My second stranger shot from when I visited the UniBol stadium at the weekend, to watch my team Bolton Wanderers play Barnsley in the EFL League 1 play off semi final.
After I’d photographed Joseph and Jacob, I went for my pre match walk around the stadium perimeter. As I approached the conference area I noticed there were several people leaving the exit. They had all been to the same event as Joseph and Jacob. I saw one gentleman wearing a Clerical collar. I thought he would make a great stranger , so I approached him and explained I was an amateur photographer doing a project on street photography.
Meet Jonson, who had travelled from Kent to Lancashire to attend the religious conference / festival. Jonson is a priest from the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church (JSOC), a religion with its heritage based in India. In fact wikipedia states the following: The Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church of India established by Thomas the Apostle believed in apostolic succession by the Syriac Orthodox Church and traditions carried out by the early Church of the East. The Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church believes in the Church of Antioch's rulings regarding the councils of the Christendom and promises made by the Holy Fathers of the Church of Antioch and the Church of Alexandria.
I asked Jonson if he would stand by one of the stadium exit gates as they would make a fantastic backdrop / canvas. His colleagues were joking that I would have to pay to photograph Jonson. I told them I was an amateur and would be very respectful with the photos and accompanying narrative.
It was a bit of a surreal photoshoot, the area outside the stadium conference exit, was busy with people from the clergy and congregation, which created quite a juxtaposition with 1000’s of football supporters making their way into the stadium.
If you look carefully on the exit gate, you can see what looks like dust spots on the sensor, but these are actual blemished on the paintwork door, caused by exposure to the weather.
I bumped fists with Jonson and several of his colleagues and friends and thanked them for allowing me to take some photos.
Great portrait, love the back drop and info. Hard to believe that there was so much going on around you, he looks so relaxed. I'm anxious just reading your text and with the thought of so many people wizzing past and trying to take a photo :)
May 20th, 2023
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@beryl thanks beryl , I'm really pleased how this portrait turned out