In the old photos, in taking their portraits, why do people need to look anywhere but the camera lenses?
February 26th, 2010 | by admin |I don’t get the point on not looking at the camera 
Don’t you just wonder? peopl in the 1800s-1900’s look anywhere but the camera lenses. I find it funny
Styles and looks have trends that come and go. However, the main reason for not looking directly into the camera in those days was that the camera equipment was no where near as sophisticated and fast as today. LONG exposure times were required. The subject had to remain as motionless as possible for a few seconds. It was probably much more natural feeling for a person to be looking at another object rather than directly at the camera during a long exposure. That is also the reason you seldom see anyone smiling in older photos. Trying to hold a smile like that was very difficult and unnatural for the relatively long period of time in which the camera was taking the photo.
steve
4 Responses to “In the old photos, in taking their portraits, why do people need to look anywhere but the camera lenses?”
By silverbullet on Feb 26, 2010 | Reply
red eye
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By sant kabir on Feb 26, 2010 | Reply
Also in 1800-1900 most of the portrait were painted.
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By David on Feb 26, 2010 | Reply
Styles change over the years. Even now, a good photographer will not have you look into the lens. Normally they ask you too look above and to one side of the camera. A lot of portraits are still taken with the subject looking off into the distance. It depends on the emotion the photographer wants to convey.
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By Steve P on Feb 26, 2010 | Reply
Styles and looks have trends that come and go. However, the main reason for not looking directly into the camera in those days was that the camera equipment was no where near as sophisticated and fast as today. LONG exposure times were required. The subject had to remain as motionless as possible for a few seconds. It was probably much more natural feeling for a person to be looking at another object rather than directly at the camera during a long exposure. That is also the reason you seldom see anyone smiling in older photos. Trying to hold a smile like that was very difficult and unnatural for the relatively long period of time in which the camera was taking the photo.
steve
References :