How do you people take the pictures for the green card lottery?

[roniy]

I've been trying to contact immigration centers and asked them if they could take a picture and email it to me or copy it to my memory card, but they wouldn't do it!

The problem is, if I get the picture printed, I need to scan it and then I have to modify it with Photoshop( and modifying is not allowed as far as I know)...

I was thinking of taking the picture myself. I have a digital camera but I don't know how to do it correctly. I mean, if the zoom is normal, how far away from the person should I stand in order to get the exact size and everything??

Do you have any instructions for that ?


Thanks in advance,
Roni.

 

[7ooDa]

4 feet from the person

 

[E59th]

I've been trying to contact immigration centers and asked them if they could take a picture and email it to me or copy it to my memory card, but they wouldn't do it!

The problem is, if I get the picture printed, I need to scan it and then I have to modify it with Photoshop( and modifying is not allowed as far as I know)...

I was thinking of taking the picture myself. I have a digital camera but I don't know how to do it correctly. I mean, if the zoom is normal, how far away from the person should I stand in order to get the exact size and everything??

Do you have any instructions for that ?


Thanks in advance,
Roni.

Modifying in DV means adding silly, irrelevant objects to the photo, such as doodles. If you take this rule too strictly, even cropping the image to the required size wouldn't be allowed. I used Photoshop's automatic contrast and color option because the pic was a little 'flat', and I don't see how they are ever going to find out. Besides, I don't think they care, as long as the photo appears right to the physical eye. Even professional photo places do 'enhancements' for color and contrast in this digital day and age. Just keep it limited, I would say.
I set up my camera against a white door that I had opened so that day light hit the door directly and not in an angle (wait until the right time of the day and don't take it in direct sunlight). In the first few shots there was an almost invisible shadow on the right side of my head, so I just used a lamp to disguise it. Worked perfectly.

Good luck!