Photographing recommendations
The best way to get good clear photos of your condition is to take the picture where there is natural light available. This does not necessarily mean you have to go outside. However, you will want to make sure that you are not trying to get the photographs at a time of day when you will need to use your flash to take the photo. If you have ever taken pictures of people in front of a bright and sunny window, you will understand this concept very well. When the camera looks at the window, it tries to compensate for the brightness by darkening the subject in front of the window that you are trying to photograph. There are only two ways to compensate for that. One, position the subject in a place where the light and darkness are more evenly distributed such as against the wall that the sun is shining on, or use your flash.
For our purposes, please find neutral lighting. Using the flash will likely fade out the true texture of your skin condition.
Use natural lighting with even distribution.
Use a white or light colored background or cloth.
Be consistent throughout
When you take the "before" pictures, pay attention to the conditions that you were in when you took them. Be consistent with the following things throughout the rest of the study:
- The lighting
- The background should be similar as well.. A brighter or lighter background often shows more defects and texture.
- The camera that you use to take the photos.
- The angle or position that you use to take them. You will want to try to duplicate that as much as possible every time that you do a progress picture.
- Distance from the subject
Good example - background is similar, lighting is slightly brighter on the "after" photo but still acceptable, position is nearly identical, however, the background should be lighter.
Excellent example - lighting, background, position, and all factors seem to be nearly identical
Poor example - Although this foot appears to have improved dramatically, it does not look as credible because there is a difference in nearly every aspect of the photography. On the healthy foot, it has been placed on a brighter, healthier red background and it is shot from a greater distance which hides possible imperfections. It is difficult to even determine if this is the same person's foot because the toes are cut out of the picture on the original. The lighting is much brighter on the "before" picture as well which emphasizes the scaliness of the skin.
Use a solid light color cloth or surface as a backdrop for the photo. The lighter colors will allow more of the skin's detail and texture to show. Use that same back drop every time that you take a followup picture. You can also use that background to gage how close you are to having the same lighting conditions because the background will be the first area that will show a difference in color, tone, or lighting.
Excellent example - lighting, background, position, and all factors seem to be very close. Although the background is slightly different, the closeup lighting appears to compensate for the difference.
Moderate example - The biggest defect is that the distance between the camera and the subject is different. The "after" picture is from a greater distance that can exaggerate any improvements.
Excellent example - lighting, background, position, and all factors seem to be very close. My only objection is that the "before" picture is up closer than the "after" picture.
Remember... we want to show what NewdermEO can do to HEAL a skin condition...not what a camera can do to HIDE a skin condition.
Taking the photographs is the key to having an accurate record of progress...
Start with freshly cleaned skin for the "before" photo.
The first photos you take need to be showing the skin condition without any type of lotion, cream, or other treatment applied to it. This means no NewdermEO as well. This is the baseline photo that we will use to measure the effectiveness of NewdermEO for treating your type of dermatitis.
First, freshly wash your skin and allow it to dry completely without applying moisturizer or any other thing. We want to see the affected area in the most realistic and normal condition possible.
Although I can not ask you to discontinue using a prescription or some other treatment, we will not be able to determine which treatment made any improvements or negative side affects if you are using NewedermEO as well as another treatment. It is very important that you discontinue other external treatments if you want to participate in the trial.
Any followup photos can be taken at any time as long as NewdermEO is the only treatment that has been applied to the area and that you wait about 3-5 minutes after it is applied to allow the lotion to soak in completely.