Benedict Mind is a UK-based photographer, journalist and artist. He’s an Affiliate of the Royal Photographic Society and sits on the society’s Distinctions Advisory Panel. He is additionally a previous editor of Digital Digicam Journal, and the creator of You Can be Capable of Take Nice Images by The Finish of This E-book.
That is Marty, an expert bridge participant (the cardboard sport). I first met Marty whereas crusing on a ship between Lisbon, Portugal and New York Metropolis, USA, in early 2022. I used to be one of many ship’s lecturers, giving talks in regards to the artwork and craft of pictures, and Marty was the ship’s onboard bridge teacher.
I made a portrait of Marty as we wandered across the streets of Belfast on a humid, drizzly day. He was an attention-grabbing and intriguing character and a compelling topic. I wrote in regards to the picture I made from him on a distinct journey in a earlier column. To my shock, I met Marty a few yr afterward a distinct ship within the North Atlantic. We have been crusing in and round Iceland and Greenland, however I by no means made a portrait of him on this journey, which was a disgrace.
This second encounter made me suppose what a small world it’s, however it’s even smaller when you think about that I ran into him once more in Miami in January 2024 as we each boarded a ship sure for LA.
I made this portrait (above) of him on this journey, throughout which we spent extra time chatting and swapping tales. I found extra about his intriguing life-style and came upon that, since 2004, he’s spent over 4,500 days (that’s over 12 years) at sea on cruise liners.
Hopping from one ship to the following as a travelling bridge teacher, he spends as little time on land as potential. There’s extra to his story, too, so I managed to file a brief interview with him this time, which I shall edit and share quickly.
I had used the unique portrait I made from him in my ebook, You Will Be Capable of Take Nice Images By the Finish of This E-book, so I used to be thrilled to offer him a duplicate of it, which he preferred. I like this portrait greater than the unique portrait I made from him in Belfast; it captures the essence of his character extra totally. I ponder the place on this planet I’ll stumble upon Marty subsequent, however I really feel assured I’ll, and I stay up for making one other portrait of him then!
