Mechanic

It was 7:30 AM when I passed by his garage.

Shirtless and covered in sweat, he looked defiantly at me when he saw the camera pointed towards him.

I spoke to him and asked for his permission to take his portrait. He told me to wait one moment while he put his shirt on. I answered that I didn't want to take a picture of him all dressed up, I wanted to portray him just as he was, with his body covered in sweat from the morning's work.

With certain misgivings, he allowed me to take the picture. Only later was I told that it is considered impolite to appear bare-chested in a photograph, particularly if the photo is taken by a white woman like me.