I had a meeting scheduled on the periphery of Winchester but unfortunately the other participant was let down by the bus service, the bus totally failing to materialise. After a half hour wait in the cold, he went home. I was already at the venue when I picked up his email message on my iPad so decided to go down into Winchester for a walkabout with my camera.
I drove into town, confronted the parking problem and made my way into the centre.
Approaching the main street, I heard a beautiful male voice and, turning the corner, found a man singing expressively and a small crowd of people listening intently, one or two taking photos on iPhones. I crossed over and indicated as I usually do that I'd like to take a photo. I took one or two and then Miguel, as I found he was called, stopped singing so I explained my strangers' project and asked if I could include him in it.
He wanted to know where the photo would be published so I described 365 Project and my dedication to it and also said that the photo would be posted on Flickr (where I have a newly opened account). Miguel was then happy to say yes and I took a few more photos, some in colour, others in b&w.
I thought Miguel might be Spanish or Italian but he replied 'Latin American'. Later in the conversation I learned that his native country is Peru but he has lived in England for some 20 years.
Miguel handed me his card with his email and his website details. This was welcome as I had nothing to write with and nothing to write on. In addition to a camera, a notebook and a pen should now be standard on my person, I think, as I often unexpectedly happen on opportunities for a portrait.
We agreed I should use the website for a little more information to accompany the portrait as I, for one, was conscious of folk waiting for the singing to begin again.
I discovered that Miguel is Miguel Moncloa, a tenor, and one half of a classical duo, Sul Fiato, formed in 2012, the other half being Naomi Scott de Moncloa, an Australian soprano.
Sul Fiato is Italian, meaning ‘on the breath’. On the website this is described as 'The ultimate technical goal for any classical singer, it also refers to the link between the breath and the soul or human spirit.'
Once again from the website: 'on the importance of music to him', Miguel says, “Music is the only way that I connect fully with my fellow human beings.
I have photos to email to Miguel. I was very appreciative of his time and interested to learn about his professional life.
https://365project.org/quietpurplehaze/add-ins/2017-01-31
I think maybe I pefer the mono. And today I've posted one more shot of Miguel in colour and in mono. I think the mono shows the emotion in his singing. (I was so pleased to receive a heartfelt email from him thanking me for photos.)