Search from various English teachers...
José Goris
Professional TeacherForwards facing? Frontal?
Dear all
Does anyone know a description of a photograph for e.g. a passport, in which you have to look straight into the camera? Is it a forwards facing photograph? Frontal? What is the proper terminology?
Thank you!
Adriana F.
Mar 7, 2017 10:14 AM
Answers · 7
1
Photographers use the term "facial view" https://digital-photography-school.com/using-facial-view-and-camera-angle-to-flatter-your-portrait-subject/
You could also say "a portrait shot or view" which should be clear enough in most circumstances. "Portrait" is also used in contrast to "landscape" but in fact you would never take a landscape shot for a passport photo anyway.
March 7, 2017
1
The first phrase that comes to my mind is "full-face," as in "a full-face picture," "a full-face portrait," "a full-face view." The actual photo requirements, in a list from the US State Department, include "Your head must face the camera directly with full face in view." Another page that came up in my Google search was from the US embassy in New Zealand, which says "Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera." Terms often used in portrait painting are "full-face," as contrasted with "profile" (side view showing half of the face) and "three-quarter face" (in between full-face and profile). (I'm a native US speaker, British usage might be different).
Gov.uk says "In your photo, you must be facing forward and looking straight at the camera."
The Government of Canada says "Taken straight on, with face and shoulders centered and squared to the camera."
The Australians, passports.gov.au, offer "Face looking directly at the camera and not tilted in any direction."
I'd say that in each case, they are trying to give a clear, explicit description, and want to avoid using any "generally understood" terminology such as "full-face."
March 7, 2017
1
Facing directly to the camera.
March 7, 2017
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José Goris
Language Skills
Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Swedish
Learning Language
French, German, Italian, Swedish
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