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Touching Strangers

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Sometimes art moves us by revealing life as it is. Other times it inspires by showing life as it could be. At first blush, photographer Richard Renaldi's project clearly falls into the second category. He shoots portraits of people who were strangers to each other only moments earlier, making some manner of warm, embracing physical contact with each other. Some of the portraits affect a sense of romantic intimacy, others simply express companionship; but they all present the subjects in relationship that did not exist moments earlier. The magic? After this experience, the subjects all report a degree of emotional transformation from the experience. Watch and be touched.

Be The Change

Browse a fuller portfolio of â€‹Richard Renaldi's series, "Touching Strangers".

Touch has the power to strengthen relationships and is a marker of closeness. Read what psychologists say about the language of touch.

Reach out and touch someone -- sensitively and considerately -- and be aware of how your intentions are communicated through this basic human contact.

Reflections (31)

julia

This made me well up inside as it is so simple but also clear that the barriers that seem so powerful are pretty easily broken through--person to person. Maybe this is just for a moment but this moment can really teach us something so so crucial about self-transcendence and boundary-crossing.

Trish

The transformation ability that the power of touch possess is inspiring. This video showed that underneath it all, we all are the same, with the same needs primarily. This video testifies to that...simply amazing!

Sheree of Lawshe.podbean.com

The people of the world are coming to understand we are all connected and that new thought or understanding is developing in a variety of many forms. I for one am so happy about this. Thank you for sharing this video with the world.

Marc

These are all "costumes" that we wear on the outside, the real thing is inside, and we are a lot closer that we think. It's nice when we get a little reminder like this project. Great work!

Liza

Beautiful; especially hearing how the subjects felt warmth towards each other after the photography sessions..We are all beloveds...

Debbie

This is so totally awesome.... you show the innate true primal condition of human beings and the connection we all share!

Veronica

This restores hope for reconnecting with our common humanity. If more of us 'touched' others who we normally regard as strangers/different from us, perhaps we would know we weren't different at all! - Thank you to Richard for touching us all.

Franki

The genuine affection that two or three strangers can very quickly feel for each other was wonderfully moving, it shows us that with a little effort we can get in touch with our connectedness and let go of the social conventions that can separate us. What a most amazing project Richard has taken on, thank you! xx

Tobi

Look beyond the form, beyond our "stranger-ness" and into the soul, the "human-ness" - this helps us do that

Mindy

Thanks for bringing this photographer's work to our attention! His interesting photo subjects exemplifies how we are all truly connected. It only takes a moment to remember.

Julie Brunton

It gives me lost faith in mankind. I love this outstanding. A simple look or touch of kindness can make all the difference.

Mary Ellen Henry

Mr. Renaldi's work has my mind bursting with possibilities for overcoming the barriers that separate us. What a difference it could make if we held hands instead of holding guns!

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Touching Strangers

Reflections (31)

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