Much of Hoi An is a well preserved 400 year old city. People such as this man have helped do this with their own hands and knowledge. He is a craftsman, now in his 80s and takes great pride in his ability to keep the spirit of Hoi An's old buildings alive. When I made this portrait, he had been refinishing the old building just behind him. He was a perfect subject, incongruously active and fit for a man his age, able to be himself in front of the camera instead of posing with a self-conscious grin, and in a perfect environmental setting. The curve of the window echoes the curve of his head, creating a relationship that links the man and his mission. I include just enough of his worktable to echo the diagonal thrust of his arm. While we were making our pictures, our group was peppering him with questions and his response expresses the cool, thoughtful nature of his character.