Stranger 44/100 - Zhang

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Explore! 09/14/08

Safely out of the sun on this very hot late summer day, I noticed this guy sitting just inside Tryst coffeehouse enjoying his book* during today's Adam's Morgan Day Festival. I immediately knew I had to get this shot — but it actually took me three times passing by before I decided to approach him. The front of Tryst is a large windowless area so it makes it easy to be on the sidewalk and interact with patrons inside.

Zhang is reading Winston Churchill's "The Gathering Storm" on a *Kindle — Amazon.com's wireless electronic reading device. It's the first one I've seen in action and it seems like a pretty cool gadget. He is very new to DC having just moved from Philadelphia for work reasons a few months ago. And as it turns out we live about a block away from each other.

We talked for a little bit and he was curious about the project, and whether or not I was a professional or doing this for a hobby. (Uh...the latter.) He asked great questions about how I chose people for the project, and about what other things I like to photograph (urban scenes..um, and whatever strikes me I guess).

I chose this shot for the official post since I felt it really captured the peaceful moment that I first saw and recognized the opportunity for the portrait. Please see this outtake for another view.

picture prefect, erin m, volcanojw, scrossley, and 113 other people added this photo to their favorites.

View 20 more comments

  1. dcscorpio 48 months ago | reply

    great picture.. i saw your pictures this afternoon at Artomatic! this one is by far my favorite!

  2. Lumy2006 47 months ago | reply

    I love this....I always have moments when its just worthy of a good shot...and i find myself without my camera. lol

  3. i_see_everyday 43 months ago | reply

    I like this shot for the positions of his hands and for the reflection as Clark noted. But the angle is cool in your outtake shot, so it's a toss up for me. Both are great portraits.

  4. r.coppola 41 months ago | reply

    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Amazon Kindle, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

  5. Lyns Pics 31 months ago | reply

    I love everything about this one.... the colors are very soothing. Matches the mood.

  6. finjan gahwa 28 months ago | reply

    Awwww it looks like he's really enjoying his book-kindle...and it's like the perfect setting, too. Read on dude, read on!!!!

  7. vera_bing 21 months ago | reply

    great shot - and nice story ! :)
    keep on the good work!

  8. David Sebastiaan 21 months ago | reply

    A perfect shot !!

  9. protophotogsl 21 months ago | reply

    beautifully composed with the broad bands of color in the background and all the angles that direct the eye around and around within the frame; ...especially admire the way Zhang has returned to his absorbed reading after engaging in conversation with you... he appears natural, relaxed and oblivious to the camera's presence. Seen and admired in Flickr front page blog
    --
    Seen on your photo stream. ( ?² )

  10. Jonathan D. Lopez 21 months ago | reply

    I love the multiple reflections! Fantastic image.

  11. ‹shin› 21 months ago | reply

    great shot and story

  12. Copperdog ~ Diane 21 months ago | reply

    he looks intrigued yet lighthearted by what he's reading
    nice eye for his portrait.
    I've always wanted to start this project.... yet haven't

  13. Raviliac 21 months ago | reply

    Nice one :)

  14. satori dragon 21 months ago | reply

    :), my kind of guy

  15. TabeticZombie 21 months ago | reply

    And a very handsome stranger at that!

  16. aeeda 21 months ago | reply

    Great portrait. Nice
    perspective and color.

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