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10 Pics Of People Before And After They Were Asked To Smile
Interview With AuthorThe Dalai Lama said, "A simple smile. That’s the start of opening your heart and being compassionate to others." Smiles have the ability to change one's whole day, and not only to the one that's smiling, but also to those who see a smile. It's just a simple expression, and yet it may be the most powerful, as it's the most positive one.
Jay Weinstein tests this idea in his project "so I asked them to smile" with an extremely diverse group of people, and the answer behind each and every one of his pictures is that a smile changes everything—not only the mood, but even the whole picture. His pictures also show that a smile is unique to every individual and that it's sometimes hard to know how beautiful they look when they smile until they do.
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"He was wandering home one evening with his friend, walking along the stone wall-lined lanes that cut through the lush fields of Hundar, in the starkly stunning Nubra Valley of Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, India...so I asked him to smile."
The author shared his passion for the project with Bored Panda: "What I love most about this photography project is that it forces me to face my fears and approach people I don’t know. It forces me to challenge whatever preconceptions I have of them and learn again and again how inaccurate my assumptions are. Most of all, at this time of division, 'so I asked them to smile' stands as a profound and loving reminder of how much we all truly have in common."
"She was playing with her mom on a dirt lane off the main road as I explored the the vibrant and colorful shops and homes on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya...so I asked her to smile."
The diverse range of smiles that Jay brings is truly fascinating. From kids to the elderly, from east to west, and many different countries and cultures in between. The author seemingly scoured the globe to get as many unique smiles as he did. The diverse range of smiles that Jay brings is truly fascinating. From kids to the elderly, from east to west, and many different countries and cultures in-between. The author seemingly scoured the globe to get as much unique smiles as he did. He has started in 2013, and has been doing it for 7 years now. "I have spent most of my life, and much of most years, in India. I lead small group tours, photograph and explore this stunningly beautiful, complex, and multifaceted culture. Thus most of my images are from India. I have also brought this project to China, Singapore, Australia, Kenya, and Nepal. The dream is to one day take 'so I asked them to smile' to every country on earth. Let’s see what my time, finances, and the post-COVID-19 world look like!"
"She was playing outside her home in the village of Kakhsar, Gujarat, India...so I asked her to smile."
When asked about his favorite trip and who smiled the most, Jay was equally generous to each and every one of the places that he's been in: "That is a truly impossible question to answer! What is truly memorable for me is how sweet, kind, and friendly 99% of the people I meet are, in every country I visit, once I make the effort of talking to them. [In terms of who smiles the most] If forced to guess an answer, I would say India. I would also add that almost everyone I have approached, in every country, has smiled easily and with so much joy that it humbles me to share in that moment."
"She was walking with her friends one evening as I photographed a donkey enclosure in the beautiful and isolated plateau village of Turtuk, Ladakh, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India…so I asked her to smile."
The author adds a little extra in his Instagram stories as he embeds them with a story of how he got the photo, what those people were like, where they were taken. Some say the eyes are the mirror of one's soul, and while we agree, a smile reflects the beauty of one's soul just as well. Make sure you check them out on his Instagram page because it's a great charge of positive energy for the entire day.
"He was hunched over the remains of a fire and empty pot of tea as I approached his house one afternoon in Muthatari, near Embu, in the Eastern Province of Kenya...so I asked him to smile."
The author wrapped it up beautifully himself, saying that "The project has no overt message to convey, though it has plenty to say. What I hear from 'so i asked them to smile' is that we all have far more in common than we are told. I see a simple human smile speaking through whatever barriers class, economic status, ethnicity, sex, religion, or geographic location create."
"She was playing on the streets with her friends one evening as I wandered around the old town of Leh, in Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, India...so I asked her to smile."
And with this, we leave you to enjoy some beautiful smiles from beautiful people from far and wide. Smile more—it may not only change someone's day, but their entire outlook towards life. Show your support for this wholesome message by following the Instagram page! What about you? How do these images inspire you? Share in the comments!
"He was waiting in line at 7 AM outside the post office opening at 11 AM, that exchanges invalidated 500 and 1000 rupee notes for newly printed currency, in Jojowar, Rajasthan, India...so I asked him to smile."
I love all of them. All. How beautiful people can look when they are smiling. Love it
"He was playing with his brothers in the family compound, having just returned from school and discarding his uniform one humid afternoon in Nirdoi, a sleepy village on the banks of the river Ganges, in West Bengal, India...so i asked him to smile."
"He was playing with friends and family one afternoon in the web of narrow lanes that make up the old part of the ancient city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India...so i asked him to smile."
"She was exploring the stunningly restored, 1300-year-old Kaiyuan temple complex one evening in Quanzhou, Fujian, China...so I asked her to smile."
Very nice series of photos, I wish there were more. I like how every smile is so different but all of them look completely natural and full of joy.
These are lovely. I found myself smiling along, especially the kids. Kid smiles are the best.
I'm the least photogenic person that ever existed. I look like mr Potato hit by a car in every single picture :(
I am a dental hygienist , so of course , I love this ! A smile makes the World a better place !
Just wonderful. Their smiles are so real (unlike duck-lip and gritted teeth selfies we're used to) And it's really all in their eyes <3 Lovely!
I'm one of those people who, when asked to smile for the camera, invariably looks like Wallace from Wallace and Gromit. I'm impressed that he got such beautiful, natural and genuine smiles!
this is so beautiful because everyone looks like they're the happiest people on the planet
I am always impressed with your “smile” photos. This latest group shows the more of the magnificent smiles of young children. So joyful to see them. Thank you. Love, auntina
These are lovey. I found myself smiling along, especially the kids.Kid smiles are the the best IMG_202102...a7ff1d.jpg
So true - which is why now we are all supposed to be wearing masks - we will lose that connection. You need to do another set of photos asking people to smile - with a mask on - and see if you can find the smile in their eyes?
Jay, this small compilation of photos are so compelling and beautiful. I do hope you share more of them with the world. We need to see more of your wonderful work, please!
I think this project was awesome!!! Yep I was looking for more too :).
I was smiling while checking every photo, it's such a positive and warmhearted post. Thanks.
Beautiful project, perfect pictures, I hope will see more from this artist.
so many beautiful human beings...it's a pleasure to see real people when we are saturated with phony images from marketing and influencers. Thanx Pandas
Dont tell people to smile if they dont want to. Its condescending and controlling.
These pictures were all beautiful. We need more smiles in the world. What a difference they make!
Its amazing how much a smile transforms a person, From a grumpy or sad, or severe face to one that lights up & changes our perception of a person.
this is just terrific. Suppose the human mouth was not able to smile? God is so smart!
Store clerk: Have a nice day! Anna Kalita: Don't tell me what kind of day to have! 🤪 Trollin, Trollin, Trollin... 🙄
So sad that we are now masked .... very few people can smile with their eyes ... gorgeous pictures
here in london if you are walking down the street smiling people think you are a crackpot. Its an anti social life we live in. may as well wear a T-shirt saying "dont smile as it may become contagious"! Its okay to smile if the sun is in your eyes though. I love summer.
Very nice series of photos, I wish there were more. I like how every smile is so different but all of them look completely natural and full of joy.
These are lovely. I found myself smiling along, especially the kids. Kid smiles are the best.
I'm the least photogenic person that ever existed. I look like mr Potato hit by a car in every single picture :(
I am a dental hygienist , so of course , I love this ! A smile makes the World a better place !
Just wonderful. Their smiles are so real (unlike duck-lip and gritted teeth selfies we're used to) And it's really all in their eyes <3 Lovely!
I'm one of those people who, when asked to smile for the camera, invariably looks like Wallace from Wallace and Gromit. I'm impressed that he got such beautiful, natural and genuine smiles!
this is so beautiful because everyone looks like they're the happiest people on the planet
I am always impressed with your “smile” photos. This latest group shows the more of the magnificent smiles of young children. So joyful to see them. Thank you. Love, auntina
These are lovey. I found myself smiling along, especially the kids.Kid smiles are the the best IMG_202102...a7ff1d.jpg
So true - which is why now we are all supposed to be wearing masks - we will lose that connection. You need to do another set of photos asking people to smile - with a mask on - and see if you can find the smile in their eyes?
Jay, this small compilation of photos are so compelling and beautiful. I do hope you share more of them with the world. We need to see more of your wonderful work, please!
I think this project was awesome!!! Yep I was looking for more too :).
I was smiling while checking every photo, it's such a positive and warmhearted post. Thanks.
Beautiful project, perfect pictures, I hope will see more from this artist.
so many beautiful human beings...it's a pleasure to see real people when we are saturated with phony images from marketing and influencers. Thanx Pandas
Dont tell people to smile if they dont want to. Its condescending and controlling.
These pictures were all beautiful. We need more smiles in the world. What a difference they make!
Its amazing how much a smile transforms a person, From a grumpy or sad, or severe face to one that lights up & changes our perception of a person.
this is just terrific. Suppose the human mouth was not able to smile? God is so smart!
Store clerk: Have a nice day! Anna Kalita: Don't tell me what kind of day to have! 🤪 Trollin, Trollin, Trollin... 🙄
So sad that we are now masked .... very few people can smile with their eyes ... gorgeous pictures
here in london if you are walking down the street smiling people think you are a crackpot. Its an anti social life we live in. may as well wear a T-shirt saying "dont smile as it may become contagious"! Its okay to smile if the sun is in your eyes though. I love summer.