500 Smiles Pictures: Looking through the long grass

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Looking through the long grass

Taylors Mistake Walkway
Sumner

Candy Kimono

TakumiMono posted a photo:

~Wrinkles will only go where smiles have been~ | | #smile #behappywithyourlife #...

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#Wrinkles

#15Stephen

quietpurplehaze07 posted a photo:

Every Sunday afternoon in February, the owners of Warnford Park open their grounds so that the public can enjoy the gorgeous display of snowdrops in the woods and in the churchyard. We decided to take a look last Sunday, for me cameras also invited of course.

The little church in the grounds is 12th century and I first took some photos inside. Next I took a few shots of snowdrops - in the churchyard, at the base of trees, on the bank overlooking the open countryside.

We decided to walk down to the lake and as we did I noticed one man and his dog walking ahead of us. I thought the dog might be a pointer. This big dog then making nose-to-nose friends with a tiny dachshund did give a lightly comic little-and-large scene.

By the lake, I found myself standing next to Rossi as I found he was called and in conversation with his human also discovered he was indeed a smooth-coated German pointer. His owner, Stephen, had a DSLR and after telling me about Rossi, he expressed an interest in my a6000 and I also showed him my little RX100.

On the other side of the lake were some cygnets, not at the small fluffy stage but nearly fully grown into swans. We wondered how long it would take for them to swim over to our side so we could get some shots.

I broached the subject of my strangers' portrait project and asked Stephen if he would agree to have his photo taken. He did seem a bit nonplussed but said OK. So I took a few shots and found the lake and trees made a good background. It was a little while before I realised that Stephen was surreptitiously taking photos of me at the same time! I told him this was the first time in my portraits' project that this had happened, which he found amusing.

I had initially told Stephen that I would like a little information about him to accompany the portrait so next I asked if he was retired or still working. He replied that he was 'treading water', having had a rather chequered career.

Then, rather suddenly, or so it seemed, he said: 'I'm bipolar'.

A pause of a couple of seconds and: 'So am I', I replied.

Another small pause and we did then speak a little about our experiences of bipolar disorder. Stephen said he is quite open about it and I told him that I am too. (I did check that he was OK with me divulging this bit of our conversation.)

Stephen told me that he has a degree in agriculture including a management specialisation. He has worked locally for Hampshire Watercress and in New Zealand for a farm relief agency.

He is a lover of rural nature and walks a lot, loves gardening and photography (he's promised to send me one of those photos). A serious accident over 10 years ago has left him with aches and pains but he has no memory of the actual event. He is Chairman of the Village Playground and a member of the Parochial Church Council.

Before we shook hands and parted, Stephen gave me his email address and I took a few shots of 12-year-old Rossi who is a hunter, pointer and retriever and had been patiently waiting at Stephen's feet.

This was an unexpected and for me, somehow, a heartwarming encounter and I certainly did not expect to go home on Sunday afternoon with a portrait and story as well as photos of snowdrops.

This is my #15 submission to the Human Family Group. To view more street portraits and stories visit:

www.flickr.com/groups/thehumanfamily/

This photo is also in The Portrait Group and STRANGERS!