Thursday 31st January 2019, 12.40pm (day 2,716)
Up and about again today, though not very far nor very energetically. This is the kind of vibe I am trying to affect at the moment.
Being 42
Life, one day at a time
Category Archives: Stranger
Random portrait
Friday 28th December 2018, 2.10pm (day 2,682)
Sat by the river, as I often am, and pointing my camera across it to take random shots as I often do, this guy walked into view at just the right moment. I have no idea who he is, but the shot works for me (in black and white to mitigate the impact of the bright yellow ‘CCTV’ sign in the background). I have often speculated about how many such random photos I appear in, in the background perhaps, all unknowing. Maybe there’s a universal rule that applies, like everyone appears as a stranger in twelve photos in their life, or something similar.
On her graduation day
Wednesday 19th December 2018, 12.05pm (day 2,673)
When graduation ceremonies have appeared on here in the past they have either been those at Manchester or a couple in Moscow, back a few years ago. But this one, today, is at the University of Leeds — and I was not present through professional duty but personal connection, seeing as it was Clare who was celebrating the award of her (second) MA in Psychotherapy and Counselling. Well done to her and to everyone else there today — our C was at the front, far away from the camera, but these graduates nearer where I was sat capture the mood of the day just as well.
Surprisingly cheerful Morpeth fans
Saturday 15th December 2018, 2.40pm (day 2,669)
These guys — fans of Morpeth Town — look surprisingly cheerful considering they have just come a couple of hundred miles, from Northumberland to Yorkshire, to watch a football match that did not in the end take place. Literally as I arrived at Brighouse Town FC, 2.30pm, the match was called off due to a layer of sleet and hail that had sprayed itself over the pitch from about 2:00. Bummer. I was grumpy, anyway, and I’d only come on a bus from Hebden Bridge.
The flat cap crew
Saturday 1st December 2018, 1.25pm (day 2,655)
In Huddersfield, in the pub having lunch on the way to the football (2-1 win for Brighton, yay). This posse of guys on the next table started out as three, all in flat caps, which I decided was evidence of a new retro fashion trend among the guys of Yorkshire. Then at least four more turned up, also all in flat caps, and in the end I decided they were a fairly genteel stag party. I hope they had a good day, even if they were Huddersfield fans.
Christmas lights switch-on
Friday 16th November 2018, 5.00pm (day 2,640)
The Campaign for Real Christmas long ago lost its fight to restrict this festival to December, and so Hebden Bridge, like most other places, can’t wait for November to end before switching on its decorations and accompanying this with the sale of vast amounts of plastic that within two weeks will be in landfill somewhere. But the photo opportunities this affords were better than those at work today, so here we go, it’s Advent — here, anyway.
Yawn!
Saturday 10th November 2018, 1.25pm (day 2,634)
I know how he feels… even if it is the weekend. Mind you, he could also benefit from having less luggage.
Smoking spot
Wednesday 24th October 2018, 2.05pm (day 2,617)
I’m sure even non-smokers appreciate the notion of the smoking spot. There’s almost always someone sitting on this bench in Pall Mall Square, Manchester, whenever I walk past and I’ve been eyeing it up as a portrait for a while but seeing as it’s the kind of shot which would only work if I was facing straight on to the subject, then the risk of being busted is rather high. However I got away with it today. And it’s another quite good wall, isn’t it… not uniform at all.
Sending off
Saturday 15th September 2018, 3.35pm (day 2,578)
Thirty-five minutes in and the day goes from bad to worse for Tow Law Town, in the stripes; already 4-0 down at this point they have just had a player sent off, as well. Mind you seeing as the final result was 5-2 to hosts Nelson FC, technically this improved their performance.
The reason I like this picture is that the referee looks, to me anyway, to be about fourteen years old. A clear sign of middle age on my part, I know. Brave chap either way. Look at the size of the guy behind him, for instance.
Red, white and blue
Friday 14th September 2018, 5.35pm (day 2,577)
Second photo in a row taken through glass: this lady was sat outside the pub as we enjoyed the usual Friday afternoon thing. A quiet weekend coming up, poor weather forecast although there was some sunshine coming in for this shot. A bit of oddness caused by the reflections but I still like the image.
Being 42 