I met Sam with his friend Sean on my way down Five Bridges Road to walk across the water meadows to the Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty.
Sam is just finishing a degree in Business Studies at Winchester University and helps Sean out with his car reviews.
They explained to me that there are three parts to reviewing each car: firstly, the still photographs of the car, secondly, a video of the car taken by Sam as Sean drives it past (a new meaning to 'drive-by shooting' a phrase which we occasionally use here on 365...) and thirdly, a commentary by Sean of the handling qualities of the car given by him as the driver, and filmed by Sam in the passenger seat..
With so much publicity given to the difficulties of university students securing a job after their studies, it was heartening to hear that Sam already has a job as a business analyst waiting for him in his home town of Reading when he finishes his degree later this year. He told me that he would really like eventually to start his own business and to live in America.
I asked Sam about leisure pursuits and he told me he likes playing football and also supports Arsenal.
He went on to mention wakeboarding.
"Waveboarding?" I said.
"No, wakeboarding," Sam repeated.
Then, obviously seeing the blank look on my face, he explained that this involves being towed by a boat and jumping its wake. It sounds like an activity that I might like to stand safely on the shore and photograph.**
I took several photos of Sam and had again to be careful with light coming through the trees but I think it worked out OK in the end. He wrote down his email for me to send photos and I'm sending him a couple.
It was good to meet Sam and get his portrait and story and I wish him all the best for his future career and hope his dreams come true.
It was also a good start to the day to encounter him and Sean as the next bit of my day crossing the mud of the water meadows to the almshouses was rather a slippery trek.
** I Googled wakeboarding and found this on Wikipedia:
"Wakeboarding is a water sport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water. The wakeboard is a small, mostly rectangular, thin board with very little displacement and shoe-like bindings mounted to it. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snowboarding, and surfing techniques.
The rider is usually towed behind a motorboat, typically at speeds of 18–25 mph, depending on the board size, rider's weight, type of tricks, and rider's comfort."
I have to say that you found two very attractive and enterprising 'strangers' when you ran into Sam and Sean. Wishing both of these guys all the best in their bright futures.
Beautiful portrait with lovely detail, light and colour, thanks for the interesting narrative Hazel, seen people Wakeboarding, its not for me other than to photograph:)
Although I'm a 'Johnny come lately' to your portraits, Sam and Seàn, what a great treat lies in store for me to browse. I'm keen on taking shots of people I meet, mainly tourists and mainly French. However, the French can be very stroppy (not the word I'd use if this was a face 2 face conversation) and remonstrate with graphic gesticulations. Have yet to see someone foam at the mouth, mainly because I've already backed off ;-)
Margo, thank you for supportive comments. I am very interested indeed in what you say about the French as we had a week in France last September and I just had that feeling it would not be the same asking there as asking in England so I took no portraits.
Booooo
Margo, thank you for supportive comments. I am very interested indeed in what you say about the French as we had a week in France last September and I just had that feeling it would not be the same asking there as asking in England so I took no portraits.