Faces: Bonus

When I started this project, the first faces were from the fire department.  Julia said, "Mommy, you need to do the police, too."  I thought it would be fun to come full circle, since the police department and the fire department are in the same building.

Chief Havas wasn't toooooo thrilled about getting his photo taken, and I caught him at a bad time, but he obliged for a very, very quick image.

Thanks!!

And with this image, my 30 faces in 30 days project is complete.  Whew!  

What I learned:

• People are generally friendly and accommodating.
• Going up to complete strangers is HARD, but the interesting people you meet are worth it.
• Doing a project like this is a good way to get over shyness with strangers.  Oh yes it is!
• It would be better to do this in the summer time when there are plenty of events going on where people gather.  There aren't a lot of places here for that once summer is over, which I found challenging (and why I got to the last day behind).
• When an opportunity presents itself, don't hesitate.  Take it!  I don't know how many times I saw someone that had a unique look or something, but by the time I hemmed and hawed about it, the moment had passed and the opportunity lost.
• Bring your camera everywhere.  Today I saw a guy walking his dog.  A handsome, older gentleman smoking a pipe.  You don't see that very much these days!  But I was rushing to the school to bring something in, and left my camera at home.  Interesting face and photo op gone buh-bye.
• Rain stinks.

And with that, I bid the Community Portrait Project adieu.  I hope everyone enjoyed this journey as much--or more!!--than I did.  If you're thinking about doing something like this, dive in!  It's hard, I won't deny, but you will see definite improvement in your confidence and people skills, so it's well worth the shaky knees and butterfly stomach!

:)

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**If you'd like a complimentary low-res copy of your image(s) for your Facebook profile, please like www.facebook.com/allegriaimagesbylynn, look for the 30faces album, and tag yourself.  Please do not crop out the watermark.  

 To order prints, please contact me at allegriaimages@gmail.com

All images copyright Allegria Images by Lynn Rutz.  Any downloading, copying, or printing without my express permission is prohibited.**

Faces 30: Meet Hailey

Hailey learned a lesson today.  Unless you WANT your photo taken, never EVER make eye contact with let alone greet someone walking past you with a camera!

She was great, though, and when I turned back and asked for her photo, she agreed.  Whoot!

She's studying premed here, and then she's off to chiropractic school in Ohio (edit:  oops.  Davenport, Iowa!). Her dad's a chiropractor as well, which is pretty cool.

I've never been to a chiropractor before, although I probably should...my shoulders are stiff just sitting here.

Anyway.  Here's Hailey.

Thanks for letting me take your photo--and for agreeing to get down onto the grass!

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**If you'd like a complimentary low-res copy of your image(s) for your Facebook profile, please like www.facebook.com/allegriaimagesbylynn, look for the 30faces album, and tag yourself.  Please do not crop out the watermark.  

 To order prints, please contact me at allegriaimages@gmail.com

All images copyright Allegria Images by Lynn Rutz.  Any downloading, copying, or printing without my express permission is prohibited.**

Faces 28 and 29: Sam and Emily

Sam and Emily were sitting under a tree, hangin' out, so I approached them, and they were so nice and friendly!  Sam is studying Political Science, while Emily is doing a double major in Criminology and Psychology.

Here's Sam and his awesome Jamaica shirt:

I think Emily is gorgeous, and I didn't know which picture to post, so she's getting a bonus one:

I took a quick shot of them together but...it didn't turn out so well.  :(  For some reason, these aren't as crystal clear as they appear in Lightroom, so I think Blogger is having resolution issues.  BUT trust me--her eyes are gorgeous!  

Thanks for allowing me to take your photos, you two, and good luck with your studies!

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**If you'd like a complimentary low-res copy of your image(s) for your Facebook profile, please like www.facebook.com/allegriaimagesbylynn, look for the 30faces album, and tag yourself.  Please do not crop out the watermark.  

 To order prints, please contact me at allegriaimages@gmail.com

All images copyright Allegria Images by Lynn Rutz.  Any downloading, copying, or printing without my express permission is prohibited.**

Faces 27: Jon

Four people behind and the last day.  Wanted to take some photos of the military, but nobody was at the recruiting offices.  So off I went to the university.  It's a nice day, so I thought there would probably be people around.  Jon and a friend of his were having lunch outside, so I approached them, and Jon agreed to a picture.

Thanks Jon!!

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**If you'd like a complimentary low-res copy of your image(s) for your Facebook profile, please like www.facebook.com/allegriaimagesbylynn, look for the 30faces album, and tag yourself.  Please do not crop out the watermark.  

 To order prints, please contact me at allegriaimages@gmail.com

All images copyright Allegria Images by Lynn Rutz.  Any downloading, copying, or printing without my express permission is prohibited.**

Sustenance

Although I couldn't take a photo at O'Shea's (my favorite chocolate place), I DID score these fabulous sea salt caramels.

Yummo.

Just enough sustenance to go off on a marathon of photographing faces, since to meet my goal I need 4 more by the end of the day!

Cover me--I'm going in!

Faces 25 and 26: Deb and Taylor

My favorite theater--the Westwood Plaza Theatre and Cafe.  Nowhere else can you go, order a nice sandwich platter, go inside to watch the movie, and have your food delivered to your seat. Then you can sit back, relax, watch a flick and chow down.  The prices are also really good, so if I want to just go to a movie with the kiddos in the afternoon, it's really economical.  :)

I love the names of the platters, all named after actors or movies.  One of my faves is "The Last Action Gyro."  Yum.

I'm still not sure exactly how the little lit candles work out, but the system somehow does the trick!

They've also recently gone digital, unlike many small theatres, so the quality of the film is really good, too.

So here's Deb, who has been working at the theatre for 12 years.  I've seen her plenty of times, but would have never gotten to know her name or have a chance to visit her without this project.

Goooo project!

And this is Taylor.  He has been at the theatre for about 3 years.  Now I know who's making my food--and maybe since we've had a chance to chat today I can hit him up for an extra pickle next time I'm at a movie.  hehe.  I looooove the pickle spears at this place.

If you live in the area (or in Latrobe, since they recently opened a theatre there), check 'em out!  You won't be disappointed with either the smile at the ticket counter or with your meal.  

Thanks you guys.  Not only for the shots but for being patient as I struggled with a glitchy camera.  I think it needs a tune-up...

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**If you'd like a complimentary low-res copy of your image(s) for your Facebook profile, please like www.facebook.com/allegriaimagesbylynn, look for the 30faces album, and tag yourself.  Please do not crop out the watermark.  

 To order prints, please contact me at allegriaimages@gmail.com

All images copyright Allegria Images by Lynn Rutz.  Any downloading, copying, or printing without my express permission is prohibited.**

Face 24: Alexis

Went into my favorite chocolate store today to see if I could take a photo there.  I need to make a phone call to have permission first.  BUT, Alexis was in the store with her grandmother, and I asked her if she'd like her picture taken.  Who wouldn't jump at the chance to take her photo?  And she's dressed as though it was a planned shoot!

What wasn't planned, though, was trying to find a place to take her picture.  The chocolate store is in a strip mall, so finding a small piece of wall without glass next to it or parking lot behind was a bit of an adventure.  This photo was shot on about 2 feet of wood perpendicular to a glass window, with the parking lot showing on the other side.

I thank my lucky stars every day for the invention of Photoshop!  If I knew who invented it, I'd send them chocolate from O'Shea's!

But without further ado, I bring you Alexis.

For fun, I edited it this way, too.

Which one do you like best?  I think I'm partial to the full colour.   I love the gorgeous tone of the wood against the turquoise of her necklace and cami.

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**If you'd like a complimentary low-res copy of your image(s) for your Facebook profile, please like www.facebook.com/allegriaimagesbylynn, look for the 30faces album, and tag yourself.  Please do not crop out the watermark.  

 To order prints, please contact me at allegriaimages@gmail.com

All images copyright Allegria Images by Lynn Rutz.  Any downloading, copying, or printing without my express permission is prohibited.**