Prayers
Addis Ababa 2013
A woman prays in the corner of the church courtyard. The woman didn’t know that I’d shot her portrait. She wouldn’t have liked it. I know that because our leader asked to take a photo and the woman angrily refused. She would have posed for money but no money was forthcoming. (I did give her some later. I was ashamed not to.)
I often shoot portraits when the subject is unawares. I like them. I don’t always want a smile or the eyes looking into the camera. Sometimes I get in trouble, though. Once in China a man chased me down the street after I took his photo. I was alone and when I saw how angry he was, I got a bit frightened. Luckily, his friend got him calmed down. Be stealthy!