We found ourselves, quite by chance, at a countryside event on Petersfield Heath. As so often happens, it became an unexpected opportunity for stranger portraits. This Saxon lady was standing outside her geteld tent. I thought she looked beautiful in her costume and spoke to her about my strangers' portrait project and asking if she would participate.
Edith, or Eve as her Saxon persona, was very happy to let me take some photos. She explained that Eve was a lady straight from 1066, not expected to do much domestic work, although she had made some cottage cheese the day before, complete with a little ash from the wood fire.
The geteld tent would have been used by the Saxons when out and about on commerce. Edith and her husband had slept in the tent for the previous two nights, as all their goods and artefacts were in it and they did not want either to leave everything unattended or to pack up each evening and take everything home.
Edith and her husband volunteer with The Vikings and she said that it could be possible to attend such an event every weekend if they so wished. Her husband had just gone off to engage in a mock battle, leaving behind his authentic metal-tipped arrows which are considered too dangerous to use. We had a look at them and could see why.
Eve had a loom on display and explained how the different coloured wools were dyed: red using madder; green using welt and woad; and purple using a lichen, which grows in the New Forest.
Edith took retirement from her post as a primary school teacher and can now indulge her passion for her interest.
It was lovely to meet her and I gave her my card so she can contact me for some photos.
Well I never knew such very active groups existed Hazel...a function every weekend, amazing. Loved the way they truly live the way they represent. She looks a happy interesting lady. We all need a passion to keep us active & focussed!
Thank you for such lovely comments, appreciated. It's like a little business card which has on it my first name, 'amateur photographer' my email address and 'hazel - 365 project' and I ask folk to send me a note if they would like photos sent by email. I also say they can see my work if they put 'Hazel - 365 project' into google.(try it with your name!) It avoids having to write down their email address on bits of paper and wondering if I have omitted a full stop or something else which invalidates their email address.
I was worried at first that they might think it was a scam to get them to buy a photo but it has worked out OK. I stress the 'amateur' bit.
Fascinating and rewarding. Delighted that 'Haze's strangers' are enjoying a wider audience (?) and the opportunity...having survived your subtle chat/interview and your ‘card’...to see their shot on line too.
September 15th, 2018
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lovely.
what cards do you have for the people?
Thank you for such lovely comments, appreciated. It's like a little business card which has on it my first name, 'amateur photographer' my email address and 'hazel - 365 project' and I ask folk to send me a note if they would like photos sent by email. I also say they can see my work if they put 'Hazel - 365 project' into google.(try it with your name!) It avoids having to write down their email address on bits of paper and wondering if I have omitted a full stop or something else which invalidates their email address.
I was worried at first that they might think it was a scam to get them to buy a photo but it has worked out OK. I stress the 'amateur' bit.