Webcams make me look ten years older


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annother is offline annother Post #1  December 12,2010, 2:42am
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I just got a new laptop and was horrified when I saw myself in the webcam image. It is not the same woman I see in the mirror!

I'm 61, so I know I don't look like a hottie, but it seems that as I age the lines around my mouth get longer and make me look as though I am sad when I'm not.

This wouldn't bother me so much if I were not trying to meet people online, and using the webcam is often helpful in Skype chats etc. This webcam is making me (a) very reluctant to have online video chats and (b) think about getting a facelift.

This is mostly a rant and possibly a self-flagellation, but if anyone has any thoughts on this that might help, I'd appreciate it. (Also, if anyone knows a good plastic surgeon, maybe they could send me a PM on that.)
 
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VB_Girl is offline VB_Girl Post #2  December 12,2010, 6:57am
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Have you tried moving the camera a little farther away? No one looks great really close up.

Also when you are talking, I would think the lines would be much less obvious than you staring at your reflection with no expression on your face and not so positive thoughts running through your brain.

Sorry, I don't know any plastic surgeons.
 
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Tipitina is online now Tipitina Post #3  December 12,2010, 7:10am
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Kinda makes you wish they'd really invented that Jetsons machine that could make you 'camera ready' before you answer the picture phone, doesn't it?

Lighting is everything with these things. For instance, I know that I can't do a web chat from my comfy chair because the lighting there is harsh and over my head. I don't have any specific sites for you to check out, but you might want to do a little online research on the topic.
 
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TheThinker is offline TheThinker Post #4  December 12,2010, 7:21am
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here's a guy that has some good tips...
Strobist: How to Improve Your Cheapo Webcam's Picture Quality
 
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Dropdeadredtx is offline Dropdeadredtx Post #5  December 12,2010, 7:34am
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LOL - yeah, so now I really want to run out a buy a webcam! 10 years? Yikes, Annother. Thanks for the warning. I have no desire to look like the Cryptkeeper!
 
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CestMoi is offline CestMoi Post #6  December 12,2010, 8:13am
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Lighting really does make all the difference (not fluorescent, not overheard, not super-bright)... also the camera angle.
 
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annother is offline annother Post #7  December 12,2010, 8:18am
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TheThinker wrote :
here's a guy that has some good tips...
Strobist: How to Improve Your Cheapo Webcam's Picture Quality
This is great advice. Thanks, TheThinker.

Now maybe I can look ten years younger!
 
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Shelby is offline Shelby Post #8  December 12,2010, 9:04am
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Gravity pulls your face forward when you look downward toward a laptop screen, and makes facial lines deeper. It helps if you attach a separate monitor or keyboard so that you're looking more level toward the monitor/webcam. Even looking up a bit helps, because your eyes seem larger and brighter. Also smile; you'll look friendlier.
 
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savman is offline savman Post #9  December 12,2010, 9:20am
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If all else fails, and you continue to worry about how you look on a webcam, I would say do not use that until you know someone well enough that it does not bother you. If you are worried about it, you are probably not being yourself very well.
 
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cp30 is offline cp30 Post #10  December 12,2010, 9:27am

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this is so funny to me -- because a few months ago this topic came up, and in the first few posts I basically said -- not interested, I don't think I look like 'me' on a webcam and that's not the foot I want to put forward before meeting someone. It's not about wanting to fool someone, it's the opposite, I want to be my best the first time someone sees me, not a distorced, highly pixelated, rendition of me.

The OP got very angry,told me I was stupid (in many bigger words) and that this is a ridiculous notion. That it's a problem with my head not the webcam.

Not so! It IS the webcam and until technology is better, I'd avoid it!

It's not just you annother. Webcams do no one any justice, but it depends on a lot of stuff not just the lighting. Most likely there is a distortion, and the looking down thing doesn't help. Most of the webcams that come in computers are cheap and more like a camera phone. It's just 'part' of you not all of you. Don't do it if you feel it makes you look WORSE than you look. It's not accurate. It's WORSE and I dont' think any of us do ourselves a service by showing dates a worse example of ourselves. So just say no and meet sooner than later.

Thats what I say! If someone has already met me then FINE, then I've had a chance to show what I am, what I look like and be confident. Then it's a little more okay if they see a grainy, poor image of me.

It's not you...it's the webcam!
 
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