Photographic message

i am doing a project based on the photographic message. It is based on

the message we recieve based on the content involved. The content

involved is the human body language, and how we percieve each others

actions... Take a look at these 5 pictures, and give me your feedback

on how you percieve the persons action, and what they descride to you

about the moment.

 

http://www.cmmedia.co.uk/archive.htm

 

Thank John

I don't see any body language except possibly the couple kissing.

They have their hands in their pockets, which is odd, but I guess it's very cold.<BR><BR>

 

They all are not engaged in social intercourse, so there is no body language I can see.<BR><BR>

 

<img src="http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/bbing/img/einfeld/parkinson.jpg"/><BR>

Here, you can see that the woman is defensive and closed off, the guy leaning forward would be the host, and he's using his left elbow to expand his space and show that he's in charge. He's leaning forward to express interest and be solicitous.<BR>

<BR>That guy in the middle looks like he's ticking off points on his fingers and seems to be patiently explaining why you should do a,b,c.

 

<BR><BR> photo picked at random

Top left - Very hungry. Fast break for a meal between "here and there." Looks like he may be in an airport or train station.

 

Top right - By the length of his stride it looks like he's in a hurry, but something caught his attention. Paper and drink in hand, he may be returning to work from lunch.

 

Middle - Totally absorbed in his phone conversation oblivious to all else. "Top right" has finished his meal and washing it down.

 

Bottom left - Going on a trip saying goodbye with a kiss. It looks like they will really miss each other judging by the hands on the face (Nice capture).

 

Bottom right - Whisper in the ear. By the woman's expression the information he's telling has her captivated. Hands in pockets, both, it's chilly out.

I wrote my assessment before I read the other one as not to have a bias opinion, and have to say that I totally disagree with Kevin, because there is body langauge in all 5 photo's.

No, there is not.

 

Body language is unspoken messages from one person to another.

 

Please indicate what messages are there in the given photos.

I've given my response in my original answers above. Body langauge is expressed in far more ways than in your conversation example, which is the textbook example describing body langauge while engaging in conversation. I think John's excercise is an attempt to get us to break free of the "textbook" and delve deeper into the more subtle actions people display in everyday life.

I may be mistaken but the picture looks like a UK TV chat show of the 1970s. The person on the left is the host called Michael Parkinson, I can tell from the pose as much as the sillouette. I don't recongise the interviewees, but he used to interview in pairs like this.

body language is not only one to one, but often one to many.

I'll try to summarize

the first guy's posture indicates... but this has not a lot to do with photography, or has it?

Anyway, he is obviously engaged in something that is interfering with his communication's skills. So, very little to say.

The second guy, he is sending out something like "hey, everyday's life is great, and I don't want to miss anything out even if I'm just going from one place to another". His attitude, I would bet, is quite outgoing and he is a "listener".

Third pic: his walking posture means: "I'm in control of the situation". His comms attitude is "Up to down". He likes to initiate a one by one relation with an advantage point.

now the last two:

first one is a "consolidated relationship": his hands on her face means "I care and I want you to be sure about it" more than his kiss. the second relationship is just being initiated: he wants to get closer and "confidential" (whispering into her hear) but showing respect for her keeping his hands well out of the way. they don't want to get too far too soon.

Interpretation has a lot to do with personal experiences as well. No two people have had the exact same experiences in their lives so they will see the same thing in a slightly different way. Some body language is so strong that most people get the same feeling but the most body language is not strong enough to carry that strong of a message and so is interpreted differently by each individual person. Photography is very much affected by this concept. When people look at an image, they make personal judgments based on personal experiences, and depending on their range of experiences, each person will form a slightly different opinion.

 

Although I have read about interpreting body language as stated by Kevin, but I do not interpret it that way by default. To me, he is just striking a pose, or leaning out so that he can address both people at the same time. I agree that the woman would appear to be in a defensive stance but she could also be in the process of a retort or answer to a question, or possibly, she just felt that there was no better place to put her hands.

 

As for the 5 images, here goes:

 

1) The bald fellow is having lunch on the run it would appear. There is a suitcase on wheels nearby and a large glass wall behind him. I don't really get any specific read off his body language but he seems generally relaxed. Obviously not worried about the tie so no mustard or ketchup on the dog... The image makes me feel sympathy for the subject. I used to travel for business but have since quite happily fixed that problem.

 

2) Two people passing in the same location as the first subject. Perhaps the person on the phone is asking the walking man the time, or perhaps he just recognized the other person. The motion blur suggests a rushed attitude but the fact that he is turning would suggest that he is not in too big of a rush. Also, his stride is not overly long so it would appear that he was just walking at a normal pace and so is in a casual/normal mood. No read off his facial features due to the blur but those are hard to read in a static image anyway, unless you catch the subject at just the right time.

 

3) Typical suit on the phone. He appears to be relaxed and walking at a normal pace. The clothes and phone speak volumes about him, much more than his body language. This image makes me shake my head. So many people wrapped up in their business duties to see the world passing before them...

 

4) Two people kissing in front of the train. Nothing special here, just a couple that is parting before some sort of a journey. Again, other than the typical parting sensations experienced at times like this, there is nothing extraordinary about their body language. The overall scene makes me feel slightly sad due to the parting.

 

5) Two people conversing, perhaps in a loud area on the street. They seem relaxed around each other and appear happy. Very casual. Tow friends perhaps, or new acquaintances.

 

A very interesting excercise, to be sure...

 

- Randy