Portraying Emotion Through Photography

True emotion is hard to capture, but if you are able to capture it at the right place and time, it can create an affect on all of those who view it.  Today in photojournalism, our class was shown how emotion is able to transform a picture.  Emotion is what allows a picture to become something more that just a picture, but a work of art.  You may have taken an emotional photo without even knowing it because of its many surroundings.  Emotion can often be lost in a busy setting.  Zero in on what the focal point actually is; the main subject conveying the emotion you are attempting to capture.  As opposed to recreating an emotion, it is best to let the emotion show itself to you.  Trying to recreate or stage an emotional scene can often look fake and although you may not be able to notice it, it is most likely noticeable to others.  To get the best shot possible, it may be helpful to set the camera down and observe your surroundings.  Waiting it out to find the perfect shot is well worth it.  

{Source: Pinterest}

The photo above is one of those pictures that hits you right in the heart.  My first reaction to this was the instant feeling of sympathy.  Although I have luckily never had to experience the feeling of having a loved one at risk, I can only imagine what it must feel like.  This picture conveys the soldiers feelings perfectly and gives me an idea of what it must have been like to be far away from someone you love.  This is a great example of an emotion picture because it is obvious the two subjects were not aware of the photo being taken.  It gives off the emotions of remorse, sadness, relief, love, and more.  This picture stuck me personally because of the incredible look on the woman's face.  Even though I don't know this woman personally, I am able to make a connection with her and understand her feelings.