There are many subject matters that grab our attention or draw us into a photograph, and by far the strongest is the human face. It is because a facial expression betrays what the subject is experiencing, and triggers empathy within ourselves. The more extreme or unguarded the expression, the more compelling the image becomes.
Although we feel sad when we see a photograph of somebody suffering, it is sometimes possible to experience a certain joy from looking at the expressions of others. In my view this is because, regardless of the size of the human population and beyond all expectation, each face and expression is unique.
Below is a small selection of photographs of the human face taken from the Reuters wire service of the past few days, which concisely shows a variety of human emotions that are betrayed by expressions. Taking a global snapshot like this brings home the fact that regardless of nationality or race, we are all part of the human family.
Alicia Contador, sister of Discovery Channel team rider Alberto Contador of Spain, cries as she celebrates his victory in the 94th Tour de France in his hometown of Pinto, outside Madrid, July 29, 2007. REUTERS/Susana Vera
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bites his lip during a live television appearance at his Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo July 29, 2007, after an upper house election in which his conservative ruling camp suffered a devastating defeat. REUTERS/Issei Kato
Fans cheer at the premiere of “Rush Hour 3″ at the Mann’s Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California July 30, 2007. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Chief Khmer Rouge inquisitor Kaing Kek Ieu, better known as Duch, is seen in Phnom Penh in this handout picture released on July 30, 2007. Duch appeared before Cambodia’s “Killing Fields” tribunal on July 31, 2007, the first of Pol Pot’s henchmen to be questioned over the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people. Duch has confessed to committing multiple atrocities during this time as head of Phnom Penh’s notorious Tuol Sleng, or S-21, interrogation centre.
Purnima Poddar, an HIV affected girl, takes part in a protest march against negligence in the field of Thalassaemia and HIV/AIDS treatment and management in the government sectors, in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, July 30, 2007. REUTERS/Parth Sanyal
A resident with the colours of an Iraqi flag painted on his face celebrates in Basra, 550 km (340 miles) south of Baghdad, after the Iraqi team won the final game of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup soccer tournament against Saudi Arabia in Jakarta, July 29, 2007. REUTERS/Atef Hassan
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“In my view this is because, regardless of the size of the human population and beyond all expectation, each face and expression is unique.”
- Posted by Srikant Chakraborty-Very true.I also feel as a people-photographer that,we as individuals in many ways feel our pain,sorrow,joy through such portraits….more as a medium to project our own feelings.A portrait appeals to us only when we understand the story behind a photograph,otherwise,its just another “snap”.
These pictures I found good some need no explanation the first one one cry’s because she is happy, and one smiles because she is happy. Yet, both are showing emotion because of something that makes for happiness. Proving once again that emotions count, feeling’s count and it is a way for we called mankind to express happy feelings, sad feelings, even angry and hateful feelings. Feeling’s emotion’s and the abillity to express such, means we live and are not dead yet. The dead show nothing, feel nothing why? having no soul (Spirit). It has been written over eons of time and space of time and it was God that created time and space.
- Posted by SuzanneThe second shows emotion of disgust at defeat and an attitude of doing better next time. Both being a signal of not giving up but having strength to keep trying. The Japanese, have seen defeat yet have come back with a strength and a wisdom to understand Life is precious and forgiveness is necessity. To be blessed by our adversities is always better then being cursed for our unrighteousness works.
- Posted by Suzanne