Sad man sitting in a back alley Beijing China

When exploring a country, I like to walk down the side streets and back alleys to experience real-life by the residents. Beijing, China, is a sensory explosion for any street photographer. There are incredible modern skyscrapers, affluent luxury shops, and luxury cars on the streets that make you think you are in Beverly Hills, California—juxtaposed against poverty and squalor. I am not saying that Beijing is any different than most other major cities, just that you need to look behind the glitter to experience the streets.

In this street photograph, you can see the back alley of a suburban area of Beijing, China. A worker is sitting on a green plastic stool with his hands holding up his head. He looks sad and in deep thought. Further down the street is a street vendor selling soup. The alleyway, littered with vending carts and bicycles, empty jugs and bottles, and garbage, gives us glimpses of how and where the working class Chinese citizens live.