In Alexander McCall Smith's "Chance Developments: Unexpected Love Stories," the author explores the nuanced emotions that can accompany photography. A photograph can reflect more than just the surface emotions of joy or celebration. It can also convey the photographer's underlying feelings of envy, disappointment, or heartbreak, highlighting the complexity of human experiences intertwined with visual art.

The idea that a photographer may feel a "small measure of heartbreak" suggests that it is possible to experience mixed emotions simultaneously. This complexity indicates that even moments of happiness captured in photos can have layers of emotional depth. Many people live with unresolved feelings, revealing that the heart can carry both joy and sorrow at once, influencing how moments are perceived and remembered.