the stairs
i was wandering along the streets near kuala lumpur's chinatown for photo opportunties last month, and i didn't get that many shots.
one shot i had was this stairway - the years of grime and the texture really drew me, and i walked further on to a more strategic place to change my lenses. i was wandering around with my telephoto lens, and this shot needed a wide lens.
i noticed a eurasian lady hanging around - she was tall, and had beautiful features - and she was really dressed up - in any other place i would say she's a model, or a really wealthy lady. her behaviour was strange though - because she was loitering around.
a man walked past, and she gave him a look, and it all clicked in my head - she was soliciting. the man hesitated around, then followed her up the stairs - i guess my knowledge about gay cruising translates here too.
i managed to take a few shots before another man came down. i glanced up and saw a middle aged lady sitting at a table at the end of the flight of steps. it would appear that she would rent out the rooms on a per hour basis. i quickly made my way elsewhere, before someone thought that i was doing an expose.
in the few months i acquired my camera, my perspective of the world has changed. i am now more attuned to the little details, and a lot of things i am oblivious to previously are now registering in my peripheral vision. i think it's a good change - and i guess this is what observing is to seeing, like what listening is to hearing.