Problem with the Eyes?? - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

05/20/2008 11:02:35 AM · #1

So, I've been taking headshots for actors for about 8 months now, and I think I'm getting pretty good at it (IMHO). :) I have built up a pretty good client base just from word of mouth. But yesterday I got something pointed out to me that I don't know how to fix.

In this woman's picture, the pupils were basically just me, the photographer, and some of the background. It was actually my free study entry. But nobody had commented about it.

I've noticed this in a lot of headshots - not just ones taken by me, but actor's headshots in general.

My question is, how do I get that not to happen? It doesn't happen in every shot, but in a large majority of them. Does this happen for anyone else? Is it a bad thing? How do you avoid it?

Thanks everyone.

Message edited by author 2008-05-20 11:04:22.

Dirt_Diver

Nikon D3s

05/20/2008 11:10:33 AM · #2

In processing you can clone it out, blur it out or just leave it in. I like it when it does that. You have very good catch lights and depth. If you wanted to remove it when shooting, diffuse the background and shoot with a large diffuser of some kind. Something like this comes to mind but there are many other types. I use a 5-1 that I got from ebay.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

05/20/2008 11:13:49 AM · #3

Thank you, dirtdiver. I like it when it does it too, but they gave me a complex when they mentioned it. She still wants me to fix it in photoshop. But now I just have to either diffuse the background like you suggested (thank you for that), or hope they like that effect as well. *sigh*

wehrmacher

Pentax K10D

05/20/2008 11:16:23 AM · #4

Hi,

I am not a portrait photographer, but I would like to offer a suggestion for what it is worth...

I think the phographer shows in the eyes because they are between a light source(s) and the eye or a light is reflecting off you and into the eye. So, wear dark clothes and stay behind or well away from light sources. I think this is why I have seen photographers using remote control shutter releases. Many of the photos I see have the photographer in the eye of the subject.

BTW, I reviewed some of your shots and IMNSHO, you are a pretty good portrait photographer.

Bill

lovethelight

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

05/20/2008 11:35:13 AM · #5

Originally posted by magenmarie:

She wants you to fix it? How in the world can you fix it? The eye is reflecting the lights in the background which is a reflection of the scene behind you, what can you do to get rid of that? hmmm

As for preventing that in the future, try avoiding shooting in situations that are ridiculously bright behind you. For example

[thumb]560091[/thumb] this was taken on a covered porch and most of the light was coming from the area outside of the porch, but because a lot of what was behind me was dark floor and the ceiling of the porch, I got a smaller catchlight from the light source.

[thumb]571887[/thumb] This was taken with the light coming from to the side and slightly behind her and I used a white soft reflector to bounce the light back at her face. This reduced the catch lights because we were both in the shade and all of the scene behind me was also in the shade, so it wasn't reflected in her eye.

This is another shot taken on that porch I mentioned, but we shot right at the edge of the porch with the porch on her right and my left. Because we were closer to the wide open bright area there is more of the her eye reflecting it, but it was to her side and not right behind me, which left half of her eyes intact.

Hope this helps
Claire

citymars

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

05/20/2008 11:35:39 AM · #6

Interesting "problem" -- it looks to me like you are standing in front of the main light source. Would just stepping to the side take care of it (using a cable release, as others have suggested)?

wehrmacher

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

05/20/2008 12:25:30 PM · #7

another comment regarding fixing the issue... after it is "in the can"

You certainly couldn't do much with images of the resolution in DPC, but with the original, you might make a copy of the eye(s) containing the extra reflection, flip the copy upside down or rotate it so that the copy now has no reflection in the relative area the original has reflection. Mask out the parts of the copy where you want to see the original. Blend the edges so there are no obvious steps in the new parts of the eye.

I have done something similar to this to fix closed eyes, but never to remove reflections.

Hope this helps with your eye surgery problem.

Bill

hanneke

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/20/2008 12:31:49 PM · #8

you could use the burn tool to make the surroundings in the eye a little darker, so you don't stand out so clear..

to be honest, I love reflections, especially when the photographer is in it. seems like a little signature :)

Message edited by author 2008-05-20 12:32:15.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

05/20/2008 11:00:06 PM · #9

Thank you for all of the feedback, everyone. I ended up photoshopping it for her. But I have to say that I like when my reflection is in their pupils! :) Like Hanneke said, it's like a little signature. :)

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

05/20/2008 11:12:18 PM · #10

Back to the original image: It's shot outdoors for sure. The model's looking *right* at you, so whatever's directly behind you, plus you yourself, will be reflected. You can avoid/minimize it by having her not look directly at you, for one thing. But something else: not only are you outdoors, you're shooting DOWN on her, she's looking UP at you, and so naturally the reflection will have a lot of bright sky in it. So your silhouette is particularly pronounced, being against the sky and all...

And, given the pose and the location, there's not really an easy way around that; the "scrim" idea just changes the light area against which you are silhouetted. Of course, a very large scrim with s hotting port you can stick the lens through will mask you out, LOL, but that's not real practical and anyway it would produce a weird catchlight all on its own, if it was backlit by the sun anyway :-)

R.

thegrandwazoo

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

05/20/2008 11:15:21 PM · #11

Catch lights are completely subjective but I love them and they are a classic technique as well. I say leave them!