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40 Captivating Photos That Depict Human Emotion
Though we differ in the way we look and things we believe in, there’s something we all share: emotion. Human emotion is innate in all of us; it’s something we’re born with and something we die with. Happiness, sadness, love, hatred, worries, and indifference – these are things that constantly occur in our daily lives.
Today we share with you 40 powerful depictions of the human emotion. In these photos you’ll see celebrations, sadness in defeat, raw anger, and everything else in between that makes us what we are… human.
[Offtopic: By the way, did you know that Smashing Magazine has a mobile version? Try it out if you have an iPhone, Blackberry or another capable device.]
Captivating Photos that Depict Human Emotion
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Jacob Gube is a bilingual web developer (JavaScript and PHP), web designer, author, and the Founder/Chief Editor of Six Revisions: an online publication that shares useful development and design resources and tutorials for web professionals.
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April 14th, 2009 3:23 amI don’t know how you do it. resource after resource – just awesome. Thanks guys!
- 3April 14th, 2009 3:24 am
I don’t know how you guys do it. Resource after awesome resource. Thanks guys!
- 4April 14th, 2009 3:34 am
awesome!:)
- 5April 14th, 2009 3:54 am
GIRUGAMESH is my favourite. :3
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- 7April 14th, 2009 4:25 am
Maximum pics in dis category are mindblowing.. bt sm are not that good
- 8April 14th, 2009 4:25 am
awesome!… amazing collection…
- 9April 14th, 2009 4:25 am
Brett Walker and Catherine are fav’d here. Actually interesting to see such an article because the expression of human emotion on work seen today can be of high value.
- 10April 14th, 2009 4:30 am
Cool pictures, but honestly a little too artsy. I’d rather see some simple, raw, unpolished pictures of emotion. I think that would get the point across better.
- 11April 14th, 2009 4:54 am
Great images.
- 12April 14th, 2009 4:58 am
Great collection
- 13April 14th, 2009 4:59 am
I agree with John. A lot of these are quite the opposite of the point of the piece, and don’t show ANY emotion. Antonio Gabriele’s image is almost comedic in its clumsy use of composition, and shows a lack of emotion from both the subject and the artist that is quite extraordinary.
- 14April 14th, 2009 5:12 am
Great photos
- 15April 14th, 2009 5:47 am
Decent. But honestly, there are some really cheesy shots in this list. Like CHEESE-wait for it- EEEEYYYYY.
But overall, you guys do some great work.
- 16April 14th, 2009 5:49 am
отличная подборка!
- 17April 14th, 2009 5:51 am
I just couldn’t help myself from saying “WOW”. Photographers are true innovators!
- 18April 14th, 2009 6:05 am
Vast majority of these photos are amazing. I don’t know a great deal about photography but I paused to look a few of these photos for quite a while. Thanks
- 19April 14th, 2009 6:14 am
To be honest – it’s just a collection of images! The standard of Smashing! articles is really dropping!
- 20April 14th, 2009 6:18 am
A good collection on the whole,..but aren’t some professional model jobs ? It’s unprepared
raw images that would expose the real human in us. - 21April 14th, 2009 6:59 am
I also agree with John. Many of these images don’t ring true.
- 22April 14th, 2009 7:03 am
really nice view to say emotions
- 23April 14th, 2009 7:29 am
bah, smashing mag creeping ever further downhill.
This used to be a web design blog, not a glorified flickr group.
1/10, these wouldn’t help a bit with any of my current or previous web projects.
- 24April 14th, 2009 7:47 am
Great collection.
- 25April 14th, 2009 7:52 am
Boring.
- 26April 14th, 2009 7:58 am
Interesting collection – really diverse. Though I agree that not all of them are in keeping with the theme of depicting emotion.
- 27April 14th, 2009 7:58 am
What’s the point ? Yes, photo is cool, but if I want such a collection, I went on Flickr. Please, stop those useless listings and keep on less but better articles like recent ones. You’re so accurate on subjects that really relate to web design.
- 28April 14th, 2009 8:16 am
This site is not all about web design dude, photography is a great skill and a huge part of any kind of design, im sure you hate Typography too? Maybe “they are so accurate” because thats ALL you know about.
Keep it up smashing
- 29April 14th, 2009 8:36 am
I like this kind of articles. I really don’t know about thos who complain, but watching some pretty images before working really gives some inspiration. As my Art teacher said, “you always need to see pretty stuff. Always”. Perhaps you only want to watch web designs because that’s more easy to get “inspired” by them? Look inspiration everywhere, people.
BTW, the “old people” photos are my favourite. All of them. There is something about their eyes, like they know every secret of the world. They probably do.
- 30April 14th, 2009 9:11 am
utterly beautiful….I want to buy prints!!!
- 31April 14th, 2009 9:13 am
you guys HAVE TO TURN THIS INTO A SCREEN SAVER!
- 32April 14th, 2009 11:33 am
Great idea for a post but I also agree with John. Simple, real, honest pictures of human emotion mean more to me.
To the haters of SM, chill out or make your own blog that does a better job. The photogaphy and typography posts are not inherently “useless” just because they didn’t give you free icons or baby you through ajax…
- 33April 14th, 2009 11:41 am
Seems black and white is a tool of choice. As in the past with non digital manipulated photography.
- 34April 14th, 2009 12:37 pm
Nice.
- 35April 14th, 2009 12:41 pm
Boring. Since when has this become a photography site?? At least relate it web design some how.
- 36April 14th, 2009 1:28 pm
I agree with most of the other comments made, the photos aren’t really breathtaking. The just good photos, i don’t see true emotion i can see some make a face that looks angry or sad but i don’t feel that. The images are a let down after reading the title.
- 37April 14th, 2009 1:40 pm
Some of these were really great and some really did not belong in the list at all as their quality in contrast to the others just did not compare. Overall I have to say though these were mind blowing and some of them are very much so photo journalistic quality!!! ~ Jordan Dossett.
- 38April 14th, 2009 2:47 pm
I was captivated by the photo of the grandfather or father holding his son; they have the same expression and look alike, it brought me into their world.
I take shots of nature, but I would like to graduate to humans soon
keep up the good work!
- 39April 14th, 2009 3:09 pm
Nice images! Posts like this make me want to get out my camera and play around with it a bit.
I don’t know about everyone else, but I got the impression that Smashing Magazine is a DESIGN site, not strictly devoted to the web. Therefore, photography inspiration has its place here just as much as a showcase of websites. Not to mention photography can be a large part of web design. Where do you think all those stock images you use came from?
- 40April 14th, 2009 3:35 pm
I again agree with the sentiments of John, however for all those whining that they thought this was a web design blog and who seem to be offended that this article has been added, why click on the link to this page???
Its like saying oh look Football is on Channel 3 I think I’ll turn over and watch it although I have no interest in it and them complain how I didn’t enjoy it….get a life.
- 41April 14th, 2009 3:40 pm
Dave (post 36), eat my pussy.
Many of the pictures are ‘pretty’, but I’ve not seen many that convey real emotion, however subtle, except the one used in the teaser (Catherine), the ones by Eric Lafforgue… and some toward the end, but then these ‘tearful’ ones felt exploitative and just didn’t touch me.
- 42April 14th, 2009 4:06 pm
here is the right link to the “angry stanic” portrait :
Angry Satanic by Salomé G..
Great collection though :-)
- 43April 14th, 2009 4:22 pm
some pictures are really good. Nice colection :)
- 44April 14th, 2009 5:55 pm
Nice collection
- 45April 14th, 2009 7:14 pm
Dave (post 36) and Caroline (post 42).
Get a room - 46April 14th, 2009 7:17 pm
Nice collection
- 47April 14th, 2009 7:28 pm
LMFAO @ John (post 45). You damn well beat me to it haha.
If people have a problem with the photography posts… what the hell is wrong with skipping them. Read your damn web design articles and continue to remain ignorant. I for one will take full advantage of whatever articles Smashing has to offer me.
- 48April 14th, 2009 8:20 pm
good~~~
- 49April 14th, 2009 9:25 pm
catherine photo is very touchy !!
Ganesh
CEO Eatables.in
Hyd INDIA - 50April 14th, 2009 10:07 pm
Fantastic collection. My favorite from here is gun ( No.8 )… I always hope to see some pictures of Réka Valkai in such collenctions/troundups like her http://justelse.deviantart.com/art/The-Story-93167159 … I just love that photo. I only can hope that more and more people will stumble upon her work.
- 51April 14th, 2009 10:10 pm
absolutelyy beautiful..the pics are so captivating n realistic..emotions r soo real..thnks for sharing..!
- 52April 14th, 2009 10:27 pm
Good Collection..
- 53April 14th, 2009 11:15 pm
emotive, beautiful, classic… luv it !
- 54April 14th, 2009 11:40 pm
I also agree with John. Most of them seem fake.
Jelena Balic’s and Calvin’s photos don’t express anything for me. (and many more)
Well only one thing…. fake.
I’m really disappointed with most of your image collections.
Just try to explain why a photo is great and see the response from us, to start a debate and at the end you’ll see why this collection sucks. - 55April 14th, 2009 11:53 pm
Very cool Post, Awesome Emotions and expressions. Really lovely ! :)
I mostly loved Paulina, Painting in shadows,Catherine and r. Really good ones. :) - 56April 15th, 2009 12:42 am
splendid, absolutely splendid…
- 57April 15th, 2009 1:01 am
When I bumped into the http://www.jeremycowart.com/ website somewhere in 2004, I was convinced I had found the best photographer in the world. In a way, he still is to me, because I still pass by a couple of times a week.
But the net proved me wrong. Articles likes this remind me that that there is so much other (yet to be discovered by me) talent out there.
Thanks for this.
Robert - 58April 15th, 2009 1:33 am
Very very very NICE!!!
- 59April 15th, 2009 1:36 am
Amazing……………………
- 60April 15th, 2009 2:37 am
underwhelming mostly… more posts like the amazing brochures and leaflets, less of the lazy crossposts from flickr.
- 61April 15th, 2009 4:12 am
Photography at its best.
- 62April 15th, 2009 4:24 am
You can draw on inspiration from anywhere so the relevance of this post is still there.
A couple of photos had lovely contrasts in color that I will be experimenting with on websites so I got something from it ;-)
- 63April 15th, 2009 4:26 am
hmm very realistic photos. Caterine is very beautiful photo. Thanks for all photos
- 64April 15th, 2009 4:36 am
nice pics…….
nice blog…….. - 65April 15th, 2009 4:37 am
Great selection of photos, quality photography is something often overlooked for websites, take time over composition, lighting, contrast etc. I agree some wouldn’t look out of place on a stock photo site.
I really like the colours in Catherine’s image, though smoking on a train line is just asking for trouble
- 66April 15th, 2009 4:49 am
eh very nice indeed.
- 67April 15th, 2009 5:02 am
Nice collection of images! Thank you for stepping out of the one-dimensional mindset of web design and bringing inspiration from other areas of design. Keep up the good work!
- 68April 15th, 2009 5:18 am
Most of these have nothing to do with emotion … they’re just pictures of people … some of them average at best.
Try harder please :)
- 69April 15th, 2009 5:23 am
This makes me want to take portraits as I hardly ever do.
- 70April 15th, 2009 5:28 am
@Cristhian Bedon (April 15th, 2009, 4:12 am)
I’m afraid you couldn’t be more wrong. This is average flikr material, not photography at its best, by any standard. Its a quick easy post; and although as a web designer I do find any artistic material of use; this isn’t a great collection, and if on any other site would be ignored completely.
Personally I find the coding articles of less use, as I’m a web designer, not a web developer. Inspirational articles are great, but this is not inspirational I’m afraid; perhaps for a teenage ameteur who followed a digg link, but not to professional designer.
- 71April 15th, 2009 5:31 am
@Lee
Web design is far from one-dimensional … clearly you know nothing of the subject. Also, while I’m here, photography is not a form of design … its an art; semantics I know … but worth pointing out.
- 72April 15th, 2009 5:33 am
Some photos here are decent, but many are quite the opposite of this post’s topic. Antonio Gabriele’s “photo” looks like a botched collage created in MS Paint. Yuck.
- 73April 15th, 2009 5:43 am
Just to follow up on those that say some of pics show no emotion… technically “indifferent” is an emotion… “ennui” as well :)
(but yeah some of these are nice photos, but I dont really think “emotions” when viewing them)
((and this opinion is from a photographer with his own photography company, degrees in photography and art history, and has worked in photography museums and galleries. But again… this is my opinion on the photos, ))
- 74April 15th, 2009 5:46 am
Most of these look really posed – not about showing true emotion at all.
I’d love to see a post that shows how photographic content – particularly emotions – contribute to an overall design.
- 75April 15th, 2009 6:35 am
These are fantastic!
- 76April 15th, 2009 6:51 am
I want to start my photography after watching this gallery, its just excellent !!
- 77April 15th, 2009 2:09 pm
That’s awesome, great photos…
- 78April 15th, 2009 5:08 pm
This is awesome !! great pics !!!
I’m actually inspired to do some photography !!!!
Smashing it again ! - 79April 15th, 2009 5:32 pm
Stunning pictures!
Keep sharing with us.Thank you. - 80April 16th, 2009 1:15 am
Awesome collection…
I am just out of my words….Keep the good work going and capturing people’s emotions
- 81April 16th, 2009 9:52 pm
This is awesome. great pics.
I’m actually inspired to do some photography.
Keep sharing with us.Thank you. - 82April 16th, 2009 10:53 pm
this is empty.
- 83April 17th, 2009 5:02 am
THIS IS WHY I COME ON THIS SITE EVERYDAY
- 84April 17th, 2009 7:41 am
very cute and nice capture that should’nt be missed in this post
http://www.flickr.com/photos/teppser/3427582454/in/photostream/
- 85April 17th, 2009 8:56 am
amazing shots…truly inspiring..thanks for sharing!
- 86April 19th, 2009 4:28 am
Your best photo collection ever. Thank you very much for this emotional post
- 87
- 88April 20th, 2009 10:49 am
Wow, these are truly amazing.
- 89April 21st, 2009 5:52 am
Wow! Definitely bookmarking this page!
These portraits are so genuine and strong. Love the variety. Way to capture the vastness of emotion! - 90April 21st, 2009 9:06 am
Wow. Breathtaking. I could feel the emotion in some f them. Thank you for sharing these!
- 91April 21st, 2009 8:57 pm
To LIFE!
- 92April 21st, 2009 11:52 pm
Most of these seemed like they were trying way too hard. “Models Attempting to Look Deep” would have been a more apt title.
- 93
- 94April 22nd, 2009 5:41 am
Some were good, some shouldn’t have been posted…but at least there were no god-awful cartoonish “HDR” wannabes. This site could do better if more effort was put into it.
- 95April 24th, 2009 12:57 am
Photograps are good. But lacks expression. There is a bit of conciousness amongst all the characters shown here. Don’t make them concious when u click the button.
- 96April 24th, 2009 3:37 am
To me it’s just a collection of images. Generic ‘human emotions’ have the inverse (desired) effect of making me feel emotionally bland/ placid. Makes some people happy tho
- 97April 25th, 2009 7:13 pm
40 Captivating Photos?? There are only 38…. where are the other 2 ?
- 98May 27th, 2009 11:11 pm
BEAUTIFULL EMOTIONS
- 99January 14th, 2010 10:07 pm
nice clicks dude!
- 100January 28th, 2010 8:12 am
If the human emotion is generic amateur model poses, then I suppose they are.
- 00
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Ooo Comment N0.1!
some really nice photos here! Keep up the good work!