Hockley in Nottingham city centre is quite a vibrant bit of the city. Lots of independent 'none mainstream' shops, restaurants and bars.
I always like a walk around Hockley while Jane does a bit of retail therapy shopping.
When I saw Robert, I thought he might make a good stranger. "Good thinking", I hear you all say. Anyway, I approached Robert.....
"Excuse me , could you help me, I am doing a photography project on street portraits. Is it OK to take your photo"
"Yes of course you can"
"Do you mind moving over here, so I don;t get reflections from the shop window?"
"Yes That's OK"
I took a few shots , trying to make sure no shoppers were walking in the background.
"Thank You, what's your name?"
"Robert"
"Thanks Robert, what are you up to today?" (I shake Robert's hand)
"Just wandering about really. Haven't got much to do really, I lost my girlfriend 16 months ago. She died suddenly. It gets a bit lonely"
I wasn't expecting a response like that, so tried to change the subject a bit.
"Is that your mate over there?" (Robert was stood with another man when I first saw him.
"Yes it is, he lost his wife 12 months ago. From a brain aneurysm"
"Ahh right, I said, that's sad"
"Are you on your own"?
"No my wife is shopping, I am just taking some photos for my project"
"Are you from Nottingham, Robert"
"Yes I am"
"Ahhh right, how old are you Robert"
"78"
"78 ...You are looking good for 78 Robert"
"Thank You"
"Well, thank you for letting me take your photo Robert. Is it OK if I post your photo online?"
"Yes, that's not a problem"
I shake Robers hand again.
The cafe, Robert and his friend were stood outside then opened (I didn't realise they had been waiting for it to open)
"Have a nice meal Robert"
"Thanks"
Edited in Rawtherapee with a Kodak Ektar 100 film emulation and then sent to GIMP to clone out a couple of bits of distracting bokeh.
This picture is number 17 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
My own strangers can be seen here:
www.flickr.com/photos/57144254@N08/albums/72157657822400168
@padlock thanks padlock :)
@sangwann thanks for your words dione, it is always interesting and you never know what will happen when you chat to a stranger :)
@nickspicsnz cheers nick :) many thanks
@quietpurplehaze Haze, it was rather an unexpected response from robert when I started chatting to him !
@eyesmile thanks gena, the hair was really difficult. I had to recover the highlight in the whites to get the detail)
@gazdi cheers gazdi :)
@photographycrazy glad you like bill
@happypat thanks Pat, yes quite a different experience chatting to robert :)
@jasperc thanks jasper