I’d like to take a moment to talk about an epidemic that is affecting the photography community. According to recent statistics, as many as 3 in every 5 photographers may be suffering from MAHS, or Man of Average Height Syndrome. Its symptoms are ugly, and its impact is widespread, but fortunately, there is a cure.
What is MAHS?
In order to cure MAHS, we must first understand the problem. In the United States, the average height of the average man is approximately 5-feet-10-inches. This number may vary slightly if you live somewhere else, but the result is the same no matter where you go: portfolios full of photos taken from the perspective of a man of average height, while standing.
The effects of MAHS are magnified in photos of females, due to the fact that the average height of a female in the United States is 5-feet-4-inches. When a man of average height shoots a woman of average height, too often the result is a photo looking down on someone, which is not flattering at all.
The MAHS Cure
Fortunately, there is a cure, and it’s fairly simple. The first step is to stop looking down on your subject. When in doubt, at the very least, you should get down to eye-level with your subject, whether it’s a woman of average height, or a child, or a dog. Looking from eye level puts the viewer on an even footing with the subject, rather than looking down on them.
More appropriate, however, is to get your camera slightly below the eye-level for straight on shots. Since light is funneled into the lens equally from above and below, the best height for the camera is exactly half-way between the top and bottom of your composition.
This is why waist-level finders were invented. Prior to the popularization of the SLR, most pro-level cameras were build with waist-level finders, and even SLRs offered them as accessories. In the modern world of the ubiquitous digital SLR, however, there is a simple solution that costs nothing: a chair.
Yes, you read that right. One of the best ways to improve your photos of people is to sit down when you take them. Try it and see for yourself.
But why stop there?
Looking at your subject straight-on is definitely more intimate, but why stop there? Photos can be made even more interesting by presenting angles that are not normally seen.
Maybe it’s time to think about looking up at your subject. Sometimes that means crawling on the ground, other times it’s as simple as giving your subject something to stand on. Looking up at a subject elevates its perceived value. It adds interest.
Spread the cure
If you’re a man of average height, stop looking down on people. If you’re young, try kneeling, crouching, laying on the ground. If you’re older and less limber, you can at least try having a seat!
Let’s all do our part to make the photographic record of our world more interesting, and help to put an end to Man of Average Height Syndrome.
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November 3rd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I thought the reason people shoot down is that it makes people look thinner… if you shoot up, than you can catch their chin fat… so shooting down insures that the face is always looks thinner and more angular. I personally like to be photographed from a downward angle for this reason… cause I got chin fat! :)
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Hahahaha!
In my opinion, the best way to “hide” fat is to stretch it out. If it’s loose skin under the chin that you’re worried about, why not tip your head up and stop the sagging? Also, when someone has a feature they want to cover, one of the best ways to “cover it up” is to… cover it up! Again using the neck scenario, a pose that had you resting your chin on your folded arms would put the attention where you want it.
Actually, your point brings up an interesting motivation for many of the “wrong” techniques people commonly use — that is, the attempt to disguise flaws. Sounds like a good idea for a future blog post! ;-)
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Yeah I can understand that… but tipping your chin up and shooting down has me looking down right sexy :)
January 18th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
The average height of a man is not 5’10″, nor is it 5’9″ as so often claimed. Try about 6’1″. I would know, I’m about 5’9.5″ and I’m not even close to average height. But that doesn’t stop me from being a good photographer. Probably because the average woman is close to my height. 5’4″ average height for a woman? Where, in Mexico???
Our good ol’ government is putting steroids in our food from fat cows and trying to cover up the height explosing by claiming 5’9″ is average height. Like nobody can notice they’re full of it???
Just because people were dumb enough to vote for Dubya twice, doesn’t mean they’re dumb enough to……well, on second thought…
LOL