Photo Exercise - Candid Photography

For this exercise I was tasked with photographing candid photos. Candid photos are pictures that express emotion, neither posed or thought out to be photos. They are in the moment moments that show off a person's visible physical expression. I asked my girlfriend Emily Ammer to help me on this. I tasked her with different scenarios around the downtown campus of West Virginia University and to not pose for anything and act as they normally would, all natural.

Emily Ammer (center) reading a local newspaper outside of Stalnaker Hall on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, laughing at one of the articles about "late night munchies."

Emily Ammer (right) attempting to poke through a tree stump outside of Stalnaker Hall on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, frustrated that it will not work in her favor.

The only problems I faced in this exercise was lighting and genuine emotion. I couldn't find any good lighting besides outside of Stalnaker Hall. It also did not help that the sun was coming down, and fast. Capturing genuine emotion was hard as well. Because I have known Emily for many years it was hard to not try and fake the emotions. However, I told her to be in a scenario (reading a newspaper, sitting on a tree stump, etc.), as if she were by herself and I wasn't around, and to act as she would. Once I came to that realization and having her get on the same page, it was a lot smoother as the pictures went on.