Morphing symmetry
Reader Raymond Brown has written in with another approach to looking at facial asymmetry. (This follows up on my left face/right face experiments.) He explains his technique this way:
Your experiments with facial asymmetry reminded me of some experiments of my own. What I did was impose an averaging symmetry on asymmetrical faces using a morphing program and a single photo with its mirrored version (see attachment). I find the results a little creepy, the celebrity instantly recognizable, but . . . a sort of hyper-idealized version of reality. De Niro’s rumpled face is symmetrically rumpled! And he’s staring you down as well! Anyway, hope you enjoy it!
I’ve quoted from his e-mail with his generous permission. Here is an example of his work (I’ve adjusted the tones slightly and reduced the size to fit my window).
I like this approach. Whereas my approach spun new versions off from the center, emphasizing (and exaggerating) the differences between the two sides of a face, this technique elides the differences to produce a new middle out of bookends created by mirroring the initial image.
LINK: more examples
Posted: August 17th, 2007 under art and illustration.
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