3.5% Unemployment in North Dakota?

Over the last year, one of the few bright spots in the U.S. economy has been the ongoing Oil Rush in North Dakota. Before you load up the family van and head north, please be aware, the winters in this state are extremely ka-ka-ka-COLD. Also, there's a housing shortage in the western half of the state. It's a good idea to pack baby wipes, a sleeping bag and a tent for the trip:
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Short video from the Aneta Turkey Barbeque Parade, North Dakota. 
Recorded by Peter Rimar (June 2010).
Silent Towns on the Prairie : 
North Dakota's Disappearing Towns and Farms (Paperback)

Speaking of new jobs in North Dakota...
Strippers earning up to $2,000 a night
in North Dakota town thriving amid 
oil boom
by Larry McShane (NY Daily News)

"A pair of strip clubs in Williston, N.D., are drawing exotic dancers who can earn up to $2,000 a night thanks to the influx of well-paid oil workers in the remote region, CNN Money reported."
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What would you do for $10 Dollars?

One day back in June 2008, while looking out the window of our Beijing apartment, I spotted this guy cleaning windows on the 19th floor. If you look closely, you can see the owner of the apartment talking to the barefooted man. She actually pointed out the spots he had missed.

When I looked through my camera's telephoto lens, I discovered this guy was working without any form of safety harness or rope.

This brave daredevil spent the better part of an hour standing outside on an extremely narrow ledge.

Later, I asked my landlord how much it would cost to get our windows cleaned. She responded "70 rmb" (roughly 10 U.S. Dollars)!

Once again, what would you do to put food on the table? 
Would you risk your life?
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"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." ~ Confucius

Changsha, PRC (May 2009).

Wiki-Publishing

Last year (2010), this blogger Googled my name to see where my photographs were being used on the internet. I discovered that the following image ended up on a book cover:

This photograph was taken at the Misawa, Japan train station in October 2004. I waited almost thirty minutes before asking this gentleman to snap his picture.

If you look closely at the photograph's overall composition, you'll notice all the primary vanishing-point lines converge at the end of the platform (i.e. located directly behind the man's eyes). I was able to give the left side of his face some key lighting by positioning him to the right of the small gap between the train cars. It was late in the afternoon, so the sun was low on the horizon. 

Anyhow, the main reason I allow the FREE USE of my images is because I enjoy sharing my art. I've never considered myself a professional photographer. My visual approach to capturing a single moment in time is as a doc·u·men·tar·i·an.

After contacting Mr. Welch on Facebook, the author was kind enough to send me a free, autographed copy of the book.
MISAWA: A Song of the Machi (Paperback)