This is Eli, who I met immediately after I’d photographed Jack and Yaz (who were giving away free cans of Red Bull).
Eli and a colleague had seen Jack and Yaz, giving away the Red Bull’s from their offices at Nottingham Trent University and had walked down to the Red Bull car to get a can.
Unfortunately Yaz had given away the last can so like myself, Eli was unsuccessful in getting a can. I told Eli the last can had gone as I approached the car.
Eli had some fabulous make up, glasses and clothes and I just had to ask for a stranger photo.
I introduced myself and asked if I could take a photograph for my project, as you can see Eli said “Yes”
Eli told me the car could be seen from their office. I asked what work they did at the Uni and Eli told me they worked in EDI : Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
“Ahh Right” I replied “I used to work in IT and EDI was Electronic Data Interchange. Your role is important in today’s society”
Eli told me that many people still think the role is in IT .
“Are you from Nottingham?” I asked
Eli told me Derby. “Derby housing is a lot cheaper than Nottingham” said Eli.
“That’s a hard commute” I said (it’s a busy route) “Do you drive?”
“I use public transport and Yes it’s a hard commute, even more so as I’m disabled” (Eli had a walking stick)
I did a few quick shots of Eli and showed them on the camera screen. We exchanged Instagram handles and we shook hands / bumped fists.
I wished Eli luck in the EDI role and thanked Eli for letting me take some photographs.
Eli has beautiful eyes and this is what I immediately noticed on this portrait despite her heavy eye make-up.
This is another great encounter and we're lucky you share it with us.
Great portrait of Eli. To be honest, I don't like the tattoo on her eyes, she was beautiful enough before she did that. Very sorry to learn that she has a disablilty. My heart goes out when I see somebody still young having an extra hurdle like that to surmount.
Hi everyone thanks for you positive comments and support on my strangers project . Eli really likes the photos I took and the accompanying narrative too. Eli did tell me that as a side issue "I use they/them pronouns :)" . I have changed the narrative to reflect Eli's gender neutral preferences
@ankers70 thanks Suzanne that's a lovely comment
This is another great encounter and we're lucky you share it with us.
Hi everyone thanks for you positive comments and support on my strangers project . Eli really likes the photos I took and the accompanying narrative too. Eli did tell me that as a side issue "I use they/them pronouns :)" . I have changed the narrative to reflect Eli's gender neutral preferences