I Shoot Film : 100 Strangers : Round 5 : No. 405 : Matt and Jason
I Shoot Film : Kodak ColorPlus 200 : Pentax ME with a 28mm SMC f3.5 prime lens
I was saving this to be my 400th stranger shot, as it was shot on film rather than digital and is a great story, however it was trumped by a shot of three armed police officers in Nottingham. Including police officers in my project is a bit like waiting for a bus, you wait for ages and then two come along in quick succession (well 2 months actually).
So what’s the back story to the photo of police officers Matt and Jason? I saw Matt and Jason outside the Toughsheet Community Stadium, before the Bolton Wanderers versus Peterborough United football match, stood in a high position by the stadium hotel car park. I said to my mate Alan, I was going to ask the two officers for a photo, “You cannot do that Phil” said Alan.
Anyway I approached the officers and asked them for a photo. I told them I was shooting with an “old school film camera”
Jason was very knowledgeable about the genre, telling me prices were high as film photography was gaining popularity, similar to the way vinyl has took off. I told Jason I’d been collecting camera, especially the lenses for some time, so was ahead of the game.
My mate Alan had now joined in the conversation too. We discussed the days game and the officers roles on duty. What was unusual was the officers were from different Police Forces. Matt was from Greater Manchester Police and Jason was from Cambridgeshire Police force, he was in the Football Policing Unit, in effect a hooligan spotter from Cambridgeshire, with local knowledge of Peterborough’s hooligan firms. I think Matt was acting as Jason’s minder as he was operating in the Greater Manchester Police area. I said to the officers I thought it would be a trouble free afternoon for them.
I thanked the officers for the photos and Alan and I continued our walk around the stadium. I said to Alan I was surprised an officer had come all the way from Cambridgeshire as Peterborough didn’t have a reputation for trouble, but Alan said he’d known them to cause trouble in Morecambe (Alan lives close to Morecambe).
As for the game, it finished 1-1, the Wanderers had a player sent off and played the whole of the second half with 10 men.
Both look happy enough to pose for you. Such a good way to develop positive community relations. I'll find it interesting to read all your photographic info - although I'm afraid most of it will be above my head. :)
I would have taken Alan 's advice , I think but all's well that ends well and you have a picture of two police officers who look l
like they know their job. I like the commanding pose of the one on the left. Fav.
Great shot. I didn’t know the different forces sent police “hooligan experts” to away games. A lot more technical than you think!
I see a major incident has been declared for Notts, with the Trent very near to ( if it hasn’t already) overflowing. Hope you don’t live near water Phil 🤔
Interesting story Phil. I expect both officers were glad of an interesting interlude discussing film. I was surprised how far they travelled too…….its a big thing misbehaving fans! Hope you are high up!
@carole_sandford thanks carole the world of policing football matches is very complex. As for the River Trent we are on high ground almost the highest point in the county . villages in the Trent valley no more than 10 mins away are badly flooded. Our town has a history of flooding due to bad management of a small river ( hopefully now resolved after infrastructure changes )
Your police officers are so nice. I'm sure I won't have the nerve to ask a police officer here for a photo :-)
like they know their job. I like the commanding pose of the one on the left. Fav.
I see a major incident has been declared for Notts, with the Trent very near to ( if it hasn’t already) overflowing. Hope you don’t live near water Phil 🤔
@jamibann thanks Issi , most police officers are very approachable
@boxplayer Thanks Box' they just struck up the poses without any direction from me !