Off Topic - Body Proportions? - DPChallenge Forums

05/24/2005 08:04:17 AM · #1

Hey,
I know this is a little off topic, but I've searched the web and can't find it anywhere, so maybe somebody here can help...

Basically, what I'm looking for is "typical" proportions of the human body when viewed from directly overhead. Like, how much do the shoulders stick out from the head side to side? How "thick" are the shoulders front to back relative to the head? Do the toes or heels stick out in front or behind, and if so, how much? How big is the head relative to the body? How long are the upper and lower arms relative to the shoulder width? Etc etc etc. I relaize everyone is different, but looking for just the average relative proportions... Actual absolute size doesn't matter as much, what I'm looking for is the relative sizes of all the "pieces" to each other.

So what I was looking for is something like a picture or sketch or silhouette of one of those wooden figure dolls from directly above, with maybe their arms reaching forward/to the side (so you can see them) and their legs/feet just standing straight up under the body.

Does anyone around here have such a picture? Or know where I can find one? If worst comes to worst, I'll go buy one of those dolls and take my own picture of it. But since my camera is on it's way to the repair shop right now, I'd have to wait a week or two for that... :-(

So, if anybody can point me to a good resource on line for such a thing as this, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

Doug

BlackDot

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

05/24/2005 08:17:59 AM · #2

I'm at work now, so I can't provide a link, but search for Andrew Loomis. His explanations on basic anatomy and proportions were used in everything from Superman cartoons to modern day art classes. There are whole e-books with pictures available on the internet.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Nikon

05/24/2005 08:27:47 AM · #3

Great! I'll go try to find some of it. Thanks.

Apple iPhone

05/24/2005 08:29:00 AM · #4

Sorry its Early and Redwood's arm wouldn't behave so its curved to the front.

Andrew Loomis - check at Creative Illustration

Message edited by author 2005-05-24 08:33:09.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Nikon

05/24/2005 08:58:00 AM · #5

Hey di53, that's just the kind of thing I was looking for! Thanks, I really appreciate you doing that for me. DPCers are great. And the arm bent is no problem at all. I'm going to be making some rough (electroinic) sketches with arms in different positions, so the bent one might even help. I'm trying to lay out some basketball positions for a team, and use them for teaching purposes. Viewing the players from overhead kind of thing.

And BlackDot, man, I searched for Andrew Loomis, and found all kinds of good stuff...if I had any artistic talent myself, I'd try drawing some of the examples he does...very neat. But, I have yet to find in any of his stuff something from directly overhead. I'll keep looking some more though (but seems di53 has prety much nailed it), that angle must be very little used... Thanks for the pointer to his stuff, it is most interesting.

Doug

Apple iPhone

05/24/2005 09:33:24 AM · #6

Hey no problem.... Redwood was standing around looking for something to do, ::wink::

Beetle

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

05/24/2005 09:44:28 AM · #7

Grab a friend and a camera and head for the nearest balcony/landing/deck/porch/treehouse etc and take a bunch of different photos from above.