pervocracy:

grayskyluna:

kichengunnet:

showerthoughtsofficial:

“The camera adds 10 pounds” is a phrase of the past. Now people look better in their pictures than they do in person

When people say that the camera adds ten pounds it’s because cameras used in filmmaking/TV production have a wider focal length and therefore subjects look wider or bigger. Whereas cellphone cameras have a short focal length that makes subjects appear thinner or smaller.

Nowadays, with DSLR’s and a variety of lenses, we are able to depict a wide range of focal lengths by using one kind of camera.

So that is why most people on social media may seem to look thinner than they do in person (especially in selfies because the front facing camera on phones especially have short focal lengths).

And that is also how the phrase “the camera adds ten pounds” came about.

this is actually so interesting I had no idea

These are some cool gifs and the general story is correct, but the OP is slightly confused on terminology.  A wide lens is the same thing as a short focal length!  The opposite of a wide lens isn’t a short one but a long lens.  A long lens is what makes the cat look fat, and the person look attractive but broad.  A wide (i.e., short) lens makes the cat and person look skinny but also significantly distorts their facial shapes.  (This looks cute on the cat but goofy on the person, because social context is inescapable.)