10+ Photos Will Change The Way You Look At Strangers
A stranger is unknown, and it's often the unknown that scares us, but as these beautiful photographs prove, it's amazing how transformative a simple smile can be.
The word "stranger" conjures up all sorts of thoughts, and many of them aren't positive. After all, a stranger is unknown, and it's often the unknown that scares us, but as these beautiful photographs prove, it's amazing how transformative a simple smile can be.
The pictures were taken by Jay Weinstein, a Mumbai-based Hindi-speaking photographer of Australian-American-Ukrainian-English heritage. They're part of a collection called "...so I asked them to smile", which began in Rajasthan back in 2013 when he saw a man he wanted to photograph.
"The look in his eye and his stony, stern face intimidated me," write Weinstein on his Facebook page. "It’s always that moment of hesitation that kills a shot! I ended up avoiding him and photographing other subjects until I heard his jovial voice, “Take my picture too!” Camera lens focused, my finger poised to fire. ‘Smile’, I called out. And he was transformed. His face radiated warmth, his eyes sparkled with a humor I had completely missed. Even his posture softened. I knew then what my next project would be."
More info: So i asked them to smile | Jay Weinstein | facebook (h/t: boredpanda)
#1 Kakhsar Village, Gujarat, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#2 Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#3 Tyrna Village, Meghalaya, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#4 Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#5 Danda Village Jetty, Mumbai, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#6 Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#7 Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#8 Juhu, Mumbai, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#9 Hampi, Karnataka, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#10 Kisama, Nagaland, North-east India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#11 Bandra, Mumbai, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#12 Kakhsar Village, Gujarat, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#13 Ral Village, Uttar Pradesh, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#14 Near Almora, Uttarakhand, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#15 Bagru Village, Rajasthan, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#16 Juhu Beach, Mumbai, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#17 Juhu Beach, Mumbai, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#18 Khonoma, Nagaland, North-east India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#19 Danda Village Jetty, Mumbai, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#20 Pune, Maharashtra, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#21 Kisama, Nagaland, North-east, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#22 Jagannath Puri, Odisha, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#23 Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#24 Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#25 Tyrna Village, Meghalaya, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#26 Barsana, Uttar Pradesh, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#27 Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#28 Outside St Xavier's College, Mumbai, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#29 Ral Village, Uttar Pradesh, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#30 Pune, Maharasthra, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#31 Jagannath Puri, Odisha, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#32 Kakhsar Village, Gujarat, India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#33 Kohima, Nagaland, North-east India
Image source: Jay Weinstein
#34 Latikynsew Village, Meghalaya, North East India
Image source: Jay WeinsteinWith 5+ years in the creator, entertainment, and publishing spaces, Demilked shortlists, reviews, and ranks leading tools that actually make your life easier.