Re: How do I see myself as others see me?

The question: "How do I see myself as others see me? This has nothing to do with vanity and is just a science question!! I have noticed that I look different in practically every video or photo I look at. It can practically be different people sometimes. I have been told that cameras etc..not only mirror the image but can fatten people too. Mirrors mirror an image as the name of them suggests so apparently don't show the true you (at least as others see you). I have been told of a trick of putting two mirrors at a 90 degree angle to each other and to stare at the gap in between to see the true image as others see you from their perspective. Is this true and does it work? Are there any special cameras etc or photographic tricks that can do this? I realise it is impossible to see yourself objectively anyway but as stated before I am only interested in the purely technical/scientific aspect of this nothing else!"

A previous answer in our archives

At sciworks

There are basically two questions in your question:
1) Does a corner reflector really work?
2) Do I see myself objectively in a corner reflector, video, or photograph?

For the first question the answer is a definite "yes". You can read through the various web pages referenced in the two URLs I have provided.

The second question has just a little bit less definite answer, but I would say that you really do see yourself as other people see you, in all three of corner reflector, video, and pictures. Have you ever noticed that, if you tell somebody that a picture of yourself does not look like you, they will usually tell you that it actually does look like you? The view that is captured by a video or picture is what the people around you normally see, so it is not different for them.

John Link, MadSci Physicist