They say a picture can speak a thousand words, but how much may the interpretation of the story that these words tell change with the subtle differences that might be captured in an expression, with only a second between frames?

This is the same man, in the same setting, doing the same thing. Yet the slight differences in his expression and the tilt of his head lead the viewers thoughts in two opposite directions regarding what he may be thinking and feeling.

It is a powerful reminder of how those who chose which picture to use in a story, say in a newspaper article, can knowingly or unknowingly manipulate the viewer and reader simply by which picture they choose to use.

Photo credit: Britt Embry