After visiting a friend in Winchester Hospital we decided to go down town for a walkabout and a cup of tea. We fetched up at Flat White's retro caravan and said hello to Judy working there, who had already been in my strangers' portraits. She thanked me for sending her photo on to her.
As I've cut sugar out of my diet I was pleased to find a sweet potato muffin to eat with my Earl Grey. We made ourselves comfortable on the outside seating and then I noticed guitar music wafting along Market Street. Investigation revealed a young man singing and playing.
I just had my little RX100IV with me but, after motioning to the guitarist that I'd like to take a photo, I put it on burst and took several shots. I'd previously taken photos of another busker, Maddison, playing guitar in this way and she looked fine in them. These shots also came out OK.
Putting a donation in the open guitar case, I found some business cards amongst the coins so I took one for information. I find this a good idea as it does not stop the musician playing and for most of them, busking is part of their income.
I did interrupt Sam for a moment just to explain my project and ask permission and to take a quick one or two head and shoulders shots. I asked him if he would add just one thing about himself unrelated to his musicianship and he offered ' the great outdoors and in particular, mountain biking.'
We shook hands and I promised to send him a photo and link to my post.
At home, viewing his website, Sam Austin Music, I found that Sam is a professional acoustic guitarist, based in Bristol, and plays at functions such as festivals, corporate dinners, private parties and weddings. He plays covers of hits from every era from the 60s to today's charts.
For his own compositions, he is influenced by folk artists such as Cara Dillon and Show of Hands. He's also willing to learn any favourite requested, and not already on his set list, to be played at an event.
Amongst guitarists whose playing styles have inspired him, Sam cites Eric Clapton and Fleetwood Mac.
All good luck to Sam! You can hear him playing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMLXD-jQjXU
My strangers also on Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/150442566@N07/albums/72157674948019094
