The Horror Of The New Webcam

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It had been ten years since I last purchased a webcam. More than happy with my hazy 1.3 megapixel Logitech, hardly ever used it anyway.

Having recently updated my sound system, mouse, keyboard and monitor I thought, well, may as well do the webcam as well. So, a Logitech 720/1080p was purchased. The only problem I had with it was freeing it from the ridiculous amount of cardboard in the box.

Just plugged it into my Windows 10 machine and it just worked, sound and vision, face tracking etc, no software or drivers to install.

But when I saw myself peering back at me, I thought: "Who's this wrinkly old guy, this is not what I see in the mirror" High resolution seems to bring out the worst in my features, no, surely this is not how I would look if recorded with a camcorder?

Granted, the lighting in the room is not great, just a fan with a 40 watt bulb, and it seems to have an automatic low light boost. But surely I can look better than this? Any tips on light placement to show yourself off/light yourself better. I really don't look that bad.
  • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
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    Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

    I really don't look that bad.
    Keep telling yourself that. :-)

    Cheers. - Frank
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    • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
      Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

      Keep telling yourself that. :-)

      Cheers. - Frank
      Thanks for your kind words.

      I suppose the glare of the 28 inch monitor does not help, rather washes your features out. Probably not an issue when cams were first envisioned. Sitting a short distance away improves things, about 500 miles.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
    Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

    Any tips on light placement to show yourself off/light yourself better.
    If you are like me, you'll probably look best when it's pitch black. So turn off all the lights and you'll get a boost in the looks department.

    Mark
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  • Profile picture of the author Cali16
    Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

    Any tips on light placement to show yourself off/light yourself better. I really don't look that bad.
    Um, turn off the webcam and stick with audio only...
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    If you don't face your fears, the only thing you'll ever see is what's in your comfort zone. ~Anne McClain, astronaut
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  • Profile picture of the author rondo
    Podcast instead!
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    Just face the facts, you are ...

    Kidding aside, there is an art/skill to close up photography.
    Lighting, lens, camera are factors, and you can't be too close.
    Karsh style. I'm pretty sure he did black and white intentionally.

    Yousuf Karsh | Canadian photographer | Britannica.com

    The Greatest Portraits Ever Taken By Yousuf Karsh - 121Clicks.com
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    "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

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    • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
      I think I'm looking wrinkly with my old cameras.

      Hmmm.....
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      "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"

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      • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
        Originally Posted by Jill Carpenter View Post

        I think I'm looking wrinkly with my old cameras.

        Hmmm.....
        I forgot that cameras go through an aging process as well.
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        "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

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