I made this photograph of a scene just outside of the International Center of Photography. A man talks on a cell phone while standing before two photo murals in the museum’s window. The murals show people from other cultures confronting the camera while standing waist deep in what appear to be floodwaters. The man on the phone, dressed in western business attire, cradles a jacket below one arm, while gesturing with the other. He raises one foot to offset the thrust of his arm. A tree leans towards him – nature quietly echoes his move, instead of swamping him. By juxtaposing this caller with the photos in the background, I’ve created an image that contrasts not only cultural differences, but also illuminates differences in control. The people in the murals appear to be passively accepting natural disasters beyond their control, while the man on the phone actively strives to master his own destiny.