Thank you.
What are you supposed to say when your partner asks you “do I look 10 pounds heavier than I really am?”
Regarding my explanation above: I’m an artist, not a scientist and when I try to get technical I usually don’t do a great job. In this case, although the cylinder versus sphere comparison is useful, most of the change in proportion doesn’t come from seeing less than 180 degrees of the cylinder as you get closer.
At least I don’t think so.
I think the change in proportion is chiefly due to the “exaggerated perspective” effect that shows up when photographing from a very close distance. It’s the same effect you get by holding one index finger 3" from your eye and your other finger 7" from your eye. The more distant finger is only 2/3s the apparent size of the nearer finger.
In a wide angle close-up, the vertical axis of the head – including the chin and forehead and bangs – is mostly close to the camera. It’s comparable to the index finger that you held 3" from your eye. The horizontal axis of the head includes the ears and hair on the left and right sides – those items are a long way from the camera and are comparable to the index finger held 7" from eye.