Haze's strangers: No. 87: Maddy and Milly

I took my camera to Winchester hoping for maybe a portrait and some shots in the cathedral. At first there were no musicians busking in the street and all the guides in the cathedral were busy showing round parties of tourists.

It seemed that I would go home with nothing to show for my visit but, after a quick lunch (parsnip soup and crusty bread) in The Eclipse Inn, I found myself drawn to this duo making music. I motioned to my camera in the usual way and got a nod of agreement from Maddy (left) and Milly.

But then I asked them if they would be so good as to stop playing for a few minutes for me to take some shots as, even using continuous shoot, I thought it would not be easy to capture a good shot of both of them at the same time when they were playing and singing.

I'd taken a couple of shots when a man stopped, put some coins in their guitar case and asked how they were getting on. It transpired that he already knew them and he introduced himself as Colin, and was giving Milly advice on the advantages of different types of guitar picks, but more about him in the story of Stranger No.88.

Maddy and Milly were busking to raise funds for a charity visit to help out at a school in Ghana which is twinned with their school. They need to raise £2,800 and I made a contribution to that before we parted company.

I wondered what Maddy and Milly plan to do when they leave school: Maddy hopes to go to a music college in Guildford and Milly to study music and maths at college or university. They have been playing together for 2 or 3 years, Maddy as singer and Milly guitarist and providing harmonies.

I hope they raise their target to travel to Ghana and enjoy what has the promise of a very worthwhile trip.

See them and hear their music on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEoAIfiTl_TXG3lpdINNBjA

[Peter]

Lovely portraits Hazel you have captured them well, hope they achieve their goal raising the money, thanks for the link, the writing's really on the wall for this talented pair I'm sure they will go far if they carry on singing:)

[Hazel]

@pcoulson

Thanks, Peter, glad you had a listen to them. There's a lot of talent busking on the streets of Winchester, it seems!

[Phil Sandford]

Lovely photograph (lookedon youtube and had a quick listen; very good. I wish them well)

[sally agnew]

Lovely capture of these talented young ladies, love the blue guitar. Thank you for the link Hazel, how nicely they harmonise :)

[Gillian Brown]

Lovely shot and interesting girls.

[Joanne Diochon]

Nicely captured and, once again, an interesting background story.

[Julie Duncan]

Lovely shot and narration to go with it. I hope they meet their goal! :)

[Bep]

Nicely captured, interesting girls.

[gloria jones]

Wonderful capture of their smiles...great narrative

[Catherine]

I hope they reach their target. Such lovely bright faces. Great narrative too.

[Babs]

Lovely capture and thanks for the link. I hope they achieve their goals.

[Phil Howcroft]

lovely story and image haze.
a maths and music combo' seems quite a diverse course

[wendy frost]

Lovely capture and smiles. Great duo hope they do well in their chosen careers

[Pam]

Pretty girls!

[Milanie]

Lovely girls - and such clear lighting on your shot. Interesting narrative to read about them.

[Lois]

Lovely shot- great story

[Tim L]

A beautiful portrait, you've captured lots of youthful cheerfulness.

[linda]

lovely shot

[Hazel]

@phil_howcroft

I'm glad you made that comment, Phil, as I know students are often good at both music and maths so I tried to find out a bit more and here's an article I'll be reading - when I have a spare moment! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/classicalmusic/11099632/What-can-maths-teach-us-about-music.html
Happy New Year!

[Richard Hickey]

Awesome picture.

[Pyrrhula]

Great shot of this nice girls. Love they doing charity .