Question about Film and Technique

[jackie_nicotera]

Hi

 

This is a Driver's License photo from 1975. It was more than likely taken in a professional photo studio not

associated with any DMV. I was wondering what kind of camera, film and techiques (lighting, shadowing, etc) I would

need to archieve the same effect with a different person.<div></div>

[a._j._jacobs]

I don't see a photo, could you put in a link or the photo you are taking about? :)

[a._j._jacobs]

My bad, when I reloaded after I commented I now see the photo. :)

[leicaglow]

Ashley, I think it's because the forum posts the comment before asking for the image upload. I've done this a few times.

[daved1]

My guess is the polaroid cameras the DMV uses. It looks like a DMV shot to me.

[craig_shearman1]

To my knowledge is is unheard of for a professional photo studio to shoot photos for drivers' licenses. This definitely appears to be a polaroid of the sort shot at the DMV. It is quite obviously not a photo any professional photographer with any self respect would let out of his studio.

[swilson]

What state was that from?

 

I don't remember any driver's License photos being in B/W, I got my first one around 1970, it was ugly but in color.

 

Looks like it used two lights a bit up and off to each side, overall a pretty poor photo, but that is the DMV.

[jackie_nicotera]

New York. And yes, it was done in a professional studio--

NY only started putting photos on normal driver's licenses in the mid 80s. The only Driver's Licenses which had photos before then were commercial driver's licenses (which is what the DL from the photo was), and a driver with a Chauffer license, as it was called, had to go to a professional studio not associated with the DMV (though there were guidlines on how big the photo could be) and get a photo taken. They were then bring that photo to the DMV and the DMV would staple it or tape it to the license.

[jackie_nicotera]

<p>Bump. For referrence, here at my grandpa's 1966, 1969, and 1972 Driver License Photos for referrence:<br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/4509819426_a4e68d7f0a_o.jpg" alt="" width="435" height="453" /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2400/4509818998_0babce6553_o.jpg" alt="" width="316" height="424" /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2175/4509179221_82a8314186_o.jpg" alt="" width="484" height="507" /></p>

<p>So could anyone tell me the technique used on the '75 License and why it is so low detail?</p>

 

[jackie_nicotera]

<p>The state was New York City. Prior to around 1980-ish or so, Driver Licenses of most types had no photos; only specialty licenses (Class D and Chauffeur) had photos. My grandfather for his 1966-1972 Licenses had a Chauffeur License and thus was required to have a photo; In 1975, the NYC DMV got rid of the Chauffeur class and made it fall under the Class D banner. I've heard that Chauffeur License photos were not taken on site at the DMV until the early-mid 80s when all license types had photos; Before hand you had to go to a photo studio and the photo studio was given specific guidlines they had to follow; the photos had to be similar to a mugshot and were not to be ''artistic'' at all.</p>

[James G. Dainis]

I'm sure that the DMV guidelines followed those of the US Department of State passport photo guidelines:

 

http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/composition/composition_874.html

 

I doubt if this was done in a photo studio. I looks to me like it was done by having the person stand against a blank wall with overhead ceiling lighting providing the lighting.