I'd been thinking about taking up the "100 strangers" project challenge, but hadn't managed to overcome my discomfort about initiating the process of approaching strangers for photos.

Then I found myself down at the local marina, admiring the visiting Russian Viking boat and chatting to a pleasant young woman who also was showing an interest in it. She called up another of her friends who she thought also would be interested, and together we talked to an Australian crewman from the boat. It was all so relaxed and pleasant that when my photographic urges took over I found that I wasn't just taking photos of the boat, but that I'd also asked my companions if I could take their photos for this project. After that we exchanged names.

Should you see this, thanks Kayla, you helped to get me started.

This picture is 01 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page