A face doesn’t lie: depth in wedding documentation.
We all know by now that words are incredibly influential, sound in general has profound effects on our internal make up.
But this isn’t a luxury of influence for photographers, we are all about tantalising the sight sense.
Although sound effects me and influences my perception as a photographer when I am shooting, it’s important for me to recognise the truth as told on someones face.
In my experience it has become clear to me that we all say a lot without needing to say anything.
The face speaks and it is speaking truth.
Paul Ekman’s work on facial expressions makes a case for some universal emotions as defined by the face.
I think this is an obvious observation when we sit and think about all of the expressions we naturally relate to on a daily basis.
But as we go a little deeper, there is a world of micro expressions which are far more subtle and easily go unnoticed. Expressions that suggest an emotion before it is either felt or expressed. Ekman’s work explores these micro expressions
It’s just something I really believe in, not to suggest I can read, predict and analyse this in real time like Sherlock Holmes. But if we can trust what we see, even what bypasses our conscious mind then there can be a powerful means of observational documents through photography.
Paul Ekman also bestowed upon us a profound insightful gift - The Facial Action Coding System (FACS). A lens through which we peer into the depths of our shared humanity. Alongside revered researchers like Silvan Tomkins and Carroll Izard, Ekman unveiled a fundamental truth: the face, with its myriad expressions, becomes a mirror reflecting the veracity of our innermost selves.
As a photographer, I've witnessed a range of emotions through what I am capturing. Each subtle arc of a smile, each furrowed brow, the glimmers in the eyes all serve as a testament to the vast spectrum of the human experience. Ekman's revelations, though grounded in science, resonate as soulful evidence echoing the truths I've long felt in my work, that emotions know no bounds of culture or creed, but rather transcend the barriers we construct between one another.
In my pursuit of authenticity, I've become a student of subtlety, a seeker of the unspoken language of the face. I endeavour to capture not just images, but moments of raw vulnerability and unfiltered truth. Whether amidst the intimacy of a portrait session or the chaos of a bustling street, I strive to unveil the poetry of human existence, the beauty in the mundane, the resilience in the struggle, the grace in the imperfection.
For me, photography is a sacred vocation, a calling to bear witness to the profound beauty that resides in every soul. In a world fraught with artifice and pretense, my work becomes a conduit for authenticity, guiding viewers to connect with the raw, untamed wilderness of their own emotions. Through my work, I invite others to move beyond the layers of superficiality and embrace the depth and complexity of genuine human emotion.
In a world yearning for authenticity, I want my photographs to serve as evidence of light. Moving my work towards a deeper, more profound understanding of what it means to be human.
Expressions are the most important element to a good photo. It’s the foundation and starting block. Often I catch myself making those images more and more simple to make sure the viewer is in no way enthralled by the photo itself but completely caught up in the moment they are viewing.
Watch these photos of Mia and her dad after his speech. The variations in the face is really all we have to interpret what is happening but more importantly what they think of each other.
It is an undeniable impact that the parents role creates a framework for meaning. The way the couple are looking at their fathers interact is profound from the perspective of a moment that may not happen again within a context of this commitment.
