100 Strangers : Round 2 : No. 175 : Andy by phil_howcroft

100 Strangers : Round 2 : No. 175 : Andy

This was shot under difficult conditions and with side light from a Nottingham windmill window and a 55 years old vintage lens and almost didn’t make it to my photostream.

Anyway I decided the backstory was good and you can judge if you think the photo is good enough.

“Did I hear you say Windmill Phil” ?

“Yes you did”

Nestled on top of a hill, among the terraced houses of Sneinton and less than a mile from the city centre you can find Green’s Windmill. It is a restored and working 19th century tower windmill. Built in the early 1800s for the milling of wheat into flour, it remained in use until the 1860s. It was renovated in the 1980s and is now part of a science centre and is a popular tourist attraction. It’s free admission too :)

Jane and myself have never visited the said windmill, so we went there on Thursday afternoon and I took my Sony A6000 and Industar 50mm f3.5 vintage lens.

Inside the windmill on the first level was Andy , who was explaining the history of the windmill to a very attentive family. I made a mental note to ask Andy for a photograph on the way down . The windmill is very impressive and well worth a visit.

On the way down Andy had not visitors so I approached him for a photograph. Andy said yes straight way, so I shot him where he was standing. There was a window to Andy’s left with bright light shining in. I thought the lighting was quite dramatic and would make a good portrait. I asked Andy if he was a volunteer or paid member of staff. Andy explained the situation was quite complex. He was a paid member of staff, employed by the city of Nottingham and responsible for the Health and Safety of visitors to the windmill. Andy explained that the site is owned by the city of Nottingham but the “Green’s Windmill Trust” ( a charitable company ) is responsible for the actual windmill upkeep. I imagine the Health and Safety role for Any is quite tough as there are some really steep ladders to climb. Andy spoke with enthusiasm and with great knowledge to his visitors. My wife said he seemed like a nice man and had encouraged me to ask him for a stranger shot. Andy seemed quite interested in my camera kit especially when I explained about the 55 year old lens.

If you want more information about the windmill go to https://www.greensmill.org.uk/

I edited my RAW file with Darktable and GIMP and mono seemed the appropriate choice as Andy was wearing white and the walls were white.

Thanks for being stranger 175 Andy

Find out more about the 100 stranger project and see pictures taken by other photographers 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
Lee
Gotta hand it to you. Some very good portraits you produce Phil.
August 26th, 2019  
I think Andy would be pleased with this photo! We have a restored grain machine too - not run by windmill - this one by a water wheel!
August 26th, 2019  
Wonderful!
August 26th, 2019  
I really like the genuine smile you have captured !
August 26th, 2019  
A wonderful gentle smile beautifully captured , love how the light from the window has added to this - fav
August 26th, 2019  
Fav for a stranger who immediately made me smile this morning!
August 26th, 2019  
Great stranger portrait your use of the light works very well!
August 26th, 2019  
Beautiful portrait shot for your Strangers challenge. You chose the location well and the light looks great. Andy has a lovely smile and a cool beard (though I always prefer a properly shaved face).
August 26th, 2019  
@sangwann thanks dione, that;s very kind of you

@rjb71 thanks richard, i am pleased you like this, i was a little hesitant to post the photo as I wasn;t sure it worked

@quietpurplehaze I am pleased that the photo made you smile in the morning :)

@beryl thanks beryl, the lighting was very challenging

@fr1da thank you so much

@photographycrazy thank you for the "wonderful"

@maggiemae thank you maggie, much appreciated

@gamelee thanks Lee, that is very kind of you to say
August 27th, 2019  
Nice portrait... yet again!
August 28th, 2019  
An interesting portrait with a timeless quality to it; Andy has a lovely face reminiscent of those seen on figures in 18th century paintings depicting rural life.
August 31st, 2019  
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