Walking the streets of Old Shanghai in the pouring rain, I noticed this man watching me from an upstairs window. Why the scowl? Could it be his soaking wet laundry? Perhaps – we shall never know. However I do know that by including that laundry in this frame, I avoided one of the oldest travel photo clichés of them all, the face in the widow picture. I know this cliché well – I’ve taken them myself, and have had my fill. I’ll leave the face in window (usually an upper story window) to others. If I make such a shot, I want to make sure that there is something else in the frame to add context and perhaps offer a reason for the person’s expression. I think the soggy laundry handling limply below this fellow’s grouchy gaze offers a possible explanation for his mood. And that’s why I think this shot manages to go beyond the tired cliché approach.