Haze's strangers: No.70: James & Martin & The Rabbit
Yesterday I took my camera to Shawford and had a walk along the river.
Returning to my car, a young man appeared from between the parked cars at the foot of the Down and asked me if I lived near there.
I was a bit bemused. So I said well not exactly but not far away and then he pointed out to me a pretty little rabbit nestled in the undergrowth.
The rabbit was obviously an escaped pet and quite tame, but not tame enough to be caught. The young man, Martin and his workmate, James, had just stopped for a break between jobs and were due at a house to give an estimate for some work.
We made a few futile attempts to catch the rabbit - what to do with it if we succeeded? Then we saw a notice on the board at the foot of the down including a photo obviously of the same rabbit.
Whoever had pinned up the notice reported having seen it on the Down on 20th June. Obviously they had also tried to catch it and in the notice made a plea for anyone who could catch it to take it to a vet and gave the names of two local ones..
They had also seen a couple looking for the rabbit on 19th June. Unfortunately, no notice or telephone number from these owners.
I took the opportunity to take a couple of shots of the rabbit and we tried again to catch it but regretfully had to leave it there munching away.
I'm sure you can guess that the idea had been germinating to ask Martin and James if I could take their photo for my strangers' project. So I did and they were happy with that and posed by their van for a shot.
There was not really time to speak much with them but I did discover that they both love clay pigeon shooting. I promised to find their work email online and to send them some photos, which I have done.
I found they have the same surname so Harris Roofing Specialists is evidently a family business.
Possibly the most unusual way I have obtained a strangers' portrait - nice for my 70th!
Another place of memories Hazel! A circuitous route to a stranger's photo but a great story. The rabbit seems to be enjoying his freedom. A whole down instead of a hutch, who wouldn't be happy?!
Another great portrait with the inclusion of Bunny and interesting account of your experience with the rabbit and the roofers never a dull moment when you have a camera in your hand Hazel.
Thanks, Phil. The camera is permanently set on smooth skin, no post-processing at all on this (as on most of my portraits) except for the insertion of the rabbit of course!!
p.s. I think you have to have smile/face detect on before smooth skin is activated which presumably stops the camera from making smooth bark on trees etc?!! Smooth skin is disabled in raw.
@quietpurplehaze hmmmm Haze, not too sure the smooth skin works in this haze, it has given the guys a bit of a facelift look which looks a bit false to my eyes !
I guess there The Rabbit will stay happily munching until a fox or winter intervenes....
Nina, thank you. I think they really did not like leaving the rabbit there on the Down but we had no option.
they both have very smoooth skin, have you done something in camera or post processing
Thanks, Phil. The camera is permanently set on smooth skin, no post-processing at all on this (as on most of my portraits) except for the insertion of the rabbit of course!!
p.s. I think you have to have smile/face detect on before smooth skin is activated which presumably stops the camera from making smooth bark on trees etc?!! Smooth skin is disabled in raw.
Yes, it is a bit! Perhaps it's also to do with the light. Think I'll keep it switched on though!
The EXIF is lost by putting the rabbit on!