Movements for a full length portrait?

[jp]

Paul - BTW your comparison of analog B&W versus digital color of Jackie is astounding; great photo!

[DrTang]

180 on a 5x7?

if you'd use a 280-300..you'd be back far enough so it wouldn't matter much

but..okay

if you were using a 'blad.... you'd have no choice about rise, tilt, etc..you'd just shoot it..and you'd be happy about it

[Keith Fleming]

I remember reading a photo magazine article (in the early 1980's, I think) on photography at Playboy Magazine. The photographer being interviewed said that whatever part of the body was closest to the camera lenswould be slightly larger, and thereby get more emphasis. For that reason, he and other Playboy photographers would put their 8X10 cameras at breast level on their subjects. Based on that concept, put the camera lens at the level of whatever part of the subject you want to have the most emphasis.

[chuck461]

Hi Paul
You may be able to make a lensboard with the hole offset. That may give you just enough fall to get what you want.
I hope this helps.
Chuck

[SergeiR]

"normal" angle isn't really most pleasant for portrait - face or body, but then its just me. Its ok for "generic" shots, but thats about it.

In either case - since you do get pronounced distortion - just use it to your advantage. No woman will thank you for making her waist larger, hence - why shoot from waist level? How about lengthen legs instead? No man will thank you for wide waist or long legs (ok, SOME might.. but its other story), they more care for shoulders and strong face - so shoulder height might be good idea. Other thing is to avoid such a direct frontal placement of subject (or material as Mortensen used to call it.. ). While this will indeed get focus plane work trickier - results will be much more pleasant and picturesque. Posing is art by itself.

Makes snapping harder, but hey.. You will get way better results, if you spend some time. And remember - you also can control distortions in printing or processing (with digital route). It never ends just with negative.