Camera vs mirror vs how people see you

[Amy Chislett]

Why is there such the difference between these mediums? The camera always makes me look big boned, taller and stronger than I am. God knows how others see me.  I admit I have a cheap camera.

The one defect given to the soul is that it cannot see itself  - that's a paraphrase of a line in Finnegan's wake by James Joyce.   

I think people have different relations with the camera.

[Devlyn]

My mirrors understand me. My boyfriends camera (stupid big professional Nikon) on the other hand, is a lying whore.   

Hugs, Devlyn

[Dena]

Cameras only work if you have a mild telephoto lens. If you have a wide angle which is common in most point and shoot cameras, you get a fishbowl effect which isn't complementary. If you are using a 35MM camera, the lens should be 50MM at least with 75MM to 100MM for portrait work if you have the room. I tend to like Pentax lenses because they are less costly and they have minimal distortion but there may be other brands I haven't worked with that have lens with less distortion.

[Drexy/Drex]

I understand. ...I am very unphotogenic
And mirrors aren't kind to me either

[kelly_aus]

The last film camera that took decent shots of me was a Hassleblad medium format job.. I suspect it was the man driving it more than the camera..

I must get him to take some shots of me now..

[LizK]

Why is there such the difference between these mediums? The camera always makes me look big boned, taller and stronger than I am. God knows how others see me.  I admit I have a cheap camera.

The one defect given to the soul is that it cannot see itself  - that's a paraphrase of a line in Finnegan's wake by James Joyce.   

I think people have different relations with the camera.

I read in a book how one girl had got her friend to follow her at a slight distance with a video camera for a day so she could actually see other people reacting to her and therefore in her mind this would determine if she was passing or not. I know from the narrative that followed this experiment she was heartbroken as she thought she was "passing" better than she really was. It really served no purpose other than to destroy her self confidence which we all know is essential to passing in the first place. So no I guess the right camera does not tell lies but do you really want to know the truth?

Liz

[barbie]

Cameras only work if you have a mild telephoto lens. If you have a wide angle which is common in most point and shoot cameras, you get a fishbowl effect which isn't complementary. If you are using a 35MM camera, the lens should be 50MM at least with 75MM to 100MM for portrait work if you have the room. I tend to like Pentax lenses because they are less costly and they have minimal distortion but there may be other brands I haven't worked with that have lens with less distortion.

Yes. My friend, a professional photographer, sometimes attaches a telescopic lens to shoot me in distance to minimize the fishbowl effect.





To the OP, you may evaluate based on both camera and mirror. Personally, I prefer camera. In the mirror, you see what you want to see. In camera, you can see what you did not intend to show.


barbie~~

[Amy Chislett]

Markie, I disagree.

Barbie, I guess the camera doesn't lie.

[Amy Chislett]

Thanx Dena for the lense suggestion.

Elizabeth, using the camera that way would be rough, but still an idea worth pursuing.

[Amy Chislett]

I guess part of what I was getting at is the nano second slice that is still photography. I've taken to shooting video and then going thru it and edit stills out of it.  A little easier than the roulette that is still life. I believe some are born with a good relation to the camera, while others not so, and have to work at it.

[Drexy/Drex]

Markie, I disagree.

Barbie, I guess the camera doesn't lie.

nice to have a different  view point : )