Sometimes, a photographer chooses a point of view that shows only part of the subject, because he or she feels that within the detail can be found the meaning of the whole, and greater emotion about it. For example, in this photograph, rather than reveal who is actually sitting on the steps, I showed only a black pants leg, a couple of knees, a white sock, and a shiny black shoe peeking out.

In daily life, it is common to use a part or aspect of a person to think less of them; for example, looking at how someone is dressed and smugly thinking, "I'd never wear that!" With one annihilating thought, a person's whole life is reduced to a detail we can feel superior to.

Here, a detail makes for wonder, for the unknown in broad daylight, and we find ourselves wanting to know more. Who is this mysterious person, fitting in so well with his surroundings? How surprising and right that man and building have the same vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines, share the same dark and light tones. Stone and humanity have met, and they are friendly.  Is this not cause for respect?