This is another portrait from Uptown. This teen had ice-water eyes and barely spoke a word to me. He was the strong, silent type. This image is striking for its symmetry, simple design and the lone earring which breaks the pattern. However, I have no idea whether it captured the real “him.” He was nice, just not very talkative. I usually engaged my subjects in conversation for several minutes before asking permission to photograph them. This got the people to loosen up and be themselves. It also kept me from being attacked by people who might otherwise have resented an intrusion into their lives.
