Street Portrait (for and of Billy), 2013
Billy was on a brief break from working in one of the buildings on Kingsway, when I spotted him. He had a really interesting look of concentration, so I asked him if I could take his photograph. And then he smiled and I got my shot. What a great smile! Thanks very much, Billy! Hope you like your picture.
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If you want to see all the street portraits (nearly) to date in one place, go here: http://tfipmremix.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/london-faces-remix/
The Future Is Papier Mâché 
Love this, Richard!
I find it kind of amusing – like the mask is some sort of odd hat. I can’t quite put my finger on what it reminds me of… hmmm…
Thanks very much, Karen! Yes, it is odd when you look at it like that. I know what you mean and am now driving myself mad trying to think what it could be…
Nice smile and hat (like a party hat for children)!
Yes, it almost looks like that! It’s a sort of breathing mask for working in dusty environments I think. Thanks very much for your comment!
Party hat was my first thought also. Nice photo.
Thanks very much, Terry.
Richard, This is a playful portrait. I was also thinking of the dusk mask being a party or novelty hat.
Yes, it’s a strange illusion that. Thanks very much, Margaret.
Great image! Nabbing a builder on his break – exactly why I do not have the courage to do this kind of photography! :-S
Thanks very much, Richard! Billy was really great about the shot. Most people are – a guy got quite cross with me yesterday for taking a shot without asking.
That’s when you make a run for it, lol…
Yes, I did – well a brisk walk – he was up a ladder.
I like his mask, it looks like a party hat.
I’m so much enjoying your street portraits, Richard.
Thanks so much, Ashley.
Or maybe the mask is like some weird kind of ecclesiastical hat. 🙂
Yes, I think that’s closer – the ventilator bit looks like some kind of emblem.
I use the same when glazing my pottery:)
I wish I could take a shot of you at work 🙂
Great shot. Like some of the comments above, I thought it was a weird hat a first, but the realised it was mask. But I think this is a positive addition to the portrait.
Thanks very much, Stevie. Yes, I think it adds an ambiguous edge, which lifts it as a portrait.
Very kind smile! Nice pointy hat too – it could almost double as a nice face mask … 🙂 Lovely!
Yes, Billy has a great smile for sure. 🙂
When I first looked at this, I thought he was wearing a party hat, haha, then I took a second look. 🙂
Yes, lots of people have said that. I can’t believe I didn’t see it when I took the shot.
I like Billy’s “Third Eye” and great smile!
Yes, what a great interpretation – thanks, Patti!
The mask tells us about your subject in an undertated and interesting way-great.
Thanks very much, Elena – I hadn’t thought of it as a cue.
Al principio me ha parecido que tuviese un gorro, desde luego tuviste suerte de pillarlo, besos
Yes, it’s interesting that so many people thought that (and I missed it when I posted the image! 🙂 )