At last a sunny morning so I went to Winchester in search of colours for the March rainbow theme on 365 and also hoped to find a stranger's portrait.
Lots of green as you might imagine, even in a city, in 'England's green and pleasant land', red quite prominent in the cathedral and some blue to be found in street signs.
I have an annual pass to Winchester Cathedral and I always feel a slight sense of privilege when I produce it and a guide waves me through.
This time, another lady guide was standing close to the entrance and she asked me if I wanted a map. I replied that I did not need one and had come to take photos. By this time, of course the sun had disappeared and she commented that the light had been really good earlier.
It seemed the right time to introduce myself and my strangers' portrait project and Linda was amenable to pose for a portrait She did say that she would have to attend to any visitors who came in and wanted a guided tour.
The background of the stone wall was very easy on the eye and I took a couple of shots of Linda and then asked her about herself.
Linda, originally from Manchester, told me that she has been doing this voluntary work for almost nine years and takes the Tuesday shift each week from 12 - 2 p.m. the other shifts in the day being 10 - 12, and 2 - 4p.m. Tours are informative but informal and take place 6 days a week, with Saturday being an extremely busy day.
There might be only one person having a guided tour or even as many as twenty in a group. The tour guides like to have interaction and to follow the interest of the participants, answering questions or queries which arise. In my photo you can see the red collar, worn by each guide and which is called a pallium.
Linda then had to break off our conversation to attend to visitors wanting a tour. I just managed to find out that she is a member of Winchester Film Society, her partner being treasurer. The Film Society screens a season of international films in the Planetarium at Winchester Science Centre.
At the last minute Linda told me she likes walking, and has taken up the challenge to complete 3 marathon 'MoonWalks' in aid of breast cancer.
Last time I popped into Winchester Cathedral, there was nobody around and I realise now, from Linda's information, that I was just too late to meet anyone on that occasion, so I was doubly glad to take her portrait and hear her story.
Lovely colour, tones and composition another wonderful portrait with great catch lights, I'm sure Linda would love a copy, what an interesting lady and narrative Hazel:)
I like your close crop and the use of colour.
I noted your comments about cutting down on the narrative once you get to 100. It would be a shame if you did as the story behind the shot is part of the whole. I tend to talk about my camera technique and composition as well as the stranger info. Maybe you can cut down on the stranger info a little if you want to shorten your narratives.... says he who writes essays on mine !!!
linda reminds me of a mature Victoria Wood in her looks.
One more to go haze 😀
I don't have any camera techniques!!! I probably will carry on with the same length of story in spite of my comments. Looking back, I find that my narratives have got progressively longer as I've worked through the project!
Great Dof. I love the idea of a portraits type challenge. I may have missed something so forgive me but I am very interested in your reasons for a strangers' project - challenge/special reason etc?
A beautiful portrait Hazel. I am still in awe of how you manage to make each of your strangers look so relaxed and at ease. I very much enjoyed my informal tour of the Cathedral by one of these lovely guides.
Mandy, I found out about the 100 strangers group on Flickr. I wanted to do the project but was not a member of Flickr at the time so I decided to call mine Haze's strangers, simple rules, a ;portrait and a story. Have a look at Phil's project @phil_howcrofthttp://365project.org/phil_howcroft/365/2017-02-16
Re your sizing up strangers for no. 100 , I know a few ppl in the 100 strangers group who were on 99 for several weeks waiting for a grande finale :) . I understand your need to have a big ending haze, I think I will bein a similar position in 27 photos time !!! Don't rush your finish, wait for a no. 100 you are happy with. At the football yesterday , I rejected several potential strangers because I had similar one's in my collection (programme sellers) . We get more selective as we go along because our stranger captures are better now than they were when we started !
OK you give me licence to wait, Phil. And yes, I've learnt a lot in this project. Have you seen Jeff Bowen's work? https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/32921949852 I have in mind a real street portrait for no100 and nearly approached a chap just sitting begging recently - but it has to be done with respect of course that goes without saying.
Thank you Dianne and that's the question? (I'm not stopping!)
I noted your comments about cutting down on the narrative once you get to 100. It would be a shame if you did as the story behind the shot is part of the whole. I tend to talk about my camera technique and composition as well as the stranger info. Maybe you can cut down on the stranger info a little if you want to shorten your narratives.... says he who writes essays on mine !!!
linda reminds me of a mature Victoria Wood in her looks.
One more to go haze 😀
I don't have any camera techniques!!! I probably will carry on with the same length of story in spite of my comments. Looking back, I find that my narratives have got progressively longer as I've worked through the project!
Maybe when I retire in a few years..................
When I reach 100 strangers, yes, Babs. 100 years, IF I were to get there - not sure!
I wouldn't have the confidence to photograph strangers.
Mandy, I found out about the 100 strangers group on Flickr. I wanted to do the project but was not a member of Flickr at the time so I decided to call mine Haze's strangers, simple rules, a ;portrait and a story. Have a look at Phil's project @phil_howcroft http://365project.org/phil_howcroft/365/2017-02-16
OK you give me licence to wait, Phil. And yes, I've learnt a lot in this project. Have you seen Jeff Bowen's work? https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcbowen/32921949852 I have in mind a real street portrait for no100 and nearly approached a chap just sitting begging recently - but it has to be done with respect of course that goes without saying.
Yes, I post in The Human family. Jeff's narratives are even longer than mine! He sounds a great guy.