100 Strangers : No. 59 : Stephen by phil_howcroft

100 Strangers : No. 59 : Stephen

This is my second steampunk stranger from the Steampunk Market at Sneinton Market in Nottingham.

I saw Stephen walking around the market with his friends and I knew he would make a great stranger.

Having photographed Hollly (stranger 58) against some really nice yellow shutters, I was tempted to ask Stephen to stand in front of the shutters. However, I noticed the sandstone wall of an old former Victorian School , The Town Mission, Ragged School, I thought the tone of the sandstone would compliment Stephen's outfit. Quite appropriate don't you think that I photographed Stephen in front of a Victorian building.

Anyway, I introduced myself to Stephen and asked him for a photograph for my project. Stephen was happy to sit for me and I suggested the wall as a good backdrop,

Stephen really embraces being a steampunk . He is a member of the Newark Steampunk Society and i think he also told me he was a member of The Lincoln Steampunk Society.

I asked Stephen if he knew many of the steampunks attending and he told me the societies of various people attending.

Stephen used to work for a local newspaper in Nottingham, so we had a little chat about how newspapers are changing from print to online versions.

We exchanged cards and I emailed Stephen this image and a monochrome version last night.

Stephen likes the images I sent and is looking forward to seeing this photo appear in the 100 strangers series.

I had a little trouble with getting details in Stephen's hat. This is the second top hat (I think it is a top hat, maybe it is taller than what I think a top hat should be) in my 100 strangers and I had trouble with my first hat.

Edited in Darktable, with a crop and adjustments to saturation and contrast.

This picture is number 59 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

https://www.flickr.com/groups/100strangers/

My own strangers can be seen here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/57144254@N08/albums/72157657822400168
Another great find. This festival has been a rich source of strangers for you, Phil!
December 15th, 2016  
A perfect backdrop for a distinguished gentleman. A stunning image.
December 15th, 2016  
@allie912 thanks allison, I have at least two more strangers to post from the event, but might hold them back for a week and slip a couple of more strangers into the project before i post them

@busylady thanks judith, glad you like this one

@allie912 @busylady as a footnote to the meeting, i've emailed the shots to stephen and had good feedback from him. He also commented on the image on the flickr post :)
December 16th, 2016  
Such a lovely portrait of this fun loving gentleman of the Steam-punks . The portrait works so well against the stone wall , and he looks almost a Dandy with his rose buttonhole
December 16th, 2016  
Another lovely portrait and a very good choice of background for this shot. Really like the angle you got, both of the background and the slight tilt of the head. This is such a powerful series!
December 16th, 2016  
What a great looking character, the wall was a good choice. Be interesting to see the b/w.
December 16th, 2016  
Like the background - and the rose! You are doing great with your portraits.
December 16th, 2016  
@beryl thank you beryl, i like the use of the word Dandy :)

@granagringa thank you for your wonderful comment :)

@jennywren thanks jen, glad you like this image :)

@quietpurplehaze thanks haze, i have had a bumper set of portraits for my strangers , more to come
December 17th, 2016  
So well done on every thing going on here
December 18th, 2016  
Absolutely interesting person to photograph! Nicely done too.
December 9th, 2023  
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