In doing so, we make inferences about them and their state of mind at the time. Our assumptions are not always correct, since the study of body language is by no means exact and is open to wide interpretation, however knowledge of the general meanings associated with the interpretation of body language can be helpful in posing or in overcoming barriers to posing or getting the right expression. If gestures are also included, interpretation can have even greater accuracy. A child's stamping foot, for instance, can signal a temper tantrum, a happy dance, impatience or even a bee sting. Without other tell-tale indicators, there is no certainty as to the meaning by itself of a stamping foot because it cannot be taken in context.
Additional indicators can provide the missing context.
A picture of a little girl with her arms tightly crossed, a scowl on her face, an obviously-tapping foot and her back turned towards her mother can say quite a lot about the child's displeasure. Changes in body language can often convey meaning more clearly than simple positioning. A picture of a person's back doesn't necessarily mean any attitudinal change has taken place, because it is not accompanied by action. But, if a person abruptly turns his or her back on someone, it probably indicates they wish to break contact and stop communicating with that person. Change cannot always be shown in a single still photograph, however other aspects of body language can influence the viewer's opinion about the subject and the image's message, and therefore photographers should have an understanding of common interpretations of body language.