After the Modern Novels group meeting I attended last week finished early, I walked into Winchester. I'd taken my little RX100 in my handbag just in case I saw a street shot. The day was fine and sunny, lots of people about in the High Street.
I heard a beautiful singing voice and guitar accompaniment. I walked on until this young lady came into sight standing opposite the market stalls. I did what I usually do when I encounter somebody busking and motioned to my camera with a questioning look. She nodded so I took a few shots.
When that number finished, I went over and found that her name is Maddison and she is in year 2 of a 4 year degree course in music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She lives in Hampshire and comes to Winchester to busk and earn a little extra income.
I explained my strangers' project within my 365 page and asked if it would be OK to portray her in it. She asked me a bit about 365 project (I liked that as I would personally be a bit wary of somebody in the street asking me the questions that I ask!) and agreed.
I thought of putting the camera on burst whilst Maddison was singing as I could select more easily from several shots.
She has been playing guitar since she was twelve and singing along since she was fourteen. Her favoured music is pop and jazz and she also plays in nursing homes and at weddings, parties and fetes. Her card lists: 'war songs, jazz, the Beatles, Dolly Parton, and much more....'
From Maddison's website I discovered that she plays trombone for a band and read 'last summer I worked for Virgin Trains and sang on all the trains going to the festivals they ran.'
Maddison's other passion is horses and she currently has Flash and Ruby and told me that her mother has also always loved horses and thus her first experience of sitting on a horse was aged six months.
I asked what her dream is when she has completed her degree and she told me she would like to be a backing guitarist in a group. Having put a donation in her guitar case open on the ground in front of her, I carried on my way. I've sent two photos to Maddison and received an enthusiastic reply.
This one is my favourite, given a vignette treatment to try to disguise the dull background.
http://www.maddisondouch.co.uk/
I have an unposted guitarist stranger , I am waiting for permission to post it as I didn't ask when I took the pic