I want to tell you a story.. by quietpurplehaze

I want to tell you a story..

Right now you may be getting a feeling of déjà vu. Well, let me tell you the story.

Today I went to Winchester to pick up my replacement lens hood from LCE.

My camera came too of course and I went into Winchester Cathedral thinking a kind steward might agree to have their portrait taken. I was surprised to find Brother Andrew sitting just inside the entrance working as a volunteer steward to welcome visitors.

I jokingly said that I couldn't take his photo again. He then told me of being approached by a photographer who said he was doing a 100 strangers project and that Brother Andrew was the strangest he had seen. The quick reply from Brother Andrew was that he knew all about it and he told the photographer that he had not made a very good start.

I feel very unhappy that even one person following this project is speaking to the public in that manner. I don't use the word 'strangers' in introducing myself, preferring to say that I am completing a project on portraiture to improve my skills.

October 17th, 2015  
I'd say that other photographer must be pretty strange to say something like that! Nice shot, by the way.
October 17th, 2015  
How horrid being called strange. .lovely photo
October 17th, 2015  
How rude !! some people do not use the sense they were born with !! A lovely candid portrait , fav
October 17th, 2015  
Some people have not got the sense that they were born with -- how senseless and hurtful !!! Lovely portrait btw Hazel -fav
October 17th, 2015  
It sounds like the other photographers opinion isn't worth considering. And another great portrait too.
October 17th, 2015  
Wonderful portrait
October 17th, 2015  
Another great portrait, light, details, clarity...what a weird thing for that other photographer to say...
October 17th, 2015  
A great portrait with clear detail. I'm much more comfortable with the ethics of asking permission to take people's photos, rather than taking candids which the subjects are t aware of. But to be so rude in the asking is so inappropriate it'd probably be better not to ask!
October 17th, 2015  
Lets hope that other photographer was not a 365er but from another site! I think Brother Andrew is a very photogenic man :)
October 17th, 2015  
Another lovely portrait shot. You really wonder about some people, they shoot their mouths off before putting their brain into gear :)
October 17th, 2015  
Good on you Hazel I dont see anything wrong people can be so rude without thinking,just enjoy your photography and keep the photos coming fav for this shot:)P.S Hope you have fun with your new lens>
October 17th, 2015  
hmmm interesting Haze. I always treat my "strangers" with respect and I too tell them I am doing a series on portraits and then tell them the 100 strangers tag . I got two shot today, but will only publish one because on reflection the first lady was a little hesitant and I feel I tried to persuade her too much to participate.
October 17th, 2015  
Lovely capture of Brother Andrew .If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all is what I was always taught.
October 18th, 2015  
Don't know Brother Andrew, but such an interesting story. Great shot of this fine looking man.
October 18th, 2015  
Fantastic portrait. Congratulations on making the Trending Page. Well deserved.
October 18th, 2015  
wonderful portrait! wow
fav
October 18th, 2015  
@phil_howcroft

I can only remember using the word 'strangers' once, as it happened with Linos, who seemed a bit worried and repeated what he had already said, that he'd lived in England since 1998. So then I decided not to use it again. Will that lady know that you have not used her portrait? Could you not use it and make a note to self for future ref (as I did re my forgetfulness taking one of the two portraits I also took today)?
October 18th, 2015  
What an odd thing to say. I can only imagine he thought that he was being funny. Sadly misjudged unfortunately.
October 18th, 2015  
How rude of the person I think Brother Andrew should have given him a smack, but I guess that wouldn't be a very Christian thing to do would it. I hope he didn't allow them to take the photo, it gives us photographers a bad name when they are so rude.
I have met and had chats to so many interesting people when I ask to take their photos.
October 18th, 2015  
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