Meet Chris, who I mentioned in my previous stranger photo of Sophie and Sasha. I met Chris stood in a doorway sheltering from the rain with a camera. We had a chat about street photography. Chris told me he was going to photograph a demonstration scheduled to take place in the morning. A group of women were going to meet up to protesting about Trans women. Chris was there to support the Trans community and photograph the people who were opposed to the speakers.
Chris told me the Canon camera and impressive lens was not his, he’d borrowed it for the weekend. Chris normally shoots with his iphone. Chris likes street photography especially photographing demonstrations. Chris was supporting the Trans community at the event, stating he was opposed to anything associated with hate, as everyone was equal.
I asked Cris what he does when not photographing the streets, Chris told me he is studying an Arts degree. During lockdown he decided to give up his job based in ICT and study a degree in Art. Quite a big shift in focus , but Chris enjoys the course and in his mid fifties and never having done a degree before, he gets a full student loan.
Chris also stated he does some journalism, writing for the Beestonian (a community based magazine in Beeston , Nottingham), I told him that my stranger number 97 (200 strangers ago..how scary is that) was a regular columnist for the Beestonian.
When I asked Chris to be part of my project, he suggested he stood next to the statue of Cloughie (Brian Clough). It was a wet Sunday morning photoshoot, thanks for being stranger 298 Chris, good luck with your Arts degree
What a great capture of your stranger, next to the Nottingham Forest legend Brian Clough! I can just imagine Cloughie looking down at him & saying “now then young man”! My brother was a Forest season ticket holder for years, still follows them now.
Beautiful capture, Phil. Chris suggested a superb place for his portrait. I remember Brian Clough even though I do not follow English football. Chris must be very brave to abandon his profession at his age and to make a fresh start.
