achristensen Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 In portraits that appeal to me the most, the subject is looking to the left. Isthat a brain thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barry_kenstler1 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Wow, that's a very interesting question. If, in fact, there is a bias, whether it be from culture, gender, or physiology, there would be significant implications for how one shoots and markets their images. I don't believe I have a bias one way or the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc5066 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Left Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay_ransom Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I thing it depend on the person and the lighting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markci Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Depends entirely on the subject. Most people have one side that's a bit better than the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
achristensen Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 Mark, meaning something physiological about their face or body? When I look at an image of someone facing right, I feel somewhat "dizzy". Does that make sense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindyp Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I definitely agree with Clay and Mark. Have you ever done that thing in grade school where you take a person's face and place a paper over one half? Then over the other? Sometimes you can get two completely different looks. I think also that some people have a "good" side. I know I do... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giggles Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I always have my subjects slightly facing my main light. I just think the lights wraps around them better and lights up there eyes. My main light is always to their right so my subjects mostly face right. Interesting questions and answers though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markci Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Yeah, I mean most people's faces are not that symmetrical. Most celebrities seem to have a "good side" that they prefer to be shot from, and most of them are better-looking and more symmetical than the average person. But for a theoretical, symmetrical subject, I don't know. Facing right seems slightly more natural to me, but I suspect it's because of the Western left-to-right reading direction. I wonder what a native Arabic speaker would think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markci Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 And by "facing right" I mean *my* right -- their left. I suspect you may have used the opposite convention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaron_hall1 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Mark, you kinda had it right. The left-to-right reading thing. When viewing a photo, as with a layout also, we tend to start left and pan right. When someone is looking our left, their right, in a photograph, their face opens and allows the viewer to enter the image. The back of the head that is visible stops the view and sends the focus back to the face. The opposite pose isn't as inviting. Also, in the United States, we drive so that we have to turn our heads to the left alot. That builds the muscle in the right side our neck. For a softer look, have them look right (our left). Hope this helps. Aaron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
achristensen Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 Aaron, I think you got it. Is your computer monitor positioned to your right or left of your keyboard? I don't know what straight on means about a person but mine is to my left of the keyboard. I would get a neck ache if it was on the right. Very interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
achristensen Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 Right and Left? I was referring to my left so the subject is facing their right as Emily and Mark have said. Sorry about the confusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_levine Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 There is no easy (or right) answer to this question. Try looking here: http://groups.msn.com/Asktheoleproaboutphotography/joezeltsman.msnw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruslan safin Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 my right - look inside, my left - looking-going away. i trust this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supermongrel Posted April 20, 2008 Share Posted April 20, 2008 This question had me curious, so I went and looked at our gallery and oddly, it's pretty evenly matched. I think I like the subject looking to my left (their right) better though... it seems slightly haunting and reflective a little more interesting than the pics that look to the right which seem traditional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b.marchioro Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I think you should choose the side according to your light and to your background. Sometimes you can ruin a photo 'cause you didn't pay attention on these two things. When we are learning to take photos they teach us to always put the subject facing the inside of the photo, but an image could be incredible by the fact that the subject is facing out. The point is to always think on the moment and not on the rules, like right and left side Bruna Marchioro http://www.rbfotografia.com.br/index_en.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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