100 Strangers : No. 47 : Kadir

The Nottingham Green Festival at the weekend had an eclectic mix of stalls, ranging from vegan foods, vegetarian foods, cooperatives, self help groups, voluntary organisations, alternate therapies, political awareness groups and musical acts.

One of the stall holders at the event was Kadir.

Kadir was on a stall making people aware of the plight of the people in Kurdistan and particularly Adbullah Ocalan a political prisoner who was arrested in 1999 by the Turkish National Intelligence Agency in Nairobi .

Kadir gave me an information leaflet with lots of information about Kurdistan. I promised to read it (and I have).

I don't pretend to understand the complex world of international politics. I have problems understanding the politics of our own country.. As I type this I am watching Question Time on the BBC, which is descending into a slanging match and in fighting between Labour !

After chatting to Kadir I asked him if he would pose for a picture for my strangers project. Kadir was pleased to photographed.

This was shot under a canopy of trees, so the lighting was difficult, I thought about trying to clone and extend the red material hanging from the stall right across the frame so Kadir had a uncluttered background, but when I did that the edit didn't look correct.

Kadir's friend (it may have been his wife), gave me an email to send some pictures , iwhich I will do once I have posted this image).

Thank you for the photo Kadir, I wish you and your family well for the future.

This picture is number 47 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

100 Strangers Flickr Group page

www.flickr.com/groups/100strangers/

My own strangers can be seen here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/57144254@N08/albums/72157657822400168

[Maggiemae]

The face is most important here and the background shows nicely what is around him!

[Dione Giorgio]

Kadir has a very impressive and friendly smile and he makes a perfect subject. As for the background you may be right about extending the material but it doesn't bother me the way it is. Another of your lovely portraits, Phil. As usual I enjoyed reading your story. Wish number hundred never arrives or is extended by another hundred.

[Ivan]

Nice portrait of Kadir. From what I understand, my sympathies are with the oppressed Kurds. The Turks act despicably towards them. And they (Turkey) wanted to join the EU, and Cameron refused to speak against that!

[Pat Knowles]

Nice story as usual Phil, you give real background to every bodies life.
I love the way you have included such a wonderfully colourful background yet Kadir's face is still ckear & strong. Glad you didn't do this one in black & white! I agree Question Time was a real scrap, they all fell out at the after meal again I believe.

[Phil Howcroft]

@maggiemae thank you maggie

@sangwann cheers dione, I am almost half way to 100 and it has took me 12 months , so my strangers are here for a while:)

@ivan thanks ivan , i am no expert on foreign history , we do wish people across the world would be respectful l, i

[Phil Howcroft]

@happypat thanks pat, i am enjoying the project albeit it is a slow one :)

[KWind]

Great portrait! He has a nice smile.

[Phil Howcroft]

thank you for your kind comment
@kwind

[Hazel]

I like the red material as a background for Kadir and it sets off his smiling face well but I imagine a clone to extend it would be rather a huge undertaking. I don't really understand politics - what I do understand is when somebody stands up and says they will make a fairer Britain for all - and then instigates the re-introduction of grammar schools............

[Phil Howcroft]

@quietpurplehaze regardless of anyones views on the subject , the PM has no mandate to do so haze .

[Hazel]

@phil_howcroft

Yes, but she wants to!!!

[Jacqui Jay]

I'm not too hot on politics myself. Coming from Northern Ireland and having very strong views as a young woman, it is a bit of a relief to take a step back sometimes. The difficulty is that beautiful people like Kadir will prick my conscience and stir up old feelings against injustice. I, too, hope you never finish with these character portraits, even when you reach 100.

[Phil Howcroft]

@irisr thanks jacqui ... I tried to be neutral when telling Kadir's story