On the last day of a business trip to Chicago - my first- and with a few free hours to see what I could of the city before heading to the airport, I grabbed my travel Nikon and headed out in a light rain to see the sights on Michigan Ave. As I crossed the street, I noticed a man sitting on the wet sidewalk, huddled under an umbrella with a cup for contributions beside him and sheltering his canine companion from the wind and rain. As I met his eyes, a beautiful cornflower blue, he graced me with one of the friendliest smiles I’ve ever received - while his dog turned and growled a low and steady warning at me. I put a few dollars in his cup and asked if he’d mind my snapping a shot of him and his friend. With his consent, I quickly knelt, framed and fired and then thanked and wished him well before continuing on my way. Managing to capture the dignity and kindness in his eyes and the fiercely protective gaze of his little dog allowed me to bring that brief moment of contact home with me and make this one of my all-time favorite shots.