The 1000th Face

The 'completion' of my Thousand Faces project crept up on me very rapidly this week, mainly because I'd forgotten that I'd left more than one hole in my journal where I hadn't got around to posting. I had a few preconceived ideas for today's portrait, including the notion of doing a selfie, but in the end it was important for me that it was a stranger. Although the thousand does include a good number of friends, they all appear because I happened to bump into them that day. The vast majority are complete strangers and I've never had any idea in advance of who was going to appear as my face each day. I like that sense of not knowing. It's become a very big part of my life.

I've talked before about the project soon becoming more about engagement than photography. The camera is a wonderful vehicle to create introductions. Without exception, as far as I know at least, every one of these portraits represents a positive encounter where my subject has enjoyed being acknowledged. I've not had a single bad experience as a result of approaching a great many more than a thousand people to ask for a picture. The worst that has happened is when one old man, a little drunk I suspect, told me to piss off!

I had a date with Forrest in Leeds this afternoon to watch the Hateful Eight so the plan was to try and get into the city after our Writer's Group meeting. Unfortunately, forgetting that we'd put the time back an hour, I found myself in Menston an hour early with the realisation that by the time I'd get to Leeds the light would be disappearing on another very damp and grey Saturday. I decided that blipping today had to be the priority, so I took the next train into Leeds and blew off my friends. Sorry guys!

There is a certain irony in that though, because I've discovered that I often get my best portraits when I have very little time. That pressure forces me to be bolder somehow, allowing me to overcome my natural inhibitions - and, yes, every day I do have to overcome a degree of inhibition. With time on my hands I found myself procrastinating, waiting for a natural engagement with someone, and not finding one. I wandered around for quite a while without much happening before I came across David here. He's homeless but has a little spot outside the Corn Exchange where he sells his "cups of art" for £3.50 a pop. Discarded cardboard coffee cups are the canvas for his surrealist work. He took great pleasure in telling me the story behind each one. He suggested that it was an investment which could well increase in value over time. That was the clincher. I had to have one!

The key point to make is that David is a lovely guy and I would not have had the experience of meeting him if it wasn't for this project. Which is exactly why I'm very reluctant to call it a day. There is nothing to stop me carrying on taking portraits and engaging with people as I have done this last few years, but without this driver I somehow doubt that I would. I'm highly introverted. It's not a natural thing for me to do. There are many days when I've really cursed this project and the need to go out into the world and talk to somebody, yet on each of those days, after having found someone, I've always felt better for the encounter and have been glad that I was forced to come out of my shell. A friend has suggested that I carry on and call it 'Ten Thousand Faces'. Strangely, that doesn't seem as daunting as 'A Thousand Faces' seemed when I first started. What do I do?

Finally, I loved Tarantino's latest film. I pretty much knew what I was going to get and it was duly delivered in his usual self-indulgent, extravagantly brilliant cinematic way. One to watch if you're a fan. One to avoid if you're not!