unretouched photos - I love the reality check! where else to find doses of reality?

[xty]

I find it very hard mentally to grasp what "real" people look like. Especially when even the people who are paid the most for their physical perfection are retouched before I see the pics!

Now, I can tell myself real people dont look like runway models. I truly get that, I dont need to be a foot taller, have a boy's frame, stop eating or look 15.

But people my age/ideal weight/shape, what do they look like naked?! Do they have wrinkles or cellulite or loose skin even if they werent obese? What is the range?

Two really great helps for me, reality checks if you will:
- unretouched photos! pix recently linked of Madonna untouched pix from her D&G shoot. I also loved the untouched pix of Faith Hill and Kim Kardashian.
- ymca locker room. OK I dont mean to sound creepy, Im not staring or looking inappropriately. But people are naked in the locker room and so of course I notice. And man I feel amazing that they are not perfect.
- videos. Haha, I sometimes take camera phone videos of myself...and ok sometimes naked....just to see how stuff jiggles or the view others would get. Then immediately delete them. lol. I find I dont look as bad in them as I do when Im staring down at my own self.

I cant be the only person that thinks this way....are there any other ways you guys use to help reality check yourself?

[4star]

No one is perfect. I think they should show unretouched photos more often. It would really help fix the misperceptions and unrealistic expectations of women. I don't know any one who's gotten to 40 without a few wrinkles.

No one truly has a porcelain complexion unless they are a porcelain doll. We are all flawed but flaws can be beautiful if you find beauty in them.

[Number8]

Working in the art industry I guess I'm just more aware not only of how often this is done- but the extent of re-touching that can happen.
It's not just thinned and smoothed- some images are compilations of 2+ images and sometimes 2+ models!
Also Runway models are re-touched too, they're wearing fake lashes, hair pieces. They have make up on their whole body, concealer on any part shown, they may have tans air brushed on.
Unless you have a team of professional fallowing you around and are willing to have them trowel concealer on your butt no professional beauty media of any kind is realistic.

[saef]

willing to have them trowel concealer on your butt

Favorite. Post. Of. The. Day.

Maybe of the month, too.

[xty]

Number8 - wow, that is even further than I had realized!

[serendipiggy]

I don't have the ability to post links yet, but search for 'photo retouch portfolio' or the like. A lot of digital touch up artist portfolios will have examples of before and after,... Its pretty amazing and sad that a lot of us aspire to a level of 'beauty' that isn't even attainable. Anyhoo, anyone with link posting rights can go ahead and link to some good ones

[matt_H]

I'm sure most people have seen the "real weight and height pictures". Its a cool project that gives real photos of people at different heights and weights.

I submitted a photo there YEARS ago and never heard back. I don't think this is updated anymore as the same photos have been there forever.

http://www.cockeyed.com/photos/bodie...htweight.shtml

[xty]

thanks Matt! I saw that link in another thread, love it. Also like this site: http://www.mybodygallery.com (dunno if I can post URLs yet? its mybodygallery dot com)

[matt_H]

Thanks xty! Unfortunately, they don't have pictures of men there. They should stop being so sexist!

[imperialistic]

I love seeing retouched photos too. As I get closer to my goal weight, I've started to accept the fact that just by losing the weight, I'm not magically going to have an A&F flyer girl's body, no matter how skinny I get.
Those two websites are great. You really get an awesome perspective.