100 Unnamed Strangers: Busker on the Bank

Busker on the Bank : London, UK

This busker was playing the Blues on the banks of the Thames across from St Paul's. I wanted to get a better shot of his face, but felt I was being a bit too intrusive, especially as I'd spent a bit of time trying to frame him with St. Paul's in the background. I gave him a few quid for letting me photograph him.

Hands of the Busker on the Bank : London, UK

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/11

100 Unnamed Strangers: Table Tennis

Table tennis on a late summer's day : Bern, CH

Returning to Bern for just a moment... These young men were playing table tennis, or ping pong, in a park adjacent to the Berner Münster. They were both quite good! Also, this was taken several weeks ago, when the weather was still warm and the sun was out. Now? It's cold and rainy and yuck. I hope autumn and winter pass quickly!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

100 Unnamed Strangers: Arriba!

Mariachi : Puerta del Sol : Madrid, ES

October 12 is a holiday in Spain: Columbus Day. Yes, that Columbus. They, too, celebrate Columbus' discovery of the Americas. This mariachi, representing Mexico no doubt, was playing with his compatriots in the Puerta del Sol. I was fortunate that he looked right at my camera when I shot this. To see additional shots of some of Madrid's people, go here.

Watchful : Near the Plaza Mayor : Madrid, ES

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

100 Unnamed Strangers: Hiker at Staubbach Falls

Sunbath : Lauterbrunnen, CH

I loved this woman enjoying the early autumn sunshine and the beauty of Staubbach Falls.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

100 Unnamed Strangers: Morgen Fruh'

Morgen fruh'... : Basel, CH

After a glorious day in the Alsace with Rachel, Maya, and Basel-based friend Diana, I gave Rachel a whirlwind tour of Baselstadt. I go there quite frequently and it has featured often on this and my D.C. Confidential blog, so I was looking for photo opps other than my standard photos of this beautiful Swiss city on the Rhine River. I found my moment when we were at the Münster. As Rachel was photographing all the touristy stuff, I caught a photo of this gentleman enjoying the relative peace and quiet along the river.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

100 Unnamed Strangers at Fort l'Ecluse (Part V)

Restoration : Fort l'Ecluse, FR

These two pictures represent the first and last photos I shot at Fort l'Ecluse. The French government is currently doing restoration work on the fort and these two workers just happened to be discussing their work from an open window as I walked up. The second photo features a man smoking a cigarette and a mother and child resting on the grass on the second-to-the-last terrace before you reach the very top of the fort. If that woman walked up more than 800 steps carrying that kid, I'd be gobsmacked! Of course, given that that's about the only sensible way to get to this point, I'd have to guess she did. The alternative--climbing up the rock face--seems unlikely...

Resting : Fort l'Ecluse, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

100 Unnamed Strangers: Father and Son

 Father and Son : Rue Moufftard : Paris, FR

I meant to post this picture a couple of weeks ago. These two gentleman--obviously a father and son*--were watching the dancers and singers on the Rue Mouffetard. I snapped their photo, but didn't get their names. They have my card and I'm hoping, if they see their photo here, they'll leave their names and hometowns behind.

* I'd bet my right arm on two things: 1) they're Americans and 2) they're from New England.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/10

100 Unnamed Strangers: Chops

Sign and seal with a chop : Pike Place Market : Seattle, WA

Skipping back to the U.S. for a moment, I took this photo of a vendor in Pike Place selling chops. Chops are a stamp the Chinese use to sign and seal documents. When my sister lived in Hong Kong, she had one made for each of us. Mine is at home right now in a box, but this guy and his wares reminded me of her gift.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/10

100 Unnamed Strangers: Pike Place Busker

Busker : Pike Place Market : Seattle, WA

Now that I'm home, I'll post a few more pictures from the portion of my trip to Seattle. This wizened gent was playing and singing at the entrance to Pike Place Market. I'm including him as one of my 100 Unnamed Strangers.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/10

100 Unnamed Strangers: Florist

Quiet Beauty : Pike Place Market : Seattle, WA

While in Seattle, I spent an hour wandering around Pike Place Market. The market is filled with fishmongers, produce vendors, artisans, and florists. This woman, making a bouquet, caught my eye. I had to stand on my tiptoes to get this picture, because she wasn't much taller than the flowers around her, and neither was I!

P.S. I looked for fellow photo blogger Chuck Pefley while I was there, but didn't see him. Missed opportunity, I suppose.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/10

100 Unnamed Strangers

Waiting : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

Continuing another series featuring people: last weekend, we met friends Kim, Faith, and Carl in the market for croissants, coffee, and tea. I shot a few pictures of random people in the market. These two, in particular, stood out.

"People who tell me zhay are happy make my ass twitch!" - Kevin Kline in French Kiss : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/10

Waiting

Waiting, waiting, waiting... : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

My new camera arrived today, so I had to try it out. Maya had a doctor's appointment as a formality for the continuation of her work contract, so Janeen and I sat in the waiting room and, well, waited. While we waited, Janeen read a magazine in French (lucky gal) and I played with my camera. This guy was waiting, too.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

At the Alpage III

Savoyard Reservist : Alpage : Annecy, FR

Continuing on with this... A few weeks ago, we went to the Alpage in Annecy, France. In October, the farmers and herders of the Alps bring their cows, goats, sheep, and various and sundry other animals down from the Alps and the meadows and back into the valleys and towns for the winter. When this yearly migration occurs, the towns and villages hold an alpage festival. These are just a few pictures from the events in Annecy, which is not far from Albertville, France, host of the 1992 Winter Olympics.

MORE PHOTOS a la Janet:

These are just a few of the 185 shots I took in Annecy that day. More than 2/3 of my photos were of the alpage. If I can figure out a way to load the video I shot of the parade of cow bells, I'll post it. (But no promises!) In the meantime, here is someone else's video from the Alpage. (Oddly, this video was shot the year before not that far from where I was actually standing this year!)

VIDEO:

DESCENTE ALPAGE ANNECY 2008

At the Alpage II

One Alphorn and Its Owner : Alpage : Annecy, FR

Just a couple more strangers at the Alpage in Annecy. We missed actually hearing the alphorns, which was a huge disappointment for me. But the horns themselves were pretty darn cool! And again, no names for either the Alphornist or the Trumpeter. Let's just call them Gerard and Jacques, shall we?

Trumpeter : Alpage : Annecy, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/09

At the Alpage

Mischievous Twinkle : Des Alpage : Annecy, FR

Today's shot is from my archives. I took this gentleman's photo at the Alpage in Annecy, France, a few weeks ago. I love the mischievous twinkle in his eye. Sadly, no name since I don't parle vous Francais.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/09

Parisians, Part I

Gentleman in the Pte. Clichy Metro station : Paris, FR

Paris is a great place to people watch. These are just a few examples of Parisians I photographed. I'm also adding the gent in the above photo to my 100 Strangers series. He was on the other side of the Metro platform at Pte. Clichy, so I couldn't get his name, but he did wave at me after I took his picture.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 08/09

Sunset Years

Sunset Years : Geneva, CH

The other evening, we had dinner at a restaurant on the east side of the lake in Geneva. The sun was setting and we had seats with a view of the crosswalk. This couple caught my eye. I thought they looked quite lovely in the early evening light.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 07/09

Couples

Thoughtful Waiting : Starbucks : Zurich, CH

Just a couple more shots of various people I saw in Zurich. I'd add them to my 100 Strangers, but I didn't introduce myself or get names. In the next day or two, I'll feature a young man whose picture I took and name I got while wandering around Old Town Geneva. Stay tuned...

United/Divided : Zurich, CH

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 06/09