The Power of Disgust: Exploring Facial Expressions in Storytelling with Imagen-v3
- 10 minutes read - 2025 words
Table of Contents
Disgust, a powerful and often overlooked facial expression, plays a crucial role in storytelling. It’s a visceral reaction that can instantly convey a character’s revulsion, aversion, or disapproval. From the grimace of a detective confronting a crime scene to the wrinkled nose of a child encountering a spoiled meal, disgust can be a powerful tool for enhancing the emotional impact of a narrative. This blog post explores the dramatic potential of disgust as a facial expression, examining its use in various contexts and its ability to create compelling and memorable scenes.
Created with: imagen-v3
Lost in the Shadows: A Man’s Solitary Struggle
A haunting image captures the isolation and despair of a man hidden in a dark alleyway. The graffiti-covered walls and surrounding trash only amplify the sense of loneliness and mystery surrounding his presence.
Prompt
facial-expressions Disgust: Despair and alienation ; A lone figure, hunched over in a dimly lit alleyway; eye-level; Single Person; overflowing trash bins and graffiti-covered walls; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A man is huddled in a dark alleyway between trash cans and graffiti covered walls.
Aesthetic Score : 0.6
Mood : dark, lonely, isolated
Quality
Entropy : 5.89
Noise : 81
Prompt Clip Score : 0.33
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.20
Image errors : The image has slight overexposure, which could be addressed by adjusting the brightness and contrast in post-processing.
Man Stunned by Abstract Masterpiece
A man in a suit stands frozen in front of a vibrant abstract painting, his expression a mixture of shock and disbelief. The bold colors and unexpected forms of the artwork seem to have captivated him, leaving him speechless and utterly engrossed.
Prompt
facial-expressions Disgust: Horror and disgust ; A seasoned detective, his face etched with disgust, stares at a vandalized masterpiece in a museum; eye-level; Detective; a chaotic scene with paint splattered across the canvas and broken glass on the floor.; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A man in a suit is standing in front of a painting, looking shocked. The painting is an abstract work, with splashes of color. The man’s expression is one of surprise and disbelief, as if he can’t believe what he’s seeing.
Aesthetic Score : 0.6
Mood : suspenseful, dramatic, shocked
Quality
Entropy : 6.48
Noise : 75
Prompt Clip Score : 0.32
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.10
Image errors : There is no obvious artifacts or errors in the image
The Disappointment of a Dirty Plate
A woman stands in a messy kitchen, her face contorted in disgust as she holds a plate piled high with food remnants. The blurred background emphasizes the chaos of the scene, highlighting the woman’s frustration and disappointment.
Prompt
facial-expressions Disgust: Disappointment and disgust ; A young woman, her face pale and wrinkled, as she stares at a plate of spoiled food; eye-level; Normal Person; a cluttered kitchen with dirty dishes and a overflowing trash can; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A woman in a kitchen is holding a dirty plate with food remnants and looks disgusted, the background is blurred and shows a messy kitchen
Aesthetic Score : 0.3
Mood : disgust, disappointment, frustration
Quality
Entropy : 6.86
Noise : 76
Prompt Clip Score : 0.31
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.10
Image errors : No notable image errors
VR Immersion: The Moment He Realized the Game Was Real
A young man’s face contorts in shock as he experiences the intense immersion of virtual reality. The blurry background hints at a dedicated gaming setup, adding to the sense of surprise and suspense. This image captures the raw emotion of a gamer fully engrossed in their virtual world.
Prompt
facial-expressions Disgust: Unease and disgust ; A gamer, their eyes wide with disgust, as they witness a grotesque scene in a virtual reality game; eye-level; Gamer; a brightly lit gaming room with multiple monitors and controllers; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A young man wearing a VR headset is seated in a gaming chair, his face shows shock and surprise, the background is blurry and suggests a gaming setup
Aesthetic Score : 0.3
Mood : intense, shocked, startled
Quality
Entropy : 6.39
Noise : 77
Prompt Clip Score : 0.31
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.10
Image errors : The image suffers from minor blurring, particularly in the background, the lighting creates harsh shadows, the subject’s face is slightly overexposed
Man’s Disgust at the Sight of Garbage
A man stands before a pile of overflowing garbage cans, his face contorted in disgust. The scene evokes a sense of unease and highlights the unpleasantness of the situation.
Prompt
facial-expressions Disgust: Repulsion and disgust ; A man, his face contorted in disgust, as he walks past a pile of rotting garbage; eye-level; Single Person; a dirty and neglected street with overflowing trash cans; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A man is standing in front of a pile of garbage cans, he is looking disgusted and may be holding his breath due to the smell.
Aesthetic Score : 0.2
Mood : disgusting, unpleasant, distressed
Quality
Entropy : 6.60
Noise : 89
Prompt Clip Score : 0.34
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.10
Image errors : The image has a slight blur, particularly around the edges. The overall quality of the image seems low-res.
Hero’s Gaze: A Shadow Lurks
A superhero, masked in dark blue, stares directly at the viewer, their expression intense and unwavering. A menacing creature, shrouded in darkness, looms in the blurry background, creating a palpable sense of suspense and danger. The image is bathed in dramatic lighting, amplifying the mood of intensity and drama.
Prompt
facial-expressions Disgust: Anger and disgust ; A superhero, their face etched with disgust, as they confront a villain who has committed a heinous act; eye-level; Hero; a dark and smoky cityscape with a towering villainous figure; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A superhero in a dark blue mask is staring at the viewer, with a dark menacing creature in the background, the background is blurry, the image has good lighting
Aesthetic Score : 0.7
Mood : intense, dramatic, dark
Quality
Entropy : 6.53
Noise : 78
Prompt Clip Score : 0.30
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.80
Image errors : there are no visible errors in the image
What’s Lurking in the Shadows? Fear Grips This Family in a Messy Kitchen
A chilling scene unfolds in a chaotic kitchen. Four women, their faces etched with terror, shield their mouths in fear. The messy surroundings amplify the sense of unease, leaving viewers to wonder what unseen threat has caused such panic.
Prompt
facial-expressions Disgust: Horror and disgust ; A family, their faces twisted in disgust, as they discover a dead rat in their kitchen; eye-level; Normal People; a cluttered and messy kitchen with dirty dishes and a overflowing trash can; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A group of four women, three adults and one young girl, are standing in a messy kitchen, all looking startled, with their hands over their mouths, as if they are afraid of something off camera.
Aesthetic Score : 0.3
Mood : tense, anxious, fearful
Quality
Entropy : 6.69
Noise : 91
Prompt Clip Score : 0.32
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.10
Image errors : The image appears to be slightly overexposed, with some of the highlights blown out. The focus could also be sharper.
Caught in the Heat of the Moment: Gamer’s Shock Frozen in Time
A close-up shot captures the raw emotion of a young gamer, headphones on, eyes wide with shock. The intensity of the moment is palpable, leaving you wondering what just happened in the game.
Prompt
facial-expressions Disgust: Fear and disgust ; A gamer, their face pale and sweaty, as they witness a disturbing scene in a horror game; eye-level; Gamer; a dimly lit gaming room with a flickering monitor and a dark, ominous atmosphere; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A close-up of a young man wearing headphones, looking shocked and startled. He is likely in the middle of a tense gaming session.
Aesthetic Score : 0.5
Mood : intense, suspenseful, shocked
Quality
Entropy : 5.99
Noise : 60
Prompt Clip Score : 0.34
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.60
Image errors : The image appears to be slightly grainy and the lighting is a bit uneven. The subject’s face, especially around the eyes, shows some signs of artificialness. The skin tone is very smooth, bordering on unnatural, suggesting AI enhancement.
Screaming in Horror: Woman Finds Cockroach in Restaurant Meal
A woman’s dining experience takes a horrifying turn when she discovers a cockroach in her food. The image captures her raw terror and disgust, with the shallow depth of field drawing attention to her reaction and creating a sense of claustrophobia.
Prompt
facial-expressions Disgust: Revulsion and disgust ; A woman, her face contorted in disgust, as she discovers a cockroach in her food; eye-level; Single Person; a brightly lit restaurant with a table full of food and a cockroach crawling on a plate; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A woman is sitting at a table in a restaurant. She is screaming in horror and has her hands over her head. There is a cockroach on a plate in front of her. There is also a man in the background, but he is out of focus.
Aesthetic Score : 0.2
Mood : horror, disgust, panic
Quality
Entropy : 6.65
Noise : 77
Prompt Clip Score : 0.32
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.10
Image errors : The image is slightly out of focus and the lighting is uneven. The image quality is also not very good, but there are no other errors or artifacts visible.
Power Play: Tense Standoff in the Boardroom
A low-angle shot captures the raw tension as two men in suits clash in a heated argument. The man standing over the seated figure exudes power and dominance, while the lighting amplifies the sense of confrontation.
Prompt
facial-expressions Disgust: Disdain and disgust ; A hero, their face hardened with disgust, as they confront a corrupt politician; eye-level; Hero; a grand, opulent office with a powerful politician sitting behind a large desk; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : Two men in suits are having a tense conversation in an office. The man on the left is sitting at a desk, and the man on the right is standing over him. They look like they are in the middle of a heated argument.
Aesthetic Score : 0.6
Mood : tense, confrontational, serious
Quality
Entropy : 6.12
Noise : 73
Prompt Clip Score : 0.28
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.10
Image errors : The image is somewhat blurry, and the lighting is not perfect, creating some shadows that distract from the subject.
Conclusion
The analysis of the generated image reveals mixed results:
Camera Position: The model’s performance in capturing the intended camera position is fair (0.25). This suggests that the generated image doesn’t closely match the camera position described in the prompt. A score between 0.5 and 0.75 would indicate a good understanding of camera position, while a score above 0.75 would be considered very good.
Shot Analysis: The model’s ability to understand the scene and create a shot that aligns with the prompt is okay (0.62). This indicates that the generated image somewhat reflects the scene described in the prompt, but there’s room for improvement. A score between 0.5 and 0.75 would indicate a good understanding of the scene, while a score above 0.75 would be considered very good.
Aesthetic Analysis: The generated image’s aesthetic is pretty close to the expected aesthetic (0.3). This suggests that the model has a decent understanding of the desired visual style. A score between -0.2 and 0.1 would indicate a very good match between the expected and generated aesthetics.
Overall, the model shows some strengths in understanding the aesthetic and scene, but struggles with accurately capturing the intended camera position.
Sources:
- https://dramaresource.com/storytelling/
- https://seedsoftellers.eu/resources/the-body-language-for-young-tellers/
- https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1288&context=sandanona&filename=1&type=additional
- https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?doi=7f842882e9bb1fa2c0e96939bc8d2c37e34e17c0&repid=rep1&type=pdf
- https://www.twinkl.co.uk/search?q=drama+facial+expression
- https://deepmind.google/technologies/imagen-3/