“SPEAK WITH YOUR PORTRAIT”

This month Steve Reeves sets an assignment where you talk and note down the thoughts of those you are photographing. Ideally photograph a stranger, though if you feel nervous about that suggestion, choose a member of your family or a friend. This assignment was set initially in episode #368.

THE ASSIGNMENT BRIEF

From Steve: “I think it would be a great idea to make a portrait, but also interview the person you are photographing. Talk to them and combine words with your picture to get across your encounter and make a final feature. Your ‘interview’s’ length depends upon the context and time you have with your subject.”

HOW TO ENTER

Send your entries to stories@photowalk.show, pictures should be 2,500 pixels wide if possible. Feel free to provide text too, to support the feeling or mechanics behind the picture.

Entries are shown below and good luck!

Neale

STEVE REEVES

Angela was born in Cannes in 1913.
When she was just 4 months old, her mother died of pneumonia. Antibiotics hadn't been invented back then, so it was commonplace for people to die of infection at a young age. Her dad paid for a foster mother to look after Angela while he went to work as a waiter.
One of Angela's earliest memories is of the end of WWI. She remembers queuing up for potatoes with her foster mother and seeing all the wounded soldiers lined up on stretchers, waiting to be taken for rehabilitation.
Her dad got a job as the head waiter at the Hyde Park Hotel, so he and Angela moved from France to London. Angela was sent to live in a convent school in Chelsea. It was run by nuns and was very strict. She would see her dad every weekend and dread Sunday nights because she would have to return to school. It took her only a short time to pick up English. Angela has a knack for languages. She can also speak French, Italian and German.
Angela has done a variety of different jobs. She's been a hotel receptionist, nanny, seamstress, cashier, florist, shorthand typist and housekeeper.
During The Great Depression, Angela remembers seeing the Jarrow Marchers, who walked from Jarrow to London in 1936 to protest unemployment and poverty. They looked exhausted and walked in silence but seemed so dignified.
During WW2, she worked in a gas meter factory converted to make bomb parts. Being Italian, she was an 'enemy alien' and had to report to the police station every week. She said that despite this, everyone treated her with courtesy. She remembers the Doodlebug raids (German rockets). They were only a problem once they fell silent, meaning their engines had cut out and were coming down. One whizzed past her when she came home from work in Park Lane.
After the war, she met her husband, Paul. They married at Chelsea Registry Office and bought their first house in 1950. The house was cheap because it had 2 sitting tenants, so the couple lived in just 2 rooms. Times were hard, but Paul was a brilliant handyman, so they saved a fortune on repairs.
Angela had a miscarriage in 1951. The following year she had their daughter Pauline.
She then passed her exams to become a telephonist at the Continental Exchange in the City. This was shift work, so it was ideal as it enabled her to juggle the job and being a Mum.
When Paul was 82, he had a stroke. Angela's knack for languages allowed her to learn the Russian alphabet to communicate with Paul's sister, who lived in Russia.
Paul passed away in the late 90s, and Angela lived independently until 2019, when she moved into a care home.
When she turned 100. She got her card from the Queen. She liked it but joked that she would rather have got a box of chocolates.
As a child, Angela lived through the Spanish Flu pandemic. In 2020, aged 107, she contracted the most recent worldwide pandemic, Covid. She was extremely unwell but pulled through and is one of Britain's oldest survivors of the disease.
Angela is fast approaching her 110th birthday, and she kindly let me take this photo.
She was incredibly patient as I fiddled with my camera, trying to get a shot. Angela's daughter Pauline, who was a massive help with this interview, told me that Angela has always been very tolerant and open-minded.
She never judges and has always been a great listener.
She's not one who talks about 'The good old days. In fact, she calls them 'the not-so-good old days' and wishes there were things like washing machines, disposable nappies and supermarkets back when she was young. Pauline added that Angela has always loved learning new things and is thankful for everything she has seen and done.
It could be the above attitude that accounts for her longevity. Or perhaps it's her genes. Her dad lived to 106. He retired to Italy and was the oldest man in the country for a while. Whatever the reason, it was an honour to photograph such an amazing woman.

JOHN KENNY: flask winner for MAY

Pictures above and below. It was after the Steeve Reeves episode that I decided to go out and do a similar thing. This started off with a couple of conversations with strangers when out and about, before evolving into more targeted approaches. I have loosely called this project 'Strangers'.
The title of the project has changed a few times, and probably will again, as I try to grow it. However, the central theme is about the confidence that having a camera can provide as well as the idea of using it as a passport into other people's lives. I have only just started, but hope to be able to add more portraits and stories as the project grows.

If it is permitted for the May challenge I attach photographs of Dag Kjelldahl, who I met on a cold afternoon in February. Dag was sitting on the bench pictured, wearing the Deer Stalker hat and sharing coffee with his dog. Initially, I asked permission to include him in my photograph of the Abbey before having a chat. I actually wrote the conversation down in a notebook when I got back to the car. Not sure why, but I had a thought that this could be the start of an idea.
These are effectively the notes from the conversation:

I spoke to Dag at around 16:30 whilst he was sitting on a bench with his dog, drinking coffee. The dog was occasionally allowed a sip too. His DeerStalker hat cut a unique profile. I asked if he minded me including him in some pictures, he didn't mind as he said he takes photographs as well. I only took a few frames before having a chat. Dag said he was an artist and often used photographs as references for his work. Sometimes he uses different pieces from different photographs, so has a library of clouds, people and places.

To stop the dog becoming restless, Dag showed me a trick that made it seem as though the dog could count. Balancing a treat on the dog's nose, he asked me to pick a number. Once the count reached that number, the dog flipped it off, caught and ate the treat. He said that this trick was inspired by tricks he had seen elephants perform when he was a child.

We talked some more about why he had ended up in Whitby, being originally from Norway. He said that he had been inspired by books he read as a child to have as many adventures as possible, then proceeded to hand me a flyer with the title 'Whitby Wizard'. The flyer stated that he was a Norwegian Museum Director, Designer, Teacher, Seaman, Archaeologist, Historian, Journalist, Chief Pilot and Whitby Artist. In addition to spending 2 years on Bear Island doing weather observations in the Norwegian Arctic he had also run 'The Whitby Wizard Science Centre' for 10 years, hence the nickname.
See more of John’s work on his website.

ELHAN AFZAL

Ahmad Shah (not his real name) 27 years of age, talked to me about the day when an airstrike happened in his area. He told me about being shot in the eye. “I was in my room and having lunch when my father came and asked me to take the buffalo and sheep to fields. After arriving there, less than 100 to 200 meters away from my home, I sat for a moment under the shadow of a tree. It’s then that I heard a loud blast. I woke up after a few weeks in hospital.”
This photograph from Elhan was received a few months after the assignment was set, but such is the potency of the work, I wanted to make sure it was shared. See more of Elhan’s work.

GREG BLACKMON

May’s photo challenge struck quite a chord with this amateur photographer. Talking to strangers comes easily. Asking to photograph them doesn’t. With a gentle nudge from a few friends, I have spent the last year attempting to overcome my fear of approaching capturing portraits of strangers. Honestly, of the numerous requests I’ve offered, only a handful have declined. Most of the interactions are life-giving, educational and leave a residue of humanity. My requests to move slightly for better light and “not smile” have been met with surprising openness.
Often, I feel photographically stuck especially when shooting in color. To overcome these speed bumps I will occasionally look for an interesting person and just ask. I find putting one’s toe in the cool, untested water is the most challenging part.
On this day in mid-May I was out on a photowalk with some friends. Initially, I was searching for a street scene with a bit of color. Again, this is challenging to my eye as I am drawn to the contrast of light and shadow better revealed in monochrome. I noticed a young man walking down the sidewalk - scanning. His green uniform caught my eye but it was his presence that sparked something. I said hello and he stopped to talk. Immediately, his spirited enthusiasm sprang forth. Narrell shared that he worked for the city and his job was to help people find their way around. He roams our scruffy strieets looking to see if someone needs directions, helps locate parking and generally serves as an ambassador. Additionally, he will “radio” in when the trash receptacles are overflowing, identify graffiti and remove the oft seen stickers placed throughout downtown. He wants to create a clean, safe environment for guests.
As we stood talking for a few minutes, his earnest smile gave me hope. Born in a small town near our city he said, “I just want to help people.” And he agreed to allow a quick portrait. We shook hands and said good day. As he strolled further down the sidewalk, his hopefullness radiated. I had just spent a few moments with someone who wanted to make the world just a bit better. And I smiled. It was only later I noticed the green of his shirt and the grocery signs in the background framing. This too made me smile.
Thank you Narrell for the opportunity.

JOHN GRINDLE

This assignment is one I was hoping for and one I was also dreading. Unlike my brother who can strike up a conversation with anyone, I’m the shy one at the back keeping very quiet. Taking portraits of strangers has been high on my photographic journey wish list, but as yet my portrait keyword hasn’t been used.
Today this was going to change and I was determined to make my portrait image - butterflies in stomach were working overtime, as I drove over the hill to Weymouth.
The esplanade was packed with visitors enjoying the wonderful sunny day. I made my way round to the harbour and found an empty bench, within minutes a couple sat next to me and we started chatting. They were from Dusseldorf and enjoying a weeks holiday here. I helped them with directions and recommendations on things to do. They left without me asking for a portrait, but I was pleased I was part way there.
To my surprise another couple took their place and we were soon chatting about Weymouth. They were from Wincanton and down on a day trip. They visited the fishmongers and had bought some scallops, prawns and samphire, for their lunch tomorrow. They had buttered bread to make sandwiches with the crab meat they had also bought - it was apparently cheaper than buying a ready-made crab sandwich!
OK, John, now is the time to ask to take their portrait, to my amazement the words actually came out and they said ‘yes’. Here are Laurence (she is French, been in the UK for 43 years), Derek the dog and Graham. Not an in-depth interview or a perfect portrait, but I’m happy with achieving my goal.
They headed off to find a boat trip and I rewarded myself with an ice cream - Portrait keyword count now 1.
PS> French flag and restaurant in the background - all planned of course ;)
See more of John Grindle’s work on his Instagram.

MARTIN PENDRY

For this month's assignment, I want to share my experience of participating in the Ford Ride London's FreeCycle event. While some men of a certain age dressed in lycra take off on fancy bicycles, covering a hundred kilometres on the roads of London and Essex, the rest of us tackle a 10-kilometre circuit in central London. Among the participants, you can find families with kids happily darting and wobbling alongside their parents, e-bike services ensuring we notice them, people in costumes, and the rest of us.
As I entered Parliament Square, the sound of bells ringing from St Margaret's Church competed with the bagpipes and the voices of tour guides. St Margaret's often goes unnoticed as tourists focus on their tour prize of Westminster Abbey. The guides educate their followers that Big Ben refers to the bell, not the tower that holds it.
In the midst of the bustling crowd, my attention was drawn to a display of green bottles. Rob, a Scotsman, held those bottles and placards, standing out prominently. We talked about his message, and since I was on a bike, we naturally moved on to discussing The World Naked Bike Ride, a daring event soon to grace Parliament Square.
Then, another vivid scene unfolded before me. Two RAF cyclists on penny farthings whirled around. These bicycles were skillfully modernised, adorned with speakers resembling engines under the wings in the air. They played a medley of tunes, blending the Dam Busters' anthem with the sounds of their engines. Curious about their identities, I asked their names, hoping for some insight. Instead, they responded with humorous titles, evoking laughter all around. With their playful banter, lots of saluting and using terms like "chap" and "chaps," they exuded joy as they pedalled along, creating a tapestry of laughter and song. They told me they have no affiliation with the RAF and do this for fun.
I am attaching three images. One of Rob taken on a Ricoh GR iiix, and one of the two was taken from a 360 camera on my handlebars. The third of the flyers was again taken on the GRiiix as I cycled past them. I have just joined the GR family.
See more of Martin’s work on his Instagram.

ANDREW HARDACRE

Two street portraits and two conversations (above and below).

I saw Jiffie with her friend (partner?) in Sheung Wan. Her bright blue outfit caught my eye and I tried to take a photo across the street. They saw me and started laughing. I wandered over and we chatted for 10 minutes before I asked if I could take their photo. They said fine and after I had taken a couple she insisted I take a few of her without her friend. He graciously stepped aside. She is Thai and a dancer travelling as much as she can to see the world.

Next up Mr. Dereck Kwok. About half an hour after photographing Jiffie I saw Mr. Kwok at his table. He had a sign up saying ‘photographs welcome’. That is highly unusual in HK and I smiled and asked why he enjoyed photos. He then shows me some newspaper cuttings about himself. He is a calligrapher and also runs a small antiques shop. After a longish chat, I finally asked if I could make his portrait. He is holding a book of Confucius sayings dating back over 2000 years.

What started as an excuse to get some exercise turned into a very enjoyable photowalk with 2 portraits to keep.

WALEED ALZUHAIR

While walking from “Batha Street” marketplace, towards “Masmak Palace”, I was holding my camera and looking around. This is when I crossed paths with these Gentlemen.
Gentlemen: “Balash? Soora balash?” (translation: Free? Free photograph?)
Trying to speak Arabic with their lovely ex-pat accent. I cannot tell you how proud I feel when I encounter people trying to speak my language, I feel honoured.
Me: “Tabi soora?” *click* (translation: want me to take your photo?)… I didn’t even count to 3.
Me: Ok, now what? Do you have email? To send you the photo?
Gentlemen: “Assalam Alaikom” (translation: goodbye) as they walked away.
It’s interesting how some may take pleasure in having their photograph taken, perhaps they thought I was a journalist, who knows? I know it’s not much of a conversation, but that’s expected from an introvert 🙂
Location of the photo and Masmak Palace.

KELLY MITCHELL

Betty’s portrait with audio file to come.

PETER MADDERN

A few days ago I was out on the north coast of West Cornwall making images of the cliffs and fantastic displays of wildflowers when I came across an artist in full creative flow on the edge of a sheer drop to the sea. I stood back and watched for a while, admiring the large oil painting that was developing in front of me.
After some time I approached the artist and complimented him on his work and asked if I might take some images of him in action.
With a broad smile on his face, he replied that he was more than happy and as I made the images we had a long chat.
Laurence told me that he had moved to Cornwall eight years ago, moving from the Midlands and now living on the north coast of Cornwall a few miles further east than where we had met today. Laurence now spends as much time as he can painting out in the open capturing the grandeur and beauty of the Cornish coast. As a youngster, he had gone to art college but had left a bit disillusioned with the world of art and rather than try to follow a solo career had gone into teaching, where he stayed for five years, before grasping the nettle and pursuing his dream.
Laurence had been here on the cliffs for about four hours before I met him and would need a couple more yet. The biggest challenge he faced was the changing light as the sun was now in a completely different position than when he started. As photographers, we often rush about trying to capture fleeting moments of light but imagine trying to take a six-hour long exposure.
He told me a lovely story of how one day while painting on the coast path, he had been approached by a man who had admired his work so much that he bought it on the spot. The next day an email arrived confirming the purchase and Laurence and his wife were shocked to learn that the mystery buyer was George Ezra the singer/songwriter. I must admit the painting he was creating in front of me was stunning and the scene I photograph often, I was tempted to make an offer myself. As he made his way up the slope his work was still not finished and would be finally completed in his studio.
Interestingly enough, on the grass amongst his scattered tubes of paint was a small camera that he used to capture the scene for later reference.

NEALE JAMES

Out of the traps, I’m not the biggest fan of iPhone portraiture, but that’s probably because so often, I can’t get a technical softness to the picture I make - not the kind of elegance I’m hoping for at any rate. They’re great on Insta, but I find a very sharpened, HDR-like quality when producing larger images. It’s a work in progress for me, settings-wrangling a smartphone, BUT… this is not a challenge about that I know, it’s about connecting, communicating, spending time with someone and showing a genuine interest.

So, with two feet jumping into this one, here is my smartphone experiment/experience, tackling Steve’s super assignment challenge.

I met Jim and Patricia at a car boot sale, five minutes from my front door. Our youngest is raising cash for ‘projects’ and so we decided to set up a stall, to see what we could place upon a pop-up pasting table - one person’s past gold is another’s new mining experience. Besides, if this kind of commercial endeavour is what supposedly kick-started many an illustrious entrepreneurial venture, well perhaps this could be a life lesson for ‘the boy’.

Jim and his wife Pat were visiting from Essex.

Some of our older model trains first piqued Jim’s curiosity, and we talked about our layouts as kids, the fact my father couldn’t easily mix different liveries.

How the subject of lottery wins surfaced I don’t know, but Jim announced with expression-full glint, his win, a few years back; “Not as much as some, but life changing all the same.”

“Course, it’s all gone now,” he said, “but it certainly gave me chances to do things I wouldn’t have considered prior.”

In most peoples’ lifetime, they’ll hit the jackpot once, if they’re exceptionally lucky, but Jim’s family may have a system, because the next month Pat’s Mum scooped her lotto fortune too. How is that for coincidence?

“It doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate a bargain, and where better to find something like that, than a car boot sale!”

We’d sold well during the day and had three carriages left. Sam, my wife, offered one free of charge to Jim, joking, perhaps hoping, it may bring us luck in the next lotto.

He offered us a sum for a job lot end-of-day bargain; “A tenner for the lot,” he said.

“Oh go on then,” said Sam, and packed the remaining pieces into a shoe box for him.

A short conversation, hardly an interview, but we did get to learn something about the pair.

In the week since, I went on to win, the lotto. Who’d have thought? Jim? Jim? Was it you?

Now, thirty quid is hardly life-changing, though the coincidence and opportunity to share my true story here, is priceless.

MAY 2023: STEVE REEVES