Happiness in Front of the Lens

Feature image by Morgan Maassen

The great thing about joy is that there are obvious kinds of joy — and then the joy that is captured in the eye of the beholder or in this case the holder of the camera. For a series we like to call “Perspectives” we asked a few photographers that we admire, who work with varying subjects, to select a photo from their work that they believe captures happiness and joy. Heads up, the results tend to make people smile and think fondly.

Kystle Wright

The beauty of nature and wildlife is its spontaneity and when it chooses to interact with you. It's the main reason I choose to spend time outside because these unplanned moments often give what I like to call 'heart explosions.'  You know it when you feel it because rarely do you want to articulate such a raw moment. Instead in these moments, you're so overcome with emotion whether it's hysterical laughter or screams of joy, basically you have no control over your body and you react in the purest way of absorbing the experience.

Dive deep @krystlejwright

Danny Clinch

Music often brings joy and happiness through friendship and the musical conversation. New Orleans always celebrates with music in life and in death and few do it better than Preservation Hall Jazz Band. 

Tune in @dannybones64

Morgan Maassen

Spending time with Lola Mignot in Sayulita is my perfect vacation: long days spent surfing, eating ceviche, exploring the jungle and secluded beach parties with friends and family up and down the lush coastline. Nothing captures the joy of such a lifestyle more than sharing a wave with her, as she dances on her longboard with such skill and ease. 

Jump in @morganmaassen
 

Alex Krowiak 

There's a special kind of joy in the moments when nature overwhelms you. And no single destination is quite as overwhelming as South Georgia Island. Here, 1,200 miles to the northeast of the Antarctic Peninsula, colonies of penguins numbering near the millions fill the air with their mating calls, totally consuming you and inspiring something close to ego death. Standing in the middle of the colony, the boundary between yourself and nature becomes blurred. Right there, at the threshold, is joy.

Explore more @alex_krowiak

John Barton

I believe happiness is a choice. Like a fork in the road, every juncture in our lives offers the priceless gift to decide how we receive the events unfolding before us — move forward with joy or trudge toward the darkness. Here, my friend An Simaepa and I are choosing to see the bright side of getting caught in a very dark Indonesian thunderstorm while surfing in the Mentawai Islands. Course, it helps when the water’s 90 degrees.

Dive in @johnnyjungle

Michele Hamparian

There is no greater contributor to human happiness than the quality of our personal relationships, in short, “friendship.” This is a picture of childhood friends at Coney Island who are there to celebrate their friend’s bachelorette weekend. It embodies the joy we experience with the people who not only mean the most to us but know the most about us.

Discover more @micheleonfilm