Why do our figures look different from one mirror to another and even in photos taken with cellphone and professional cameras?

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I am unsure whether I have a sight problem and need to see an eye doctor as soon as possible or if I am actually seeing myself looking completely different in my apartment complex building’s elevator’s mirror, the mirror in my bedroom, the one in the bathroom and even the front-camera on my cellphone. On top of that, I have also realized photos taken with professional cameras tend to look slightly different too.

My face sometimes looks thinner, sometimes chubbier.. even my body frame! What is happening? Is that really a thing? I was not even certain how to flair this post because I am so confused, so I went with Physics. I have never noticed this.

In: Physics

2 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Imagine a camera pointed at your face. How chubby your face looks is determined by the angle between the camera lens and each side of your face. The wider the angle, the chubbier you look.

A camera that is close to your face has the widest angle to your cheeks. A camera that is further away has a narrower angle. So fashion photographers use a telephoto lens and stand back from their subject – that makes them look thinner.

While a camera has one lens, you have two eyes that are a distance apart. So how chubby a person looks depends on your eye on that side and the angle to the cheek. Basically, because you have two eyes everyone looks thinner. That includes you when you look in a mirror.

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