I have been thinking about the variables that are involved in duplicating a scene with a photograph. Of course, most of these variables can be manipulated through either the camera settings or in post processing. However, the perspective in a photograph is best manipulated with camera to subject distance.
Thinking on this further, I was wondering what the ideal perspective should be for portraits and came to the following conclusion:
The angle of view of the subject for both the camera when taking the photograph and for the person viewing the image/print should be equal.
This would ensure that the viewer sees a “natural” perspective of the subject, meaning that which can be duplicated in real life with only the human eye. For example, if a portrait was taken with a 50mm lens on full frame sensor, then the horizontal angle of view would be about 40%. During the viewing of the print/image, the AoV should be the same. So if the image is blown up to 200%, the viewer should increase the distance to the image until it is at 40% again.
I understand that unnatural perspectives may be used for artistic license in many photographs, but I think portraits are best if they appear as they would in real life.
So what are your thoughts on this subject?
