Having lived in my town for nearly a quarter of a century (gulp) I do know quite a lot of the local people. And there’s some interesting characters – as there are in every community.
Thinking about who I might ask next to be a portrait volunteer I thought of James. He regularly walks past my house on his daily circuit around town, and he’s often up at the allotments. It was when he was heading up there recently when we chatted that he seemed at a bit of a loose end. I took the plunge and asked him if he’d come and sit for me and he kindly agreed.
James is an author and has written several plays, as well as soaps such as The Archers. When I first came to the town he had a small antiques shop but is retired now.
I think he’s very stylish, especially with his hat that he’s rarely seen without, though his wife asked I took one without.
I love my Canon 85mm 1.8 lens which I got off my friend Polly a few years ago and with the little studio set up I now have at the house it’s a great opportunity to do more of this type of portrait work. I’ve applied for a grant to do the ‘Women of Kirkbymoorside’ project and in a couple of weeks I’ll know whether I have been successful. I’m thinking there will be some studio portraits as well as environmental ones.
Bit blurred this last one which is a shame, didn’t get my focus right – always learning!