This week’s task was inspired by the project Humans of New York – a series that I am not only familiar with, but very passionate about.

Our brief (see here) told us to use our recent knowledge of aperture to take a portrait of a person in the city centre and talk to them to get a short story that could appear on Leeds Hacks.

After hearing the brief, I instantly knew who I’d like to talk to – having commuted by train that morning, I had passed a man playing the flute outside Leeds train station.

He had said hello and seemed very friendly – if not a little eccentric too! I was excited for an excuse to talk to him properly and get a good portrait photo in the meantime.

I managed to speak to him and get a photograph:

 

The Interview

This is some of my interview transcribed:

1: So how long have you lived here?

2: 28 years.

1: Wow 28 years, I bet a lot has changed since you first moved here.

2: Oh yes, a lot has changed. Some of these buildings weren’t even here back then.

1: True, I’ve been here only four years and I’ve already seen so much change. What’s your favourite thing about Leeds?

2: Oh definitely the shops. The shops and the markets and the charity shops and things. You find interesting things a lot of the time.

1: Yeah definitely. And if you could change anything, what would you change?

2: I wish there were some nicer buildings.

1: Nicer buildings?

2: Yeah, ones that fit into the older architecture.

1: I was going to say yeah, the buildings especially down there are really nice that I’ve seen today.

2: Yeah, yeah. The uni buildings are not that nice looking especially.

1: I hope you don’t mind me asking, but what are the toys about? Are you selling them?

2: No, no! I’m not selling them, they just attract attention don’t they.

1: Oh yeah, they definitely do. I’m Holly by the way, I didn’t mention it earlier sorry.

2: Nice to meet you, I’m Rat.

 

Additional Information

Although I didn’t get it on record, he told me that he is not homeless – contrary to what many people think.

He just liked hanging out in the centre of town and playing his flute 🙂

 

I do feel as though I completed this task well, however the minor hiccups are definitely something to learn from. To see my reflection of these, click here.