Smile France – Street Reportage Photos of happy smiling people by Paul E Williams – To prove we had a good day out of a great holiday people seem compelled to have a photo of them smiling against a backdrop of where they visited. Today this has become a well rehearsed ritual with selfies allowing many photos to be taken until the taker is happy with the image they portray. Thos gallery of photos is dedicated to the holiday photo and its inevitable smiling people. Photos by photographer Paul E Williams
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Smile France – Street Reportage Photos of happy smiling people
“The need to take a photograph has long been an important part of a day out or holiday. It is proof that fun was has in exotic places to use as a memento or to impress friends and family. I am constantly struck by how people change infront of a camera. Perfectly normal looking people take on a larger than life persona whilst other, who really don’t look like they are enjoying themselves, become happy smiling people.
“Smile” is an exploration of the masks we put on for the camera to prove to posterity that we live in a perfect happy world in which we live the good happy life. With the advent of the selfie the mask that people invent is even more utopian and unreal as any social media site demonstrates.
It is the unique power of photography that a fraction of a seconds pose can send out a powerful message and the smile is the gesture universally chosen by day trippers and holiday makers. They do not choose video for these moments because it is impossible and rather disturbing to watch someone hold an artificial smile for any period of time.
Still photographs allow people to practice and perfect the persona that want to show the world. To do that on video acting skills are required which few of us have. “Smile” is a intimate intrusion into the lives of some of the happy trippers I have come across on my travels and the world that they create for themselves for a fraction of a second.
Thanks guys for letting me share your magic moments”. Paul E Williams.