So you think you can ask total strangers to pose for you?

Portrait at the Michigan Avenue Apple Store, originally uploaded by Zesmerelda.

It's harder than it sounds. LaCa and I chose this as the topic of our weekly photo safari because it's something I've wanted to work on for a long time. I take a lot of photos, but strangers have always been hard for me. There are rules to be found on the 100 strangers Flickr group, but the main one is that you have to ask the person if you can photograph them. No candids.

We went to the Apple Store on Michigan Avenue to practice. There were still people waiting in line for an iPhone, so we felt they wouldn't reject the entertainment of photography.  No one asked what we were going to do with the photos, but several people were reluctant.  Fortunately, we were able to cajole a few into becoming our subjects.

I need to practice and work up to doing this without a wing woman. Not sure why I turn shy about doing this, but I do. Guess it's the fear of rejection. Photographs are personal and I'm invading someone's space. Still, I did it. More to come.

My photo set (with extras from the day) can be seen here. LaCa's is here.