Have you ever noticed that it is hard to guess an Idols height and wieght from their photos and videos? Saaya Irie is a really good example but a lot of Gravure and Junior Gravure Idols also fit this particular clever use of camera work.
It is impossible to tell just by looking at this photo that she is all of 4' 11¾" (1.52 m) and 114 pounds (52 kg). Personally I find this most attractive but that is besides the point. My question: Do they do this on purpose or is this just an unintentional side effect of the photography. Even when you know the model is young it is really hard to visualize her height and weight because she is often isolated from anything that would put that into perspective.
It reminds me of the famous saying from the classic movie "Jaws" where Brody says "You're gonna need a bigger boat" because he saw the shark in relation to the size of the boat (actually it almost ate him) and that gave him "perspective" as to how large the shark was (I have had a similar experience, smaller boat and shark but still pretty scary).
So do Japanese photographers try to disguise the fact that their models are often quite petite? Petite models are usually not the norm for modeling agencies. American (North and South America) and European models are tall and thin as a rule, there is almost no such thing as a petite model there.
Nor is using the camera to disguise ones height unknown, it is in fact quite common. The most famous of which was the Hollywood movie star of a bygone era by the name of Alan Ladd, who was only 5' 6¼" (1.68 m). They actually dug a trench for co-star Sopia Loren in a movie during a scene so they could look of similar height. But even today actors like Tom Cruise and even Sylvest Stallone (who is only5' 9½" (1.77 m)) have been made to look taller on screen than the actually are.
But is that what I am seeing here with some of our gravure models? You be the judge. I would love to hear your opinions on the subject.
It is impossible to tell just by looking at this photo that she is all of 4' 11¾" (1.52 m) and 114 pounds (52 kg). Personally I find this most attractive but that is besides the point. My question: Do they do this on purpose or is this just an unintentional side effect of the photography. Even when you know the model is young it is really hard to visualize her height and weight because she is often isolated from anything that would put that into perspective.
It reminds me of the famous saying from the classic movie "Jaws" where Brody says "You're gonna need a bigger boat" because he saw the shark in relation to the size of the boat (actually it almost ate him) and that gave him "perspective" as to how large the shark was (I have had a similar experience, smaller boat and shark but still pretty scary).
So do Japanese photographers try to disguise the fact that their models are often quite petite? Petite models are usually not the norm for modeling agencies. American (North and South America) and European models are tall and thin as a rule, there is almost no such thing as a petite model there.
Nor is using the camera to disguise ones height unknown, it is in fact quite common. The most famous of which was the Hollywood movie star of a bygone era by the name of Alan Ladd, who was only 5' 6¼" (1.68 m). They actually dug a trench for co-star Sopia Loren in a movie during a scene so they could look of similar height. But even today actors like Tom Cruise and even Sylvest Stallone (who is only5' 9½" (1.77 m)) have been made to look taller on screen than the actually are.
But is that what I am seeing here with some of our gravure models? You be the judge. I would love to hear your opinions on the subject.
