Out and about in Winchester the day before Christmas Eve, I heard beautiful, soulful music but could not find its source. As I turned the corner, it seemed to be flowing from a public telephone box. Definitely puzzling.
And then I thought I saw somebody with a guitar IN the phone box. I walked over and saw a young guy playing and singing. As I usually do in such situations, I pointed to my camera and gave a questioning look. He nodded so I took a few very poor shots through the dirty glass.
Then I realised I would at least need a name if I had any hope of making this portrait no 85 in my strangers' project. So I loudly asked, "What's your name?" whereupon the young man opened the door of the phone box and told me he was Sam Brothers.
I described my project and asked if he would mind participating and if so, would he step just a bit further out of the box so I could get a better shot. Sam was happy to do this.
It may look, in my photo, as if Sam is about to pay me for the photography but in reality he was searching for his card to give me his details so I could send him a photo.
Sam told me that he is in reality a serious musician but when he arrived to start his Christmas busking in the morning it was raining so he decided to have a bit of shelter.
He plays folk and blues and does gigs, playing in pubs and clubs, and plans to release a CD next year. He busks in Winchester and in Canterbury where he lives.
This is probably my most unusual experience during my strangers' project.
cool stranger and shot haze
I asked the same question! It's one of 'twin' phone boxes!
Thank you! It's really not difficult.
Truly it doesn't worry me, as they can either say yes or no. I've taken 86 portraits now and I guess I've had around 8 -10 refusals.