watching the kids

caught these strangers watching (and recording) their kids playing on a rope swing over a river.

Does "handmade" equal "art"...

This Stranger was hand making delicate birds out of reeds on the streets of Florence. But she is also one of dozens of Strangers we spotted across Italy making the exact same trinkets. Clearly there is a beautiful aspect to these birds...but is this art?

wobbly walk

this poor young lady was wobbling along on the pebbly beach with her boyfriend (i assume that's who he was). he seemed to be completely oblivious of her struggling to keep her footing behind him.

Discussions of meat...

These Strangers were surveying and selecting and slicing cuts of meat at Florence's Mercato Centrale.

Making Waves

These kids of Strangers were completely enraptured by the wild rhythms of wind and water on Lake Michigan. They would run right to the water's edge, literally challenging the lake to bring larger and more furious waves to shore. It's no ocean, but the Pt. Betsie Lighthouse saw many shipwrecks in these stormy waters before the advent of sophisticated navigational technology.




I thought the unbridled movement of the kids mimicked the mood of the lake well, as if they were involved in a complicated dance.

Snap snap...

Its fun to turn the camera on other photographers. This Stranger was snapping shots atop the Duomo in Florence.

Matching Thatching

I spotted these Strangers with their matching straw hats at the Dunegrass and Blues Festival in Empire, Michigan, around sunset. It's not every day you see a hat of such caliber, and to see two at once is a treat! I also love the ambience of the picture, with the sun's evening glow and long shadows. That, paired with the symmetry between their hats and the peaks of the tents...

Dwarfed...

This Stranger adds a sense of scale to the twisted tufa at California's famous Mono Lake.

Awestruck...

These Strangers stopped to ponder the panoramic views at Olmsted Point in Yosemite National Park.

Who Watches The Lighthouse Watchman?

This poor fellow had the unenviable task of standing guard outside the Bodie Lighthouse. I say unenviable because it was hot when we were there. Luckily he had his bottled water nearby (which you can barely make out beside the steps) to help keep himself hydrated during the oppressive heat. He was helpful enough but seemed to get asked the same question a lot (and the answer was "No, you're not allowed to go up to the top of this particular lighthouse").

Maybe There's A Reason

Ok, I feel a bit bad about posting something like this. And I promise I looked for some beefcake to balance it out, but there was nothing. But then I started looking at the photo and it reminded me of how sometimes a whole group of ladies will all go to the restroom at the same time, and I started thinking maybe there was something similar going on here. Maybe this is a bonding activity they're engaging in. Maybe this has some real underlying social implications of cliques in our culture. Maybe...

What's the Scoop?

Don't know which Stranger I find more interesting, the news reporter (anybody know who she is?) or the smoking postman. This photo was taken outside Union Station in Washington DC last night.