What wonderful pictures! I just realized I rarely see people smiling or looking happy in photos taken in the 19th century. I wonder why?
Maybe cameras of the time were too big and serious looking, and everyone ended up posing.
Maybe cameras of the time were too big and serious looking, and everyone ended up posing.
My godparents are indigenous Maya peasants from southern Mexico, and until the last decade or two no adult in their village would ever smile to a camera, and certainly not in a formal portrait. Nowadays they are more exposed to mainstream Mexican/World culture, and norms are changing fast, but if you tell some adult you want to take their portrait you are still likely to get a very serious expression.
What am I missing?
Did you censor yourself? Just curious.
Younger kids would put their index finger & thumb in the shape of a gun and hold that under their chin and they would smile.
When I take pictures of my own kids (toddlers) they also have no idea about smiling, you have to "teach them" but then you end up with super fake expressions.