Why We Look Better in the Mirror than in Pictures
If the image you see in the mirror looks good on you, how come you are less beautiful in photos? There is a simple reason for this.
Image by Freepik
MIRROR TELL ME I'M THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
Don't you find yourself pretty in the last photo you posted on Facebook? It's a natural cognitive phenomenon, and it's probably what Robert Jazonc called "the simple exposure effect" a theory that states we respond positively to images we are used to. In other words, the more we are exposed to a stimulus, the more likely we are to enjoy it.
Whether brushing your teeth or washing your hands in front of a mirror, the image we face is completely habitual, a familiar angle and above all, a look that is unique to us. The picture is taken by someone outside of us, in a different angle, a particular light, it sends a completely new image of us and therefore, the brain will have a hard time getting used to it and enjoying it.
Think about it the next time you meet your reflection: the important thing is to be beautiful in your eyes, the rest doesn't matter.
Image by ArthurHidden on Freepik
What allows us to see our physical reality: photos or the mirror?
Undoubtedly, many of you will find this situation familiar: the person you see when you are in front of the mirror does not look like the person you see when you look at your photos. It is as if the camera has radically changed the image. Or should we blame the mirror?
Psychological Aspect
We tend to look in the mirror when we are at home, in an environment where we feel free and relaxed. When it comes to photos, the picture is usually taken by someone other than ourselves so we tend to look tense and unprepared. That's why sometimes, looking in the mirror before going to a party, we see an irresistibly beautiful individual. And the next day, looking at photos taken last night, we suddenly notice the opposite.
The Angle
Our faces are not symmetrical. That's the reality for everyone, more so for some, less so for others. And that may be the cause of all the confusion. Every morning, we look in the mirror, in the same place and from a familiar point of view. And so, we get used to looking at our face from a particular angle. But when it comes to photographs, they are not always taken from our best angles. Unless, of course, you're a star like Audrey Hepburn, who has always been photographed from her best angle.
Color Balance
Every type of lighting has its own temperature. But when we look in the mirror, we don't perceive this temperature diversity. This is because our brain, being the "supercomputer" that it is, automatically outputs all the differences and "shows" the image we are used to. On the other hand, a photograph captures the lighting as it is with all the changes and temperature differences. When we look in the mirror, even though the lighting comes from a wide variety of sources, with many colors and shadows dancing on our face, we still see our usual self. While a photo may cause resentment by allowing us to see our image in an objective lighting environment.
Foto de Andrea Piacquadio: Pexels
Focus on Specific Parts
Remember that when we look in the mirror, we usually focus on an image of our thinking and don't see the big picture. But when we look at a picture, we perceive everything holistically and notice things that seemed insignificant before (e.g., poor posture, clumsy hands, etc.).
Reflect
In reflection, we always see a "mirror" version of ourselves, and this ultimately shows a perception of how we are. Photos, on the other hand, present us with the way others look at us, an unusual perspective that can cause great surprise.
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