Via Flickr:
I’m gutted!!!!
This was easily one of my better encounters but the photographs are terrible – I took a few of Jamie individually but have since binned them and the best individual shot of Ellie took a bit of work to approach anything even remotely acceptable.
Jamie, Ellie … look at the other shots in my 100 Strangers set – I’m not a professional but I can take much better photographs than this and if you have any interest in getting better photographs taken then please get in touch – it will cost you nothing more than your time and you can have the originals and some prints to do what you like with.
So what happened? I had a drink (or two) after work … then, on the metro going home afterwards I spotted Jamie’s t-shirt which I think is quite noticeable and the two of them were quite wrapped up in each other but nonetheless I decided to bother them and ask to take their photo.
Jamie seemed suspicious and Ellie intrigued at best but I pushed on and explained about the project and handed Ellie my card and they agreed. I started with a couples shot but including Jamie’s t-shirt, then took some individual shots of Jamie then Ellie but it is clear to see that given I have quite shaky hands to start with (naturally, before nerves kick in), I’d had a couple (ahem) of pints and was on a moving metro train the challenge it would appear was a bit above me.
Whilst taking some individual shots of Jamie I asked him if he thought I was weird and I genuinely can’t remember if he said a little or yes … but either way the answer was definitely yes ;).
After I’d taken several shots I put the camera down and had a proper chat with them and this is why I have included this encounter despite the end result (I’m not sure I’d ever ignore an encounter but I certainly did not consider doing so on this occasion). Jamie is a labourer but clearly is not overly happy with his job so I tried to swing the conversation to Newcastle United instead and he does go to games when he can. He didn’t seem too bothered about the current goings on at the club which to be honest is not a bad approach and probably just about the only way you could get through a season enjoying it at the moment!!!
Ellie works at Triple-S (where Jamie’s t-shirt came from) but she commented that her Dad is a professional photographer (which makes me cringe now I’ve seen the photos) but it seems he didn’t particularly enjoy his job largely because he was taking commercial shots whereas he seems to enjoy it more now he has retired because he can take the photographs he wants to rather than the photographs where there’s money to be had. Perhaps I’m naive but I find it sad that someone could have such a wonderful job and not enjoy it!
Jamie – maybe I should have said this at the time but I’m a season ticket holder at Newcastle and you now have my email address – if there’s a game you want to go to and you can’t get tickets elsewhere – give me a shout, my mates miss games every now and again and you never know!
Thanks very much Jamie & Ellie – it was great fun talking to you, and following my shortest encounter you have probably become my longest encounter (although you were a captive audience;) ) – if I see you at our local metro station again I will have no hesitation saying "Hi".
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This picture is #11 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
99% Digital 