[HPforGrownups] Re: Wizard Photographs and Paintings

[Hana]

No: HPFGUIDX 42382

Kristin said:
>>I would just assume that the photo captures your
personality at the moment and the image mildly reacts
to what is going on around it.<< 

How about this idea: a Muggle photograph is a moment frozen in time, and a wizard photograph is similar but not quite as frozen ;) It might be more like a small section of home video perhaps.

Another idea is that in the past people have thought that photographs capture a part of the soul (thats why some people were afraid having their picture taken)  maybe this is how the developing potion works  a Muggle camera captures a part of the soul but it cant be activated without the developing potion.


Kristin said:
>>A more intersting question is the paintings...the
paintings don;t merely smile and wave. They have
personalities. The Fat Lady gets annoyed when she is
bothered for no reason, she gets scared and
embarrassed (PoA) and she has a friend, Violet (GoF0
who she gets drunk with off chocolate liquers at
X-Mas. Sir Cadogan has a distinct personality as well.
Why does a painting capture a complete interactive
personality where as a photo is emrely a reflection of
the person at the moment it was taken. You can not
talk to the photos as you can paintings.<<

It could be that the essence of a person is captured once the painting is finished  perhaps the painter (being a wizard or witch) casts a charm that brings the painting to life when its done.  It would be just like that person up until the moment the painting was finished.  It would be quite interesting I think because if someone such as Sirius had his portrait done while in school and then Sirius himself encountered his portrait after 12 years in Azkaban Id say there would be a huge personality difference.  The same would go for a child whos portrait was painted.

Heres some more food for thought:  
I know the picture of Dumbledore on the card left in book one, but Ron said Well, you cant expect him to hang around all day (PS 77).  Does this mean that the card pictures are showing the ~real~ picture?  The photograph wouldnt have anything better to do after all.  But what would this mean about the Chocolate Frog Cards of dead wizards and witches?
Also, I cant remember off hand, but do the photographs actually ~do~ things other than what the subjects were doing at the time?

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--Hana




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