On of the endearing facets of China is the willingness of passers-by to pose for the odd photographer, the odder the better. It’s the opposite to the defensive posture of most westerners when faced with a camera. Pull out a camera, the bigger the better, and subjects are vying to get into the picture. Here on the No.2 Loop subway line the appearance of the Leica X Vario brings peeks from would-be subjects. And you cannot even take a picture of a respectable urn in the Temple of Heaven without an obliging citizen offering his enhancements. The only problem in China is to press the shutter button before two fingers are raised in salute. This charming gesture, equivalent to our thumbs up, does not have the same connotations as it does in London or New York.
