Only in a few cases have facial expressions been modified. It's always been interesting to me--it seems to me a curious coincidence--that the facial expressions of women in passion and those of women in pain may be very similar, and it's something I often take advantage of in making these composites.

It's also true that, when injuries such as the ones depicted here are inflicted on a person, the initial reaction (movies notwithstanding) may be one of shock. In talking to people who have suffered injuries like knife wounds, you often hear the victim saying that he/she did not realize a stabbing had occurred, not until well after the event.