2007-03-23 09:18:42 · 6 answers · asked by Kathryn T 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
A photo is a two dimensional representation of a three dimensional object (in this case = you). The camera sees you as flat and so it adds any part of the sides of you it sees to the front. That way you are as wide as your front plus part of one or both sides. It is gross that it does that as I have only one picture of me out of thousands that I actually like.
2007-03-23 09:24:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It could be one of two factors:
1) Lighting. Most cameras that have flashes mounted on the camera will light up your face from the front, resulting in a flat face with very little depth (mug shot look). When you look in the mirror in the morning, you are probably not shining a light to your face similar to these cameras, but rather, you have lighting coming from different angles...this restores the depth. In portrait photography, you need to put a primary light on one side, and a fill light on the other side...this restores the depth, making the face look not so full. The classic ratio of primary to fill is 2:1 in terms of light intensity, a more dramatic ratio is 3:1 (called Rembrandt lighting, esp if the primary is placed a little higher than the fill.) By playing with these angles, a photographer can even make someone's face and body appear thinner. Bounced light can also help restore depth. The main thing is to avoid taking photos where the flash is on the camera and coming direct to you (I know, we can't avoid this in most social situations.)
You'll also notice that a portrait photographer will rarely have you look straight into a camera. By angling your head, 'fullness' can be reduced.
2. Focal Distance. If someone wanted to take a picture of just your face, the tendency is to walk up to you and fill their frame with your face. This is not flattering because your face will look full and distorted. Have them back up and use the zoom (80mm or higher)...this will remove the fullness and it won't be so distorted. The downside of the longer focal distance is that they might have less light to work with and they will need to hold the camera very steady. But the main thing here is, don't shoot faces in wide angle (short focal distances.)
Hope this helps
2007-03-23 12:55:39 · answer #2 · answered by Ken F 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The simple answer is the curvature of the lens adds width . You can combat this by using angles 45 or 90 help the most. This is also why models are so thin in reality they are sticks.
2007-03-24 15:30:31 · answer #3 · answered by sweet_caroline_79 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have the same problem. Honestly I have no idea. Maybe we really are that large.
2007-03-23 09:22:27 · answer #4 · answered by artist0027 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Isn't there an expression "the camera doesn't lie"? Hint hint.
2007-03-23 09:28:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
it is the lenes in the camras
2007-03-23 09:26:18 · answer #6 · answered by bookworm 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋