Had a little trip down memory lane yesterday, having decided to have a bash at recreating the 60s/70s ethic of shooting people with wides, something I don't think I'd really espouse anymore; it was quite fashionable to introduce a bit of distortion at the top and bottom of the vertical frames, back then, with elongated heads and feet being, I suppose the main idea. No, can't tell you why, other than it reflected the sheep philosophy prevalent even in those distant days...
All one can add is that it's easier to dodge faces, in an exactly repeatable manner with a computer, rather than it used to be in the wet when making sets of fifty or more 8" x 10" prints for PR.
However, girls still seem to fnd it difficult to keep their eyes open wide, even with the sun pretty much behind 'em. Some things don't change much.
Oh yeah, there is something to add: my body can't do the same as it used to be able to do: for the technique to work reasonably well you really need to keep the camera level no higher than the middle of the subject, splitting the distortion equally... without a "director's" chair, it's just not possible for me to hack these levels anymore. We often used to drop lower, with the lens about level with the hem of the skits - made legs longer - you just tried to avoid showing the back of the skirt hanging lower than the front. Never imagined I'd stiffen up in this manner. I should have known: cutting my toenails is difficult enough, and that's done sitting down!
Ain't life a gas?
Rob C
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