Having done Strangers Sunday for a few weeks, I've since realized that it's not easy getting people to pose for the camera. I'm OK with the approaching bit now (and I handle the many rejections pretty well), it's getting the subjects to be at ease that's extremely tricky. Over breakfast the other day, I told Yap about this project of mine. He said it takes time to get good portraits (at least 30 minutes to psych the models); a quick shot will never do especially when the subjects aren't exactly Tyra Banks.

Snag No.2: I have to deal with the fact that the photos of strangers are going to end up on the internet. Asking permission to take photos is one thing while publishing them is a different ballgame. I hadn't been totally honest with strangers whom I took photos of. Invariably, they would ask what the photos are for. To which I would say, "It's a street photography project I'm doing". Perhaps having done one too many "projects" in school, people would always assume that I'm a photography student doing his bit to please the lecturer. I really should have cleared things up and informed them of the true nature of the "project".

I sincerely apologize to the many nice people I'd not been truthful with. You can stone me and pin me to a cross; I don't blame you. If someone has earned my trust- enough to make me allow him to take photos of mine- only to find him not being totally honest after seeing those photos while surfing the net, I would naturally be pissed off too. It's downright unethical and I'm big on doing things the ethical way.

To ease my conscience, I'm going to hold off Strangers Sunday for the coming weeks until I've had my very first batch of name cards printed. A nicely designed card would be presented to future prospective Strangers to inform them that I'm not a reporter from theStar (nor am I a photography student, as is widely assumed), but am just a lowly amateur photoblogger who wants nothing more than to suppress his shyness and to hone his photography skills. After which, I would get their permission to have the photos published here and then get them to follow the URL printed on the card. Am already seeing it as a great plug which will introduce the masses on the street to Odds&Ends. Till then, hope you've enjoyed the 1st, albeit short, season of Strangers Sunday!