Both Smile. One is not Happy

In this photo, I was in a town called Sienne which is located in the region of Tuscany. After walking around all day, shopping all day, eating gelato part of the day, I walked by their police station, stazione de polizia.

I asked if they would take a photo with me. And, ironically the shorter police officer that appears to have a grin on his face is the one that did not want to take the photo. He was very expressive with his face that this was annoying or stupid or both, when I asked the two of them. To be fair, I know he has a job to do and photo ops for tourists is not one of them. Thus, the reason I asked and would have been glad with a no and moving on down the cobbled stoned path.

The taller police officer said sure, why not. Well, at least that’s what I believe. I can’t recall if there were really words? And, if he did speak, I am not really sure what he said. But, the body gesture and hand gesture that said, “yes, come, let’s do this” is what I took away from it.

He is offering no real sense of emotion on his face. But, when I wasn’t photographing him, he was the jovial of the two.

I love this photo because of the colors (red, white and blue). I love this photo because it’s a bit random to photograph the polizia verse a chiesa (church). But, I really love this photo as I  believe it reiterates a common pattern of many people which is to go against your original thought or belief. To smile and fake it just because.