critical eye

So, here is something I've been mulling over, and thinking about. Yeah, I do tend to over-think things. I know I do. Sometimes, like now, I'd like a little input from others to moderate my own over-thinking.

Its about photographs. Of me. I make stuff, and I like to show what I've made, which means if I make it for me, its likely to be a photograph of me. Not that I'm so photogenic, or should have become a supermodel because... well... look at that bone structure. No. I'm fat. And no spring chicken. My best days for being photographed probably happened in the 60's. Yeah, that would be the 1960's. When I was a kid. So, I'm not asking which photo makes me look fat. The fat makes me look fat, and the photo just gives you a medium to see it.

Still, that being said, some photos seem to me to be more flattering than others. I just want to know if I'm being hypersensitive/critical or if I'm actually learning something about photography. Let's take this photograph first:

photo by Ron, while standing

I was standing, Ron was standing. Since he is taller, its taken slightly from above.  Next, there is this one taken the other day by Roxanne, who was seated at the time, so it is taken from a slightly lower perspective:

photo by Roxane, while seated (my new shirt, yay)

Differences in lighting aside, this second one really seems to emphasize my mid-section. Not an area that NEEDS to be emphasized, I might add. Is it the angle of the photograph? The cut of the clothing? Both tops have a similar fit around that mid-section... Or, is it just me? Are both of these photos just 'pictures of Dina?' Hmmmm??