It was Nottingham Pride today, so it was a great opportunity to add to my 100 strangers project.
Meet Mel, a transgender woman. I spotted Mel outside Marks and Spencer before the pride march / parade began.
I introduced myself to Mel and asked if it was OK to photograph her. Mel was happy to be part of my project.
The white wall on the side of Marks and Spencer was a great blank canvas to photograph Mel against.
I asked Mel, how long she had been Mel, how long since she came out as Mel.
"I am counting the weeks" said Mel "It is only a few weeks"
"Really", I said, "Well you have done a good job with your make up for a few weeks"
"I have been gay for ages", Mel continued "I started trying make up on and quite enjoyed it and then it seemed a natural progression to womens clothes.
"Your hair is your own too" I said.
"Yes" said Mel, "A lot of TG and transvestites wear wigs, but I intend to grow mine quite long, grow it beyond my shoulders"
I asked what plans Mel had for after the parade. She said she intended to have a few beers with some friends.
I asked Mel if she was from Nottingham. She said she was, I told her I detected a non Nottingham accent and she told me she originates from Leeds.
I showed Mel the pictures on the back of my camera and she said she thought I'd got some good ones.
I thanked Mel for her time and gave her one of my cards and told her to email me if she wanted a copy of the images.
The image was edited in Darktable and I used the +EV setting post processing to lighten some tones on Mel. I was tempted to go monochrome, but Mel's dark outfit and the white wall almost give it a mono feel and in colour I retain Mel's red lippy
This picture is number 92 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
@tibles thanks ulrika for your comments. I would like to think that everyone in our world is inclusive and respectable to everyone .
@sangwann cheers dione . Thanks for your continued support
@kwind thank you for your comment
@blueace thanks annie for your lovely comment
@gamelee cheers Lee. It is quite easy doing Street strangers once you are used to it . I rarely get a NO
All the very best to Mel.
@granagringa thank you :)