P&P: Exercise 7: Focal Length

"...in general, the longer the focal length, the more attractive the face will appear."

So say the notes for this exercise, which asks for a set a images shot at varying focal lengths.  The subject here is a colleague, shot in his classroom with natural light coming through open windows over my right shoulder.  A bank of overhead fluorescents was also engaged.  The camera was attached to a tripod and all variables were maintained apart from focal length and distance of the camera from the subject. As length was increased, the camera was moved further back.  Tone adjustments, straightening and sharpening were added in post-processing.

Size of the subject was maintained across all three shots, but increasing focal length resulted in more detail in the lower half of the frame.  

At 18mm, items close top the lens appear enlarged.  Here the hands are somewhat oversize, as is the length of the arms.  

At 35mm the effect is reduced, but compared with the image at 55mm, still noticeable.  

While at 55mm, the proportions are more even, more natural.  The same can be said for the face, which at 18m is dominated by an oversized nose.