There’s no denying that Prague is a place of beauty, but the city and its people can also be harsh in a lot of ways. One of the most unnerving parts about Czech culture, in my opinion, is the staring. Whether it’s riding a metro or walking past a restaurant, there are always a few sets of eyes staring at you, tracking you as you walk and talk. To the Czechs, this is only normal. I think they stare at each other just as much as they stare at foreigners. But as someone who was taught it was rude to stare, it’s hard to brush it off as people’s gazes linger. I’m slowly growing used to it.

The man pictured above was sitting near the Vltava taking a smoke break, his sunken face looking down at his lap. He is only one of the many of the shady characters we encounter daily walking around the city, many of whom go unnoticed as they lurk in shadow. They tend to keep to themselves, which makes them feel less threatening. As I walked by, he looked up and locked eyes with me. I’ve learned to embrace these sometimes awkward moments when my nonchalant shooting is exposed. Rather than let my jitters get the best of me, I just raised my camera and snapped a picture. I’m not sure he liked me making his photo, but I’m not sure I liked him staring. So I think that makes us even.