the shots here have appeared in previous posts (apologies to my regular visitors), but I’ve tried to round up some previously unpublished to spice the montage up a bit. Thanks to Deanne and Seascapesaus for encouraging me to do this.
The Future Is Papier Mâché 
You have balls. I’m sure I’ve said that before, but I’ll say it again.
FM
Ha ha, thanks, FM.
NIce to see some new and some familiar faces.
Thanks, Cardinal. Because of something you said about repeats, I was quite careful to include some new ones 🙂
Excellent work… 😉
Thank you so much! 🙂
great work
Thank you! Love your blog by the way – very exciting action shots.
cool – thanks
Great work Richard. Fascinating. I’ve yet to get up the nerve to try approaching strangers on the street – someday. Meanwhile the faces (and style) of humanity are a reminder of who we are. Thanks, Dohn
Thanks very much, Dohn. The breakthrough for me was seeing the guy in the blue shades – I needed to take a shot of him and couldn’t do it without getting up close, so the inevitable next step was to ask. And he was brilliant about it – very cool.
Great collection of portraits. Haven’t quite drummed up the guts to start asking people yet. I take my hat off to you.
Thanks so much! Nikki was just saying to me that I’ve got in more trouble not asking than asking and I think she’s right. It can still make me extremely nervous though 🙂
How fantastic to see these all together, quite a few ones I haven’t seen. Eclectic, moving, colourful, intriguing, and full of heart..
Thanks very much, Cath – that’s a real compliment. They were fun to take, and I’ve had some positive feedback from some of the people, which makes it more worthwhile. Z had this great idea recently, which is to mail everyone he takes a shot of in the street a print.
Repeating @settleandchase and the pleasure of seeing them all together! A wonderful collection of shots which put us all in the streets with each other!
Thanks so much, Patti! That’s a real compliment – I think we tread similar paths, and I love what you do.
This collection is very moving. Interesting individually, but there is cohesion in this. As settleandchase put it “full of heart”. I don’t think there is a more important goal in art. Your approach to your subjects is embedded here too. congratulations Richard!
Thank you so much for your very kind words – and thanks also for suggesting I do this. Left to my own devices I can um and ah for months, and It’s really interesting for me to see them all together. I took another couple today – it’s becoming a compulsion.
Great work! Some really beautiful photos, and I love the feeling that all these strangers become familiar while presented to us through your camera lens. One of the greatest things with art, to make people see the world through someone else’s eyes. Thank you!
Thanks very much for your kind words! I love your blog.
A great series and one that you should justifiably be proud of!
Thanks for them!
Charles
Wow, thank you, Charles! That’s such a nice thing to say.
¡Me encantan tus retratos!, sigo admirando el hecho de preguntar a la gente si se deja fotografiar, ¡enhorabuena Richard!, besos
Thanks so much, Manoli! I’m really glad you like them!
Richard, Thanks for posting an entire gallery of portraits. There’s an honesty and consistency that is abundantly apparent when seen as a unit. Lookin’ forward to more…
Thanks very much, John. I’m really glad you like them. It was partly your encouragement that made me do this post.
Have you thought about making some prints–maybe a show?
I’ve sort of thought about making some prints, but my time is so tight at the moment that I never get round to doing anything about it. I’d love to do a show, but not alone – I have an idea that I want to do it with an abstract painter as a co-exhibitor.
I just finished a show with 3 painters (one abstract), and really enjoyed the contrast. I think your portraits would look awesome in that context.
Beautiful in every sense!
Thanks very much! Love your blog, by the way.
That is a great way to show your body of work. I’ve done something similar on my website, and it is so nice to see them scrolling from one to another. Great work.
Thanks very much, Leanne. I take that as a huge compliment! Love your latest work.
Great series – like it
Thanks very much, Hellboy! Love your blog – your photography is wonderful.
Thank you very much, for the visit and the comment 🙂
It’s a great collection of some colourful characters. Life would be pretty dull if everyone dressed the same…
Thanks, Stevie – yes, indeed (especially if they dressed like me 🙂 )
Great idea, Richard! Well done.
Thanks very much indeed!
A great summary of a great blog, Richard. There are some really special portraits in here, and you definitely need to publish or present them somewhere! 😀
Thanks ,so much Richard! Very kind words and I’ll give it some thought…
Thank you. I’ve been hoping to see them all together. I agree with CK, they could go further 🙂
Thanks very much, EllaDee. I’m really heartened that everyone thinks this much of them.
I admire your … well, “courage” seems like the wrong word, so I’ll echo Frivolous Monsters sentiments. Much respect for doing something that must not be easy and doing it so well!
Thanks very much! You too! Good luck with your adventure – your blog’s great.
Thanks!
I think you should do a book! I’d buy it! 🙂
🙂 Thanks, Cath! I’ll definitely think about it.
Great project, very clever
Thanks very much, Antonio – love your blog by the way.
I also do mine, but very slow progress
Ah yes, but your blog is great!
Wonderful Stuff
Thank you so much, Anton. That means a lot coming from you.
excellent serie!
Thanks so much – I love your photography.
I keep coming back to look at these. Wonderful.
Thanks, Anton!