the backdrop project, round two.
1. Daisy | Brooklyn
2. Mohamed | Midtown
3. Marwa | Midtown
4. Shannon | Brooklyn
5. Marwa | Upper East Side
6. Amin | Midtown
A few more for the Backdrop files. I’ve been experimenting a bit with more unconventional spaces and backdrops; the photos of Marwa and Mohamed were taken indoors, during a trip to FAO Schwartz (weirdly not as terrifying a space as I’d remembered it being; then again, the last time I was in there, it was five days before Christmas 2006 and there was a line out the door). I messed up the aperture on these indoor shots; should not have been quite as open as it was — there was background detail that got washed out. But I’m going to continue with some indoor shooting, just to see if a better aperture setting might allow for more precise backdrops like wallpaper, art, and so on.
I can’t wait for springtime — in general and for the purposes of this project. It’d be nice to take photos of folks sans winter coats! Though I’m amused by the one of Shannon — she’s so bundled up that you can’t actually discern any skin or hair, nothing to make her fully … human.
Marwa’s son Amin happily agreed to take part in the project, patiently standing still while I futzed around with the camera settings. At ten, he’s currently the youngest participant in the Backdrop Project; I’m hoping that when I go home to LA at the end of the month to see my family, my two and a half year old nephew Eli will somehow stay still long enough to take part as well.
hong-an tran 
Ah… it wasn’t until the description that I realized what was going on with the shelves in Marwa’s first photo. I’m actually oddly disappointed – I thought that she was standing on a really tall building somewhere in Midtown and looking out at the Alps, somehow. Which would be pretty awesome if that was possible. Also – Daisy’s hair just leaps out at you, doesn’t it?
Look this project that you’re working on. So glad that I discovered your work!
I found your site and notice. Are you filming something? What kind of project is it?! Im quite interesting what you took these photos !!
What kind of Camera did you use to take those beautiful photos in urban ?! If you are taking like documentaries, I’d like to know how you shoot them everything. Please!!!!
when youre doing street photography it never works when you get peoples backs (i find) but of course yours isnt exactly street photography and your photos are amazing. like you said for the photo of shannon, she can be anything bubdled up, i can see this growing into something very very interesting. thanks for sharing your creative idea =)
Fantastic project! Love these shots. The depth you get within such simplicity is wonderful.
Look forward to seeing more of these. Your other shots are also gorgeous.
Fantastic projext. I Like it
Are you using strangers for this photos? Very interesting. Any tips on approaching strangers ?
thanks, everyone!
@Aisha: i’m not filming anything; this project is just all film photographs, taken (up until now) with my Leica, though i might start trying it out with my non-digital SLRs at some point.
@nestor188days: i’m only starting to ask strangers to participate, and it’s hard! i’ve relied mostly on my friends, but on a couple of occasions, i’ve struck up conversations with strangers and shown them a couple of examples of the project — i’ve saved a few images on my iphone — and then ask if they wouldn’t mind taking part. the few times that i’ve asked, people have been obliging, i think because it’s such a random request, and probably also because their faces aren’t included!