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December 2013. I was on a photography trip to Bikaner, in the deserts of Rajasthan, India. Near the busy train station, I saw a man I wanted to photograph. I hesitated. The look in his eye and his stony, stern look intimidated me. It's always that moment of hesitation that kills a shot! I ended up avoiding him and photographing other subjects until I heard his jovial voice, "Take my picture too!".
Camera lens focused, my finger poised to fire. 'Smile', I called out. And he was transformed. His face radiated warmth, his eyes sparkled with a humor I had completely missed. Even his posture softened. I knew then what my next photo series would be. So 'I asked them to smile' was born. I wanted to document the effect of the human smile on a stranger's face.
In the days, months, and years that followed, I asked random people on my travel photography adventures (mostly on the streets of India) to pose unsmiling and with a smile. These beautiful photos are the heart of my project. Its goal is to recreate the mindset from which we view a stranger, and then witness as our assumptions transform with their smile.
So there are no names. No occupations. No confirmed religions or ethnicity. No intriguing life lessons or heart strumming anecdotes. Just one human face. Before and after. Without, and with a smile.
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#1
Kakhsar Village, Gujarat, India
Scully Rodriguez 9 years ago
He really is. And I love your profile picture!
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#2
Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
Jacob Mphahlele 9 years ago
I probably would have done the same.. There's a picture of my rubbing my eye in my previous department at work..
#3
Tyrna Village, Meghalaya, India
#4
Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
Stacey Weaver 9 years ago
He wears his smile in his eyes, even in the first picture... that's a joy filled man.
Cécile Paquelier D 9 years ago
This man has something... He inspires me kindness, fun, cheekiness, peace and so many other things ! And most of all : I feel like at home, safety. Thank you <3
Julie Podoll 9 years ago
What a great photo project! The beautiful transformation of a smile. Definitely reminds one to not judge too harshly and keep our assumptions in check.
#5
Danda Village Jetty, Mumbai, India
#6
Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
Stacey Weaver 9 years ago
Another one who wears his smile in his eyes... it makes my soul happy.
#7
Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
Chippy Gangjee 9 years ago
Wonder if he's keeping that around as a memory !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;o])!!!
#8
Juhu, Mumbai, India
Sharon Vaughn 9 years ago
The first looks skeptical, or bored. The second is just handsome and friendly
Sharon Vaughn 9 years ago
The first one just looks skeptical, even a bit bored. The second is just handsome and friendly.
#9
Hampi, Karnataka, India
#10
Kisama, Nagaland, North-east India
#11
Bandra, Mumbai, India
Dale Overturf 4 years ago
All of these are great. Just how your feeling about them can change while their entire face changes.
#12
Kakhsar Village, Gujarat, India
Lalita Pai 9 years ago
That metal thing is two containers full of water for which she has probably walked half a day !
Lalita Pai 9 years ago
The huge metal thing is containers full of water, for which she probably walked quite a few miles and still has to go back home !
Layla Al Saady 9 years ago
'Poor and dirty' !? These people are real people. Not everybody is a billionaire.
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#13
Ral Village, Uttar Pradesh, India
Andrea Sellars 9 years ago
I love how his worry lines disappear when he smiled, it's an amazing metamorphosis.
Amy Carter 9 years ago
He looks like he was really sad, and then someone told him a good joke.
Annari Du Plessis 9 years ago
On the first photo I thought he looked like Jon Snow
Load More Replies... #14
Near Almora, Uttarakhand, India
#15
Bagru Village, Rajasthan, India
#16
Juhu Beach, Mumbai, India
#17
Juhu Beach, Mumbai, India
#18
Khonoma, Nagaland, North-east India
#19
Danda Village Jetty, Mumbai, India
Rocío Acosta 9 years ago
This one is my favorite. He looks so sad in the first picture that I was glad to see him smiling in the second.
#20
Pune, Maharashtra, India
#21
Kisama, Nagaland, North-east, India
#22
Jagannath Puri, Odisha, India
#23
Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
#24
Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
#25
Tyrna Village, Meghalaya, India
Scully Rodriguez 9 years ago
That's a powerful photo. Most people would associate a young kid with a bandana over his face as a trouble maker or a thug. But this photo shows that not everyone is what we may think.
#27
Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
Cathy Lowery 9 years ago
This dude knows things man, he's seen things, he's been around. I bet he hung with the Beatles back in the day and had a blast in the 70's. You man just *tell*.
#28
Outside St Xavier's College, Mumbai, India
Sara Jensen 9 years ago
Even when he is smiling he looks a little sad to me. I wonder what his story is.
Eva Marinova 9 years ago
Poverty......... Most ppl in India are under the poverty line...
Load More Replies... #29
Ral Village, Uttar Pradesh, India
#30
Pune, Maharasthra, India
#33
Kohima, Nagaland, North-east India
#34
Latikynsew Village, Meghalaya, North East India
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What do you think ?
Cathleen Morris 9 years ago
Traveling around the world & living with people in many cultures, I've learned this: a genuine smile opens doors & hearts around the world.
Yvonne Bernal 9 years ago
Your smile is a reason for many others to smile... it's the one gift which costs you nothing and you both benefit. :)
Carey Mcclure 9 years ago
bored panda, without a doubt, has some of the most interesting, funniest, heartwarming things. no other website compares!! thanks and keep it up!
Deborah Ruth 9 years ago
Jay, these are truly wonderful photographs. I'm glad that first frowning man asked you to take his picture, too, and started you off on such a fascinating journey. A smile transforms every one of those faces. And each pair of pictures hints at an intriguing story in that person's life. Well done. Bravo!
Elsa Johnn 9 years ago
THIS SHOULD HAVE NAMED "These Photos Will Change The Way You Look At INDIANS"
Tracy Baparam 9 years ago
How many of us smile just to look good while taking a selfie. the smile may not even be genuine, but you can see that these people live a hard life and all the smiles are real.
Diandra “Mistress Didi” Blackthorn 9 years ago
"If you see someone without a smile, give them yours." ~ Dolly Parton #quote
Cathleen Morris 9 years ago
Traveling around the world & living with people in many cultures, I've learned this: a genuine smile opens doors & hearts around the world.
Yvonne Bernal 9 years ago
Your smile is a reason for many others to smile... it's the one gift which costs you nothing and you both benefit. :)
Carey Mcclure 9 years ago
bored panda, without a doubt, has some of the most interesting, funniest, heartwarming things. no other website compares!! thanks and keep it up!
Deborah Ruth 9 years ago
Jay, these are truly wonderful photographs. I'm glad that first frowning man asked you to take his picture, too, and started you off on such a fascinating journey. A smile transforms every one of those faces. And each pair of pictures hints at an intriguing story in that person's life. Well done. Bravo!
Elsa Johnn 9 years ago
THIS SHOULD HAVE NAMED "These Photos Will Change The Way You Look At INDIANS"
Tracy Baparam 9 years ago
How many of us smile just to look good while taking a selfie. the smile may not even be genuine, but you can see that these people live a hard life and all the smiles are real.
Diandra “Mistress Didi” Blackthorn 9 years ago
"If you see someone without a smile, give them yours." ~ Dolly Parton #quote
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