Today, Ruby and I (Ruby is my little whippet dog), went hand delivering Christmas Cards to local friends in the North End of the suburb we live in (yesterday we went to the South End, not Southend !!!). When I say friends, perhaps I should add my wife’s friends (I don’t have many friends !!!...OK I do but none were on the list of houses I was delivering to)
After I’d posted the cards, I went into the town centre, to photograph the Christmas decorations. We have a pop up Covid-19 track and trace, test centre in our town. I struck up conversation with a couple of the front of house staff, one of them showed a lot of interest in my camera. He was doing a twelve hour shift, so was feeling the pain on his feet. He was a migrant worker from Bangladesh. Another example of the diverse and inclusive set of employees holding together our NHS. I asked him for a photo, but he said while in his track and trace high vis jacket it wouldn’t be possible, so I wished him well and moved on to the Christmas Market Stalls.
Our Christmas market is a low key affair, about 12 stalls selling artisan food and crafts. While browsing the stalls I met Simon on his fudge stall.
“Hi you alright? Have you been busy”
“Yes I have, I’ve had a good day”
“That’s good to know, are you here every day”
“No, I am here tomorrow and I’ve booked next Friday and then Christmas Eve”
“Ah right that’s good, lets hope you are busy on those days”
“Do you get cold on your stall?”
“I’ve been OK today….Do you want a taster a little sampler?”
“That’s very kind of you, but I don’t have a sweet tooth when it comes to sweets. I like a pudding with my tea or dinner, but not treats like fudge”
“OK”
“Actually, you could help me, I am an amateur photographer, I do street photography and like to photograph people I meet on the street, is it OK to take a photograph of you?”
“Yes no problem”
“It is quite a wide angle lens, so will capture your signage on your stall. It is also a manual focus lens, so bear with me while I focus it”
I rattled a few shots off and they all looked OK
“Do you want a copy of the photos?”
“No it’s OK”
“Can I post them online?”
“Yes, no problem”
That was it shoot over, I thanked Simon for his time, walked away from the stall and reviewed the photos on my camera display to ensure they were OK. They were !
Sony A7 full frame, with 35mm prime lens, edited in ART and GIMP
You turned down fudge!!!
Wow that is amazing...I love fudge!
Nice story of your day...Simon sounds very laid back...glad they are allowing outside markets. A very topical photo wi the face visor.
@happypat lol pat yes i turned down fudge, far too sweet !!! ?I got 3 strangers today (this was Friday) and turned down a christmas chocolate penny from one of them !!!
I love fudge too but since I'm pre-diabetic I should stay off it! Your fudge man sounds like he was a bit quiet, not as chatty as your usual strangers.
Haven't had good homemade fudge since my favorite aunt passed away. Now craving it. LOL! Very nice smile captured on your stranger's face! Did you buy any?
I love wearing a visor when it is not crowded. I am partially hearing these days and I lip read a lot, so people wearing masks is jolly hard for me. When I do wear a cloth mask, I often have to leave my hearing aids at home because the mask pulls them off if I am not careful and that makes it worse! Fudge glorious fudge......any day. I like your interview with him!
That poor man - on his feet for 12 hours! Where would we be without willing people like him working in the nhs?
This is a fun portrait, love how his jumper badge links him to his stall. Wonder if he sold liquorice fudge. I find most fudge rather too sweet these days but still love liquorice flavour.
Wow that is amazing...I love fudge!
Nice story of your day...Simon sounds very laid back...glad they are allowing outside markets. A very topical photo wi the face visor.
@bizziebeeme thanks laura , much appreciated
@busylady you are right judith , simon didn't engage the same as other strangers or maybe i didn't !
@casablanca Casa' thank you for your lovely comment and support, much appreciated
@cocobella thanks corinne, your are right about simon's smile :)
@lynnz thanks Lynn for your visit and comments.
@pdulis cheers peter
@spanner thank you so much spanner
This is a fun portrait, love how his jumper badge links him to his stall. Wonder if he sold liquorice fudge. I find most fudge rather too sweet these days but still love liquorice flavour.