Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

What does the camera's position affect when capturing a full-length portrait?

1. The background blur

2. The subject's proportions

3. The overall brightness

4. The color saturation

The correct answer is: The subject's proportions

The position of the camera significantly influences the subject's proportions when capturing a full-length portrait. When the camera is positioned at eye level, it tends to create a more realistic representation of the subject, enhancing their natural proportions. If the camera is placed too high or too low, it can distort the appearance of the subject, making certain body parts appear larger or smaller than they are in reality. This can lead to unintentional emphasis on features like the legs or torso, ultimately affecting how the viewer perceives the overall shape and structure of the subject. While camera position can indirectly impact other elements such as depth of field, lighting, and color fidelity, its most immediate effect in this context is on how proportions are represented, making the correct choice focused on the subject's proportions.