Mirrors & Cameras

[Donna Marie]

Aaaaarghhh. Has it happened to you? This morning I got all dressed up. I thought I did a pretty good job with the makeup and I was reasonably pleased with the feminine face that looked back at me from the mirror. After a while I thought I would just snap a pic, so I set up the tripod, double-checked myself in the mirror, and snapped away. Then I uploaded the pic to my computer so I could edit it if needed. As I said above - Aaaaaarghhh! It was sooo bad I just deleted it. Somehow, what I think I see in the mirror is just not reality. Evidently portraits / face shots are not in the cards for me.

[Tracy_Victoria]

A mistake many make. remember you reflextion in a mirror, is not what people see, it is a reverse of your image that is very different, hence a camera picture taken in front of a mirror, and a camera picture of you posing, will be very different.

ie postive and negative images.

[Roberta Lynn]

Donna, I have the same exact problem.
It is obviously a plot by camera makers to keep us buying cameras until we find one that is capable of taking a correct picture

[JessieB]

Don't leap to conclusions. You might not look as bad as you think. Camera flash can be very unflattering for CDs -- for one thing, it has a tendency to cut through the makeup and accentuate the underlying beard. And if your camera/lens isn't good quality, it can make you look grainier, more contrasty, etc than you actually look in person.

[NatieBe]

[SIZE="4"]Raberta...I'm sitting here in tears LMAO...that is SOooo true!!![/SIZE]

[CaptLex]

Aaaaaarghhh! It was sooo bad I just deleted it. Somehow, what I think I see in the mirror is just not reality. Evidently portraits / face shots are not in the cards for me.

Don't be so hard on yourself, Donna. I usually have to take about a dozen pics and delete all but one before I find one that I'm not too disgusted with.

Some of the more practiced amongst us have learned little tricks to make the most of their poses - maybe some will share theirs. It's all trial and error till you figure out what works best for you.

[Kathleen Ann Trees]

I have the same problem. For some reason, about one in 20 pictures actually looks pretty good. (Sometimes, more, sometimes, less...)

Does your camera have a multi-picture option when on auto? Mine will take 3 pictures with about 2 or 3 seconds of time between them. I've found this feature to be very helpful. It allows me to relax a little, take the first PICTURE, relax and move a little, PICTURE, relax and move, PICTURE.

I also set up a mirror behind the camera, so I can see my pose as the camera is doing it's thing.

In addition to trying to relax, try different poses. Pick your chin up, put it down. Turn your head a little to each side. Kind of use the instructions that a photographer would tell you. Many quick pics with subtle changes can give some good results.

Good luck. And don't forget to share if you can!

Kathleen Ann

[Kate Simmons]

It's all in the "wrist" Hon. Just kidding.Actually, I have no problem with posing as I'm a natural born ham to begin with. My second son is even worse than me in that respect but he does take a damn good picture. It just takes practice my friend. I usually pretend I'm with a friend as I'm pretty outgoing to begin with in either mode, so it comes sorta natural for me.

[Tracy_Victoria]

I also set up a mirror behind the camera, so I can see my pose as the camera is doing it's thing.

Kathleen Ann

But what you see in the mirror is not what the camera takes. in a mirror, the left side of your face is the left side, to the camera it is the right? a reflexion is a negative image (reversed) whilst a picture take with a camera is a positive. ie to get the same result with a camera, you would need to use slide film and reverse ie.

ie 9 o clock in a mirror, is actually 3 o clock.

also the left side of the face, is rarely a mirror image of the left, hence why you can look very different in the mirror, and say thats not me is it, when you see yourself in pictures!

[Mitzi]

In a way, I have the opposite problem...

"Say what?" you ask...Of course a lot of my pics are unflattering, but I'm not about to post those, silly... On the other hand, a lot of the pictures surprise me, they're soo flattering...am I being deceptive in posting these? Oh well, if that's what the camera sees, who am I to argue.

BTW, my camera's (a Canon Powershot) self timer allows for delays of up to 30 seconds, (and multiple shots like Kathleen Ann's) which gives more time to run around in front and rearrange yourself.

Mitzi

[Carol A]

OK count me in as I purchased a new camera just to take pictures so I could upload them on my PC. Oh my gosh was I shocked by my first batch of photos, Heck I figured I looked great until I seem the pictures. Aaa they say the camera doesn't lie but I don't believe it. So as said before I take a lot of photos and learn from my mistakes.

[TxKimberly]

For most if us, it's a good idea to stay away from close ups. I'm sure there are some that look great up close and personal, but I'm inclined to think they are the lucky exception. Most of my pics turn out reasonably well, but not the close ups - I HATE them!

When you take pictures, take a LOT - take 5 or so for each picture you want. This increases your odds that one of them will turn out well enough to make you happy. I probably throw away 50% of the pics I take.

Don't forget that often we are our own worst crittic. Perhaps you are being TOO critical?

[Alice B]

Mirrors and cameras are funny things. First of all the camera sees all. It is not like our eyes that can be selective in what they focus on. Thus we see ourself as one thing and the camera as another. But, there are techniques when shooting into mirrors that help greatly. First, always shoot at a 45 degree angle. That way your flash will not show in the image. Second, if you can use manual focus because with auto focus the camera may focus on the image in the mirror, something else showing in the mirror, but not you if you are in front of the mirror. But the bottom line is that you like yourself and how you feel once dressed. Forget what the mirror says, just enjoy being you

[Tasha T]

Has it happened to you?(

Yes it has. The other night I got all dressed up and was going to go out in public for the first time in over ten years. I snapped a few pictures of myself just to make sure I looked okay, but when I looked at them I was disgusted at what I saw. I thought I was the ugliest woman in the world and had no business stepping foot out the door. I mean, who was I trying to fool that I actually looked good as a woman? My makeup seemed wrong, my wig seemed wrong and my face seemed way too male. Now that's not what I see when I'm looking into the mirror. In the mirror I see a beautiful woman. However, reality does not match the fantasy in this case, and I'm going to have to accept the fact that no matter what I do, I will never look as good as I want.

[ElleCD]

Donna

Don't give up. Different lighting makes a hell of a difference. Take loads of pics from different distances and angles and with different lighting levels - also with lighting predominating from back, front or side. If you experiment you will find what suits you best. We all hate about 95% of our pics but its worth it for the 5%.

Elle
xx

[Shadeauxmarie]

I just watched Tootsie the other night. When Dustin Hoffman was reading for the part, the producer told the camerman to "Pull back a little, I want to make her a little more feminine." He replied "How do you feel about Cleveland?"

For me, it would be at least 1000 miles away.

[waspookie6]

still lmao from Roberta's comment

It is about lighting and angles. Not being naturally photogenic, a good friend who is a well known photographer finally took me to his loft (the uber secret room where his work would be shipped all over the world for exhibitions) and spent about 5 hours working with me on posing and light.

Natual light vs flash. Shaded back flash. Delayed flash. Backdrops. Black and white vs color (same camera, taken seconds apart). The gammut. Of course he had tens of thousands of equipment right there but it taught me a lot about getting a good picture - one that I could accept as me. Which is why he is well known of course...

The biggest for everyone is the chin. Drop the chin just slightly and at a slight tilt. It makes a HUGE difference! My eyes looked like I thought they should (larger, pretty), my cheekbones looked natural (not sharp, none at all), no huge smile since that makes me feel uncomfortable - just a very soft smile, lighting was from the side opposite the camera.
Camera in front, lighting from the side the camera couldn't catch brings out all the things we see ourselves as, not what the camera gets and we don't like.

Try to set up a room with a light off to the side or sunlight against your back then drop the chin, tilt head ever so little and snap away! You may get a bit closer to what you feel you look like. Dump the mirrors. They sharpen parts a camera will pick up, just practice with the Lens ("I want you to feel like the lens is your friend, not foe"), you'll get a picture out of a dozen that is a "hey! that is me!" out of it

[mikecd999]

I agree with Kimberly, take a lot of pictures to get a few good ones. Isn't that what digital cameras were made for. I usually keep 1 out of eery 10 that I take.
Mike

[christid66]

For most if us, it's a good idea to stay away from close ups.

I'm one of the 'most' and will not post a portrait - especially as I haven't got he beard cover right.....plus I don't want to scare more people than I do already

....and don't get me started on my hands.....I have no idea where to put them which is why they're either buried in my lap or hidden by having my arms folded!

[Julie York]

I've found that if I give my camera 6 pints of strong lager I look beautiful.

[christid66]

I've found that if I give my camera 6 pints of strong lager I look beautiful.

Brilliant

[JessieB]

I also set up a mirror behind the camera, so I can see my pose as the camera is doing it's thing.

That is a great idea!!!

in a mirror, the left side of your face is the left side, to the camera it is the right?

In the context of this discussion, I can't see that this makes much difference.

to get the same result with a camera, you would need to use slide film and reverse ie.

Or just flip the digital image in any photo editor.

also the left side of the face, is rarely a mirror image of the left

?????

[Nicole Erin]

Cameras do lie. They always have, from the first one ever made to the latest digital.

The thing is, some people look better in real life than in photos.
The ones who look better in a picture are called "photogenic".

As far as the mirror reversing the image, I don't think that would make a lot of difference as far as how it made pics looks. It might be inverted but that doesn't matter.

And yes a flash has a way of bringing out a beard that may not even be there.

I know most of the photos I take I don't like. I think in my 10 years of CD'ing, I probably have taken a couple hundred pics but only ONE have I ever been truely happy with. Even tho my friend wasn't trying or anything, somehow everything came together perfect and I looked perfect. I no longer have it unfortunately. Some were "ok" but most made me gag.

[waspookie6]

I've found that if I give my camera 6 pints of strong lager I look beautiful.

Leave it to Julie to make me have to clean my monitor for splatting tea on it.

Is there an option for someone to take a picture of you? Sometimes they 'see' what you do, eventually the evil camera will cooperate after being beat into submission.

[Jilmac]

Donna, don't feel too bad girl, I'm the original ugly duckling, it would take a lot more than makeup to make me look even half feminine. Hang in there girl, and keep trying. Luv and Jill