100 Strangers : Round 2 : No. 130 : Pedro by phil_howcroft

100 Strangers : Round 2 : No. 130 : Pedro

I've just returned from a weeks holiday in Mallorca. There's quite a funny story / ending to this photo, if you can read to the end.

Photographing strangers in another country is quite challenging.

Anyway, my first holiday stranger is Pedro.

Pedro was a barman at our hotel. The Vanity Suites in Cala Mesquida. A very efficient barman, within a day he knew what our preferred drinks were.

I asked Pedro for a photo when we were having our post lunch Café con Leche by the poolside bar. I asked him if he would move behind the bar as it was in the shade. When I say I asked him to move, I sort of pointed and gestured to move behind.

I directed various poses for Pedro, asking him to stick his chest out and look over his shoulder. I showed him the pictures on the camera. At the same time I was trying to ask questions and telling Pedro I would email the pics to the hotel.

Pedro has worked at the hotel for 10 years and his friendly nature and efficient bar work is a credit to the hotel.

After I'd finished the pictures I shook his hand and thanked him for his time.

I then turned around to walk back to our room, only to realise my photoshoot was being watched by about forty guests on the terrace set back from the pool !!! How embarrassing. I decided I should play to the audience, so I bowed to them , waved my hands indicating I'd finished and announced in several languages :

"Photoshoot finished / terminado / fini / finito", which received quite a few chuckles and smiles. I did sort of hope someone might approach me for a stranger shot after my show, but nobody did !

To find out more and see pictures taken by other photographers, look at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

https://www.flickr.com/groups/100strangers/

My own strangers can be seen here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/57144254@N08/albums/72157657822400168
I think I'd like this in b&w better but each to their own taste I guess. All of your lady portraits are in b&w, just saying
June 7th, 2018  
They probably thought you were a press photographer and this barman was actually James Bond in disguise!
June 7th, 2018  
Ive oft said I wanted to see you in action...were that I had been there!!!
June 7th, 2018  
@sailingmusic thanks Myrna. I did intend to do this as mono , but if you look at Pedro's right ear it is quite bright ( reflecting the sun on the terrace ) . When I converted to mono the brightness was really emphasised. I did think of toning it down but I am not that good at selective editing. Thanks for your visit 😀

@maggiemae good shout Maggie. I didn't see many guests with DSLRs or mirrorless compacts . The camera of choice was the smartphone for many
June 7th, 2018  
@granagringa Madeline thanks for your support . I took another member of staffs pic the next day in a different location but with not quite as big an audience 😀
June 7th, 2018  
Hahahaha what a good laugh you gave me, Phil. I would have loved watching your show with all those spectaculars. I would have clapped my hands for sure. Beautiful portrait capture of Pedro. If you know Italian, like I do, it could be less difficult to communicate with Spaniards.
June 7th, 2018  
@sangwann thanks dione . Grazie mille amico mio
June 8th, 2018  
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