Portraiture & Eyes...any tips???

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/13/2006 06:47:23 PM · #1

I really love pictures where the eyes are so clear and glassy looking. Here are a few examples I found here at DPC that I like:

Here is one of mine for comparison (sorry, I don't have it on DPC right now)
Charmer

They eye is not terrible in mine, and is one of my favorite and better portraits I have done of my son. This is about as 'glassy' as the eyes in my portraits get.

Any tips??? The examples I posted above just draw you right into the eyes, and that is what I love about them.

Thanks :)
Jenn

blazingmoonlight

Canon EOS-5D

03/13/2006 06:51:18 PM · #2

Looks like they're dodging the eyes in Photoshop (all were advanced editing)...also, the larger the lightsource (overcast sky, softbox, etc.) the larger the catchlights will be in the eyes. From your portrait I'd say you just need to do a bit of dodging.

03/13/2006 06:55:59 PM · #3

Originally posted by blazingmoonlight:

Ah, so it is just a matter of some post-processing and not technique???

fotomann_forever

03/13/2006 06:56:35 PM · #4

What you are calling glassy appears to me to be catch lights. This is the reflection in the subjects eyes.

Psychology speaking catch lights make the subject appear alive. Thus, a total absence of these reflcections appears cold and lifeless.

Commonly you want only one catch light in a subjects eye. Meanin on one light source should reach the subjects eye.

Also, catch lights take the shape of the light source. A square flash will produce a square catch.

I may be mistaken, but this one appears to be produced by lightsphere with it's wide width.

Also, in portraiture, you want focus centered on the eyes. They should be the absolute sharpest part of the face.

03/13/2006 06:59:26 PM · #5

Well, I am familiar with catchlights, and as you see in mine I do have a catchlight from an umbrella.

However, my eye seem to have a more "matte' look than 'glossy' look. Maybe that better describes what I am after :)

fotomann_forever

03/13/2006 07:08:21 PM · #6

Ahh, ok... was looking for something common in the images.

Did a second glance for the glossy look you are talking about... looks like they share a bit of burning to the irises (in the shadow end of the burn tool) and perhaps a bit of dodging in other areas. Maybe that helps.

Message edited by author 2006-03-13 19:09:38.

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

03/13/2006 07:11:03 PM · #7

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

yes, thank you. Looks like I should practice some dodging and burning. :)

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

03/13/2006 07:11:52 PM · #8

Yeah it looks like dodge/burn or other contrast boosting tools in post.

ETA: Nice photo btw.

Message edited by author 2006-03-13 19:12:34.

03/13/2006 07:19:36 PM · #9

Anyone have any links to tutorials on effective burning/dodging? It is one thing in PS I have not played with all that much.

jenesis

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/13/2006 07:36:25 PM · #10

I got some great advice from Sher once during the now defunt Portrait Mentorship thread. It's made a huge difference to my portraits so I thought I'd share it here. Hope she doesn't mind. :-)

Originally posted by sher9204:

i really like the lighting here so basically, all i did was adjust the levels. i did a bit of basic healing and cloning set at a very low opacity. then i zoomed in and dodged the iris of the eyes with a hard, round brush set at about 4% and set to Highlights. i made several passes until i got it to the degree i wanted. i also slightly dodged the whites of his eyes. then i sharpened using Sharpen (i'm not a big fan of USM). then i Faded Sharpen to about 80%.

It doesn't say it here but it's best to zoom in around 200% when doing this. Hope it helps some.

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

03/13/2006 07:43:21 PM · #11

Originally posted by jenesis:

I got some great advice from Sher once during the now defunt Portrait Mentorship thread. It's made a huge difference to my portraits so I thought I'd share it here. Hope she doesn't mind. :-)

Originally posted by sher9204:

i really like the lighting here so basically, all i did was adjust the levels. i did a bit of basic healing and cloning set at a very low opacity. then i zoomed in and dodged the iris of the eyes with a hard, round brush set at about 4% and set to Highlights. i made several passes until i got it to the degree i wanted. i also slightly dodged the whites of his eyes. then i sharpened using Sharpen (i'm not a big fan of USM). then i Faded Sharpen to about 80%.

I appreciate the link, thanks :)
It doesn't say it here but it's best to zoom in around 200% when doing this. Hope it helps some.

sir_bazz

Pentax K-5

Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 AF

03/13/2006 07:45:07 PM · #12

Looks like all it needs is a bit of selective USM to me. :shrugs shoulders:

cheers,
bazz.

adyus

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

03/13/2006 07:46:23 PM · #13

As for shooting, it helps if you ask your subject to blink a couple of times just before you take the shot, as the eyes will be slightly shinier from the extra moisture.

Hope it helps :) I was wondering how the "old" film masters did it...