(45 votes, average: 4.07 out of 5)
Loading ...
Click To Get More Conceptual Photography / Portraiture - Share
(45 votes, average: 4.07 out of 5) Loading ...
Introduction by Diederik Meijer
Richard Renaldi’s work is of great humor and comes from a simple yet ingenious idea. Renaldi claims ‘that there is unlimited potential for new relationships with almost everybody passing by,’ I agree totally. Each double portrait radiates our vulnerability with one another as human beings. At the same it enhances the idea of connecting and shows me that I too have more in common with strangers than I thought. Causing these encounters and photographing them gives the project traces of an art performance as well, albeit one performed in front of a small audience – initially.
Views for this post have not been counted.Click to open comments section, click again when done to close
Previous presentation - These Contradictory Feelings
Next presentation - Bliss Street Is Inhabited By Six Women And One Man
Touching Strangers is an ongoing photographic project stemming from my interest in the dynamics of group portraiture. The premise of this work is simple: I meet two or more people on the street who are strangers to each other, and to me. I ask them if they will pose for a photograph together with the stipulation that they must touch each other in some manner. Frequently, I instruct or coach the subjects how to touch. Just as often, I let their tentative physical exploration play out before my camera with no interference.
I undertook Touching Strangers as a means of bringing new complexity to the art of portrait-making. My objective was to introduce an unpredictable variable in a very traditional photographic formula; to create a spontaneous and fleeting relationship between complete strangers in front of my 8×10 view camera.
Though these situations involve orchestrated collaborations between subject and photographer, the emotions captured are both genuine and honest. Touching Strangers encourages viewers to think about how we relate physically to one another, and to entertain the possibility that there is unlimited potential for new relationships with almost everybody passing by.
“Stranger, if you, passing, meet me
and desire to speak to me,
why should you not speak to me?
And why should I not speak to you?”
Walt Whitman
Richard Renaldi (1968) lives and works in New York City. Click weblink renaldi.com or browse our archives
Random slideshow suggestion - click image
I like >>>>
love, love, love the idea and the pictures!
This is a wonderful way to bring people to think: about themselves, about strangers, about photography and portraiture. I’d give more than 5 if possible!
I saw this a while ago and I must say I find it to be one of the freshest and smartest photo projects I’ve seen in quite some time. Thank you for this.
Nice portrait
fantastic idea. i love this project!!
interesting!