I've been thinking about painting construction workers for a while. Generally I am amused by the fact that, if there are three workers at a site, it typically looks like one is working and the others are watching. The day I photographed these men, who were digging a hole related to the installation of new traffic signals, I saw both of them were working quite hard. The particular shot that resulted in this painting happened to be taken shortly after the standing man finished digging the hole and the other was now starting to work inside it. No disrespect to either man.
Anyone who works in the elements: in construction, landscaping, installations like the one shown here, deserve a thanks for braving whatever the weather may serve up on a given day. They don't get to pick and choose which days they'll be working outdoors. Since I dislike both very hot and very cold weather I appreciate what these people do for us.