People watching from a cafe on Cuba Street in Wellington, New Zealand, Sarah suddenly had an idea “Hey mum, I challenge you to do the 100-Strangers Project featuring a rainbow of hair color.”
It’s a new twist on an old challenge to help improve my portrait photography skills. Last year I never completed the 100 Strangers Project as I tend to be too intimidated to ask random strangers for permission to take their photo. It is easier now as I can start out by admiring their cool hair colour (and yes, I really do find coloured hair attractive).
I have read lots of descriptions of the 100 strangers project and each seems to be a bit different. I don’t know the original parameters. I know that my challenge was to approach, introduce myself, explain that I am doing the 100 strangers project, and ask to take a photo. The goal is twofold. First, to increase my confidence in asking to photograph people I don’t know and second, to polish my portrait photography skills.
It sounds simple, but it wasn’t for me. Rather than completely random strangers, I had to find and photograph 100 people with interesting hair. The finding part is pretty easy in New Zealand.
Rather than sharing images of all 100 strangers, I have opted to display only a rainbow of hair colours, starting with this celebration of St. Patrick’s Day: 
A Rainbow of Hair Colour
Often it’s the people that inspire me to travel, so I love the diversity and cultural expression. But more importantly, this is my best photo tip. If you want to improve your photography, you need to get out and take photos. If you travel and like to include people to help tell a story with your images, you need to be comfortable approaching them and asking permission. They are more relaxed, and your image will be better. For me, the 100-strangers project was the ideal tool.
If you enjoyed this article, please share it on social media and pin it on Pinterest:
Walk Wellington – Best Way to See New Zealand’s Capital City
Emma Moody
October 1, 2015 at 10:53 pmThis is a long shot but I was wondering if you were the woman who took a photo of my hair. It was a very interesting purple-pink color at the time and I think in a ponytail. I remember someone (and I’m hoping I have found the right photographer here hahaha) coming up to me in a clothing store.
I really LOVED the photo you took and was hoping to get ahold of it somehow, if possible.
Rhonda Albom
October 3, 2015 at 6:59 pmGood news for you. Yes, and I have sent you the photo. Enjoy.
CatSynth
March 20, 2015 at 10:03 amThat is indeed some colorful hair. I like how close some of them are to pure colors 🙂
Rhonda Albom
March 20, 2015 at 10:26 amI wonder if they had to strip all the color from their hair before doing it. How else could they get such bold colors.
Dagmar ~ Dagmar's Home
March 19, 2015 at 1:46 pmI’ve never thought about coloring my hair in a crazy color. I guess I’d go for really light blonde again? I was a blonde as a kid and colored it for years in my 20s.
Indah Nuria Savitri
March 19, 2015 at 1:08 pmI love your shots….they all look gorgeous :)…especially the purple hair, my fave 🙂
Rhonda Albom
March 19, 2015 at 1:11 pmShe was just standing out on the corner giving away samples for something I didn’t want, with all that beautiful purple hair.
Stephanie
March 19, 2015 at 12:56 pmI’m so impressed you got so many beautiful strangers to pose for you 🙂
Molly
March 19, 2015 at 12:09 pmI love all the reds and purple tones, mine is currently Cherry Red but my favourite one is called Plum!
mollyxxx
Sarah E. Albom
March 19, 2015 at 12:09 pmI’m glad I thought of the challenge, your pictures are fabulous! My favourite is the second blue-haired girl.
Julie Kemp Pick
March 19, 2015 at 12:02 pmWhat an unusual challenge! I like the spirited St. Patrick’s goatee and matching hat combo best!
Rhonda Albom
March 19, 2015 at 12:05 pmThe most interesting part of that photo, is that it wasn’t St. Patrick’s Day when I shot the photo. I should have asked his story.
Suze The Luxury Columnist
March 19, 2015 at 10:20 amSuch a fun post! Green works surprisingly well – though I wouldn’t fancy it myself. My own hair has varied from dark brown to blonde to auburn
Rhonda Albom
March 19, 2015 at 10:57 amMine hasn’t even gone that far. It’s current chestnut is the darkest, then a dark blonde to Auburn range is more the norm.
New Jersey Memories
March 19, 2015 at 9:51 amI admire colorful hair — on other people, too. I’m too fair-skinned to look good in any other color but blonde. Interesting array of photographs! The man with the green mustache sure looked ready for St. Patrick’s Day!
Rhonda Albom
March 19, 2015 at 10:56 am“On other people” those are the key words for me. The mustache guy was weeks early. I just ran him now.
Sara Chapman in Seattle USA
March 19, 2015 at 8:08 amThis is a wonderful idea and you have brought it into being so beautifully. Love these portraits and find them very inspiring. May I make a small suggestion? Not sure if this is my browser or what, but I had to scroll ALL the way down to leave a comment. Was looking for a Comment link below (or above) your post where they usually are. Not sure how that can be fixed, however.
Rhonda Albom
March 19, 2015 at 10:56 amGreat idea Sara – having this many comments is very exciting, but also new. I will look into it.
harriet
March 19, 2015 at 6:46 amThat looks like a lot of fun. Why not?
Eli@coachdaddy
March 19, 2015 at 3:44 amLove the variety! What a cool project. (Girl 3 and the last one are my faves.)
I went blond once … a big change for a 30-something Hispanic guy. I’ll never do it again!
orangeheromama
March 19, 2015 at 3:11 amWow, what a cool idea! I LOVE colourful hair on ppl too. and 2 of those girls looked simply beautiful with their bright pink, and purple hair!
Colleen
March 19, 2015 at 2:07 amEven 10 years ago we would have thought it was Halloween. But they all look good!
Diana @ Toronto Teacher Mom
March 19, 2015 at 12:25 amWhat a neat project! I’m just so surprised you were able to find so many strangers with so many different hair colours.
Rhonda Albom
March 19, 2015 at 10:45 amIn Wellington it seemed they were everywhere. There is a university there, plus it was Cricket World Cup while we were there, so at least one told me it’s not her norm, but rather a fan thing.
jenny@atasteoftravel
March 19, 2015 at 12:17 amI love the guy with the green mo…what a great way to celebrate St Pats Day! I think I’ll be staying with my blonde hair. I’m not sure I’d even like to see another colour on my daughter’s hair.Old fashioned is probably what they’d call me!!
Rhonda Albom
March 19, 2015 at 10:44 amMy daughter added bright red strip at the front when she was 11, but the hair dresser said on young hair it was too damaging, so she advised her to stop on long hair.
Birgitta
March 19, 2015 at 12:06 amCool and colorful photo series!
Claire
March 18, 2015 at 11:40 pmWow you got some great pictures here, love the top on perfect for St Patrick’s day 🙂
Indrani
March 18, 2015 at 6:26 pmWonderful theme! And you got so many faces for it!
Great series!
Linda W
March 18, 2015 at 6:21 pmVery interesting post! I loved seeing all the different ways people color their hair. It must’ve been a fun assignment.
Rhonda Albom
March 18, 2015 at 7:19 pmI am really having a lot of fun with it. Generally the personality type that goes for bright and bold is also really friendly.
Mary Denman
March 18, 2015 at 2:12 pmWhat a cool project!! I love the different colors. I wouldn’t have the nerve to color my hair..But I appreciate it on other people!
Do you send the people a digital copy of their picture?
Rhonda Albom
March 18, 2015 at 7:18 pmThanks Mary. I generally give out my card so people can contact me, but I do like the idea of sending a digital photo. I still have 70 more photos to finish the challenge.
Anonymous
March 18, 2015 at 12:38 pmYowzah!
I have to admit…. I don’t think I’d have the guts to wear my hear in bright colors. I suppose I’m chicken. But I love your photos anyway! T
Leovi
March 18, 2015 at 11:56 amYes, there really are wonderful these hair colors to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Great photos !!
Rhonda Albom
March 18, 2015 at 12:58 pmActually, I shot these at the beginning of the month. They are random, even green mustache guy. I just featured it here for St. Patrick’s Day.
Christa
March 18, 2015 at 11:40 amHaha, that’s a really fun challenge. Sarah has a GREAT sense of humor and you are a very COOL MUM! Can’t wait to see more.
Rhonda Albom
March 18, 2015 at 12:57 pmLOL – Thanks Christa, but the people who are really cool are the strangers who color their hair and then let me take their photo.
kristi
March 18, 2015 at 10:28 amOne of my son’s fifth grade classmates had dark blue colored on the ends of her hair. I thought that looked pretty cool. I loved all these photos!
Alissa Apel
March 18, 2015 at 10:11 amIt’s kind of in to had a gradient hair fade. I do like that. I personally let my hair go. It has even amount of grey in it.
Lux Ganzon
March 18, 2015 at 8:48 amI love these colors! I wonder when I could try these unique dyes. I’m only on brown or blonde. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
March 18, 2015 at 9:40 amJust make an appointment with your hairdresser, or do it yourself. My understanding is that unless you are blonde to begin with, you will need to strip the color out of your hair to get a really vivid result.
Robyn Engel
March 18, 2015 at 8:01 amI love it. This is fun. Your daughter has a creative mind.
The most bold I’d go, and have gone with my hair (not purposely), is a loud auburn/red. But it fades after a few washes, and it’s not nearly as loud as these gals’ hair.
Patricia
March 18, 2015 at 7:27 amGorgeous people with colorful hair. Buddy with the green mustache has to be a good sport. I color my hair, but it’s the same color it was before the dreaded grey began!!!
Patrick Weseman
March 18, 2015 at 6:38 amNice hair. LOL. I haven’t done anything to my hair in years.
http://csuhpat1.blogspot.com/2015/03/oakland-museum-white-elephant-sale-2015.html
Rachel@safari254
March 18, 2015 at 6:24 amSuch bold and colorful people … the first one is definately a winner
Comedy Plus
March 18, 2015 at 3:11 amI love the soft red color. I’ve seen that more than once. Very nice.
I won’t ever color my hear a different color. I’m too old for that.
Have a fabulous day Rhonda. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
March 18, 2015 at 9:36 amActually, I know plenty of people who would disagree, and say we are never too old to have fun. Of course, maybe it’s not fun to you.
Dominique Goh
March 18, 2015 at 1:37 amLovely shades of pink, purple, green and red hair.. Happy WW
Alex J. Cavanaugh
March 18, 2015 at 12:57 amWow, look at the purple on granny! She’s hip.
Life in Pieces
March 17, 2015 at 11:44 pmFun photos! It really depends on the person as to the color that I like, but probably the red/magenta shades are my favorite on those with dark hair. For myself, I started life with almost black hair, which now that I have more gray than color, I tried once to emulate with hair color. I knew I’d missed the mark when one of the young guys at work asked me if I was going goth.
Rhonda Albom
March 18, 2015 at 1:05 amI would have said that before I put the post together, but looking at all the colors I think I like the aqua blue color.
YAM
March 17, 2015 at 11:27 pmHari OM
Not something I have ever really understood the need to do; I’m a natural salt and pepper. Mainly salt… &*> Great photo project though…YAM xx
stevebethere
March 17, 2015 at 10:49 pmYour doing quite well so far Rhonda, love these red seems to be the preferred colour doesn’t it, I bleached mine in the 70’s never again LOL mind you now I can’t cos I ain’t got any left haha!
Have a tintastic week 🙂
PS: As I was scrolling down I was expecting you to pop up with coloured hair hahaha!
Merlinda Little ( @pixiedusk)
March 17, 2015 at 10:40 pmI always wanted a red hair! I wish I can do that before summer. So that in summer my hair would be like pn fire whenever I am out. That would be very cool.. as cool as these photos =)
Fun60
March 17, 2015 at 10:20 pmYour first photo is an absolute winner. I’m with you about not feeling comfortable asking strangers if I can take their photo so well done. My hair is without colour as it is white and has been for a long time now.
Hilary
March 17, 2015 at 9:35 pmHi Rhonda .. good challenge .. love the colours and I do love seeing people with their hair all glowing with vibrancy … sadly mine is too thin .. and the less done the better (I think!) .. so it’s salt and peppering quietly – probably more salt now! Looking forward to more colourful heads of hair .. bet there will be lots of green ones around today .. cheers Hilary
Corinne
March 17, 2015 at 9:17 pmWell, It looks like you have a lot of colors…and people…to choose from! I love it!
noel
March 17, 2015 at 6:41 pmWow, everyone wears their colors boldly, I love it – most really fit well with their looks/personality from what I can see.
Jim
March 17, 2015 at 6:10 pmGreat colours.
Jay @CraftySpices
March 17, 2015 at 6:06 pmThat is so cool. Would love to do something like that with a group of friends.
Have a lovely week!
Raychael aka Mystery Case
March 17, 2015 at 3:37 pmLove the colours and wish I was more adventurous. I had a disastrous experience at the hairdressers last week. After years of lightening so I could disguise the grey regrowth and not dye so often, they dye they used turned my hair back to dark brown. So not happy and was assured at the time the colour they were using matched my existing colour.
Joyce
March 17, 2015 at 3:26 pmWhere’s your kid’s photo?
Joyful
March 17, 2015 at 3:25 pmWow that really is a rainbow of hair colour. I’ve never really considered what the boldest colour is that i might wear because I tend to like a traditional coloured look on myself. Maybe I would wear purple or blue.