100 Strangers : Round 2 : No. 148 : Rachel

My first football related stranger of the 2018-2019 season.

I went to Rotherham today to see my team Bolton Wanderers visit to the New York Stadium.

I take my old Canon 450D with my 50mm lens.

It was a nice autumnal day with bright sunshine. I got to the ground quite early and watched the world go by in a seating area outside the ground drinking a can of lemonade.

I suppose I was on stranger lookout while enjoying the low sun and couldn't help but notice Rachel and her colleague walking round the ground with "Here to Help" flags strapped to their backs ! I knew I had a potential stranger

As they walked past me for the second time I decided to follow them around the stadium and at a suitable shady point I approached them for a shot.

Rachel's friend wasn't too keen but Rachel seemed up for it . I asked her to move into the shade by a stadium window and then told her to look over her right shoulder.

I took a few images and got a few comments from passers by !

I asked Rachel if she had been doing the "front of house " customer service role lomg and she told me this was her first day on the job !!!

Rachel gave me a nice smile and was a very pleasant face of Rotherham United

Thanks for being stranger 148 Rachel. I hope you like this photo and narrative.

On a separate note I met stranger number. 126, Derren and Max the sniffer dog today. I'd photographed them last season at Derby County. Rotherham United were obviously using the same safety team. Max was sniffing Bolton supporters as they filed into the turnstile area of the ground. As they were working I tapped Derren on the shoulder and said "Hi, I photographed you at Derby", Derren gave me a big smile and said "I remember, I love the photo it;s my profile picture on social media". As for Max, I sort of disturbed him from his sniffing duties, so I moved swiftly on, I did wonder if Max knew what he was signing up for when he became a sniffer dog, as sniffing a few thousand football fans must produce some rather strange odours !

To find out more about the 100 Strangers project 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/phil_howcroft/albums/72157657822400168

[Pat Knowles]

Had to laugh at your description & work description of Max the sniffer dog! Not a job fir the faint hearted! Rachel looks a very lovely help girl, a very mart jacket too. I wonder if they are supplied free uniform?

[Dixie Goode]

What a nice sign of the day. I’m always impressed by the number of people I meet who project that message even without a sign.

[Dione Giorgio]

I was reading carefully to see whether Bolton won or not - did they? Thank you for this lovely narrative to accompany your portraits, Phil. I enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy seeing your photos. I like how you composed this shot.
Rachel has a lovely smile and makes a fabulous sitter for this picture. Fav.

[Ivan]

Nice as always...

[Casablanca]

So much fun and it's almost like a fairy wing! Max's sniffing just made me laugh, what a fun adventure! But so cool that Darren still has that photo in use.

[KWind]

Great portrait!

[Alison Hewitt Bailey]

She looks like a very approachable person. I like the tie-up of the red banner and booklet. Nice one.