1. Researchers Found Noses Look Wider in Close-Up Photos
Researchers from Rutgers University and other institutions compared the width of noses in faces photographed from about 12 inches (30 cm) away versus 5 feet (1.5 m) away. They used a model based on average facial dimensions. The study reported that at the closer distance, the nose bridge appeared 30% wider for men and 29% wider for women, while the nose tip appeared about 7% wider [1][2]. This 30% figure is an apparent comparison relative to the photo taken from 1.5 m. The face itself did not change. The study also explains that noticeable distortion is small at a distance of 1.5 m [1]. Why does the appearance change just by changing the shooting distance for the same face?
2. Why a Close Camera Makes the Nose Look Bigger
A face is not flat; it is a 3D shape where the nose tip protrudes farther than the cheeks or ears. The closer the camera is, the larger the ratio of the distance to the nose compared to the distance to the cheeks becomes [1]. Objects appear larger when they are closer to the camera. Therefore, it is reported that when the camera is close, the nose appears relatively large and the ears appear small [3]. To understand this, let us use hypothetical numbers. Suppose the nose tip is 3 cm in front of the cheeks. If the camera is 30 cm away, the distance to the cheeks is 33 cm, so the nose appears about 1.1 times larger than the cheeks. If the camera is 150 cm away, the distance to the cheeks is 153 cm, so the ratio is about 1.02 times. These are not actual facial dimensions. The study explains the apparent nose width using a mathematical model based on the ratio of distances between the nose and cheekbones [1]. How does this "closeness" relate to the type of lens?
3. Blaming the Lens Is Only Half Right: Distance Matters Most
The camera explanation site PetaPixel states that the main reason faces look distorted is the distance from the camera to the subject. Distortion appears because people get close when using wide-angle lenses [4]. If you shoot from the same position, the relationship of perspective remains the same even if you change the focal length. This aligns with the study mentioned earlier. If distance causes the nose to look large, changing only the lens without moving your position should not change the distortion significantly. Because many people use wide-angle lenses while getting close, it seems like the lens is the cause. On the other hand, Canon's explanation states that wide-angle lenses emphasize perspective, while telephoto lenses draw distant backgrounds closer to the subject [5]. Manufacturers discuss focal length, but this does not contradict the idea that wide-angle use often involves getting close. It is also explained that medium telephoto lenses are used for portraits because they allow shooting from a distance, making facial balance look natural [6].
4. How Wide-Angle Lenses Distort Faces at the Photo's Edges
The wider the angle of view, the more of the scene fits in one photo. Faces at the edges of the photo can be stretched, squashed, or distorted diagonally. Researchers including those from Google published a method in 2019 to correct this distortion for angles of about 70 to 120 degrees [8]. We will not discuss the details of the correction mechanism here. This is a separate phenomenon from the "closeness" effect where noses look large in selfies. Closeness distortion depends on distance, while edge stretching depends on the width of the angle of view. Distortion due to lens design is yet another separate thing. Canon's glossary explains that wide-angle lenses tend to have barrel distortion where the edges bulge, while telephoto lenses tend to have pincushion distortion where the edges pinch in [7]. These are tendencies, and they do not appear in every wide-angle lens.
5. How Camera Distance Changed People's Ratings of Face Photos
In 2012, Bryan and colleagues at Caltech showed people face photos taken from about 18 inches (45 cm) away and about 53 inches (135 cm) away, then compared their ratings [3]. Photos taken from close up resulted in lower investment amounts in an economic game where people lend money. Ratings for trustworthiness, competence, and attractiveness were also lower. The study reported that face width, expression, and image size could not explain this difference [3]. This is an experiment on how viewers rated the photos. It does not indicate the value of the person in the photo. It shows that the impression received can change based on the shooting distance, even for the same face.
6. Try It Yourself: Compare Photos of a Mug Taken Up Close and Far Away
Place a mug with a handle on a table with the handle facing you. Take one photo with a smartphone from a close distance of about 10 cm. Then, take another photo from about 1 m away, keeping the same orientation. Compare the two photos, enlarging them so the cup sizes match. Does the handle look larger in the photo taken from close up? The handle plays a role similar to the nose in a face. Be careful not to drop the mug, as it is fragile. If you want to read more, look up the paper that measured nose width [1] and the study that investigated whether impressions change with distance [3]. Canon's explanation [5] is available in Japanese.