STRANGERS OF NOTTINGHAM
BY CRASH TAYLOR
“I wish for world peace.” STRANGERS OF NOTTINGHAM by Crash Taylor Copyrighted to Crash Taylor © All rights reserved
STRANGERS OF NOTTINGHAM by Crash Taylor Copyrighted to Crash Taylor © All rights reserved
“I was born and raised in Los Angeles before moving to England in 2002. My father was an amateur photographer who always carried a Canon AE-1 with him. He took some awesome portraits of my brother and me. For my 8th birthday, I purchased my first camera which was a Polaroid camera. That year, we went on vacation to Mexico and of course I bought the Polaroid with me. That camera and trip laid the foundation for my love of all things photography. I studied business and cinematography in college and self taught myself photography from an early age. At the present time, I’m studying for a Master’s degree in photography, teach commercial photography at the renowned Nottingham Trent University and conduct private photography workshops throughout the UK and abroad.
Photography is my passion. My wife wants me to check into photography rehab for my addiction. She is crazy, it will never happen. I tell all my students to shoot every day, constantly experiment and stay focused on what you love in life.”
About the Project
“The project started as part of my MA degree, but has broadened into more.
I plan on taking the project into other cities, producing video to supplement the stills and direct a documentary.
“I wish to be happy.” STRANGERS OF NOTTINGHAM Copyrighted to Crash Taylor © All rights reserved
The project came about as I felt a need to talk to strangers and break out of my comfort zone of always being around a select group of friends and family as well as constantly being glued to my phone. People of today seem only to be interested in communicating via their phone, tablet, laptop, Facebook feed, Twitter, Instagram etc… We have lost the art of communicating with people on a face to face level especially with strangers.
I was just in a coffee shop and I counted 26 people having coffee sitting with friends and 80% were glued to their phones. It’s craziness! We really do seem to have lost the art of conversing with each other. Preferring to talk to one another through the internet.”
“People ask what gave me the inspiration for the project. I like meeting and talking to new people about life and other various topics. I love the personal interaction. I seem to always take something positive away with me when speaking with people I have just met. The whole process affects my creativity and inspires me to keep going with camera in hand.
I have been very lucky in that so far, nine out of 10 strangers have agreed to let me take their portrait. Photographers, friends and family ask me all the time, how I approach strangers, what I say to them and what attracts me to them. They seem to think it’s one of the hardest things to do and most photographers I come in contact with have never done it. My approach is quite simple, I simply say hello and introduce myself. Explain the project and tell them what attracted me to them. There will always be something visually interesting, maybe their hair, their clothes or their individual style. It really depends on how I’m feeling each day I go out shooting. It’s really hard to explain, but something from within makes me want to take their photo. I let my two eyes guide me. When I’m out, I’m always looking at people. Looking for that certain person.
So far, it’s been great. Even the people who have said no have done it politely.
So far the whole project has been highly engaged and besides taking portraits, I have made new friends and business contacts. I have taken photos in Los Angeles, New York, Helsinki, Spain, Portugal, Estonia and many other places and nothing compare to the stylish characters of Nottingham. 🙂 It’s a great city, easy to navigate, so vibrant and a massive melting pot of visually cool people.
As part of the project, I ask everyone I photograph to make a wish. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always wondered what others wish for in life. It’s so intriguing. This project has given me the opportunity to approach strangers who visually inspire me, but more importantly, I find out what they are wishing for at the moment I make their portrait. It’s addicting and I’m loving every minute of it. The top three wishes are about peace, health and happiness. Nothing about money and material possessions. That’s awesome.
I have a goal of reaching 300 stranger portraits before planning the exhibition and producing a fine art book. All proceeds of the exhibition and book will be going to the Save the Children charity.
I have just reached my 200th stranger so not too many more to go. I love it.”
“I wish the homeless situation would stop.” STRANGERS OF NOTTINGHAM Copyrighted to Crash Taylor © All rights reserved
“So far, it’s been great. Even the people who have said no have done it politely.
The project has been well received within the community, featured in local TV and radio. Besides taking portraits, I have made new friends and business contacts. I have taken photos in Los Angeles, New York, Helsinki, Spain, Portugal, Estonia and many other places and nothing compares to the stylish characters of Nottingham. It’s a great city, easy to navigate, so vibrant and a massive melting pot of visually cool people.
As part of the project, I ask everyone I photograph to make a wish. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always wondered what others wish for in life. It’s so intriguing. This project has given me the opportunity to approach strangers who visually inspire me, but more importantly, find out what they are wishing for at the moment I make their portrait. It’s addicting and I’m loving every minute of it.
The top three wishes are about peace, health and happiness. Nothing about money and material possessions. That’s awesome.
I have a goal of reaching 300 stranger portraits before planning the exhibition and producing a fine art book. All proceeds of the exhibition and book will be going to the Save the Children charity.
I have just reached my 200th stranger so not too many more to go.
Photographers who have influenced me most throughout my journey are Richard Avedon, Diane Arbus, Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, and Herb Ritts, for their genius in creating simple portraits with so much impact.
Unfortunately, they are no longer with us, but their work is still admired across the globe.
I often get asked what equipment I use for taking portraits on the street. I use a Canon 5D Mark IV attached to a Sigma 50mm Art lens. I’m planning on selling this combo and purchasing the new medium format Fujifilm GFX-R attached to a Fujifilm GF 45mm f2.8 R WR. A portrait photographers dream. Several months ago, Fujifilm UK sent me the GFX-S to test and I was blown away with the results. Incredible.
Although equipment is important and good equipment makes the job easier, we have to remember that it’s the 12 inches behind the camera which creates the image.
In Photography there are no secrets, there are only principles that we don’t know or haven’t mastered yet. Keep shooting, constantly experiment and photograph what you love.”
Read the full article on Lens Magazine Issue #49
