Finding a good photo

Before you add a background image, you should decide on what would constitute a good photo. For this project, we are interested in tracing out the profile of our subject. Here are a couple of guidelines when looking for a photo:

  • It's okay if the lighting is not optimal. It doesn't matter whether the subject has red eye or is over exposed as long as we can make out the shape of the head. 
  • The position of the head, on the other hand, is important for our purposes. We would be looking for a shot that catches the full profile of our subject. 
  • Generally I have found that closed or slightly open mouths make for more recognizable silhouettes. I would recommend avoiding photos with large, gaping mouths. 
  • Unless you intend to include it, a photo with a hat should be avoided as it would obscure the shape of the head.
  • Glasses, however, are okay as you could readily make out the curve of the nose and forehead.