Ryan Daniel AKA Pale Blue Wave

The other day, I posted here about a photographer based in Portland who takes pictures of strangers. He records his encounters on video, which also showcase the photos he takes. His work has gained significant attention, even leading to a feature article about him on CNN.

 Ryan Daniel had no prior professional photography experience when he decided to buy his first camera.

But within six months of roaming the streets of Portland, Oregon — and with the help of a few online tutorials — Daniel developed a surprisingly unique photographic style: capturing free portraits of strangers.

Under the alias Pale Blue Wave, Daniel launched an Instagram account several years ago to share his work with a wider audience. The 40-year-old grew his following from roughly 100 to more than half-a-million across his social media accounts.