The Eyes Are Driving Me Nuts

Bryce WilsonBryce Wilson Registered Users Posts: 1,586 Major grins
edited March 27, 2011 in People
For some reason, I am having trouble with eyes on my studio type close up shots. It's driving me crazy. I feel that what would be a nice shot is being ruined by either one eye looking larger than the other or the fact that it appears that each eye is looking in a slightly different direction.

Do any of you head shot guru's have an idea as to what is causing this? Is it my posing, lighting, angle of attack or something I'm not thinking of that is causing this? Any thoughts are appreciated as always.

Here are three examples of what I'm talking about.

1. One eye looks smaller than the other.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60399337@N06/5559036069/&quot; title="Babybellyposeforweb by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5255/5559036069_790a5678ec_z.jpg&quot; width="512" height="640" alt="Babybellyposeforweb" /></a>

2. Eyes look crossed.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60399337@N06/5559613680/&quot; title="DSC_2210web by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5053/5559613680_972280d1b9_z.jpg&quot; width="512" height="640" alt="DSC_2210web" /></a>

3. One eye appears to be looking in a different direction than the other.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60399337@N06/5559614120/&quot; title="DSC_3770web by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5099/5559614120_f522a3e129_z.jpg&quot; width="512" height="640" alt="DSC_3770web" /></a>

Comments

  • anonymouscubananonymouscuban Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 4,586 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2011
    I think it might be YOUR eyes because they all look fine to me. Great photos too.
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  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2011
    anonymouscuban wrote: »
    I think it might be YOUR eyes because they all look fine to me. Great photos too.

    15524779-Ti.gifagree remember no ones eyes are perfectly matched...some better than others yes....
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  • QarikQarik Registered Users Posts: 4,959 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2011
    look fine to me as well..also nice photos!
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  • reyvee61reyvee61 Registered Users Posts: 1,877 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2011
    Hmmmm
    I see perfectly beautiful portraits with normal eyes.
    It could be something that you are "tuned" into more than others are.
    My wife is like that as she will see things in a portrait that I can't see.
    Interesting....
    Yo soy Reynaldo
  • Bryce WilsonBryce Wilson Registered Users Posts: 1,586 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2011
    Well...
    Thank-you for the kind comments. Although I do tend to be over critical of myself when it comes to my finished results, I can't believe that I'm seeing things. I haven't had a drink in at least two days, I swear!

    On number one I guess I could chalk up the one eye being smaller due to a smile squint, but number two and three drive me to distraction.

    On number three, look how the eye to your left is looking directly at the lens and the eye on the right is looking up and to your left out of the frame. The difference in the amount of white between the pupil and nose on each eye is quite noticeable, at least to me.

    With number two, every time I look at it, it reminds me of a shot I saw years ago with a child that had a fly on their nose and was looking cross eyed at it.

    But, if you guys are good with it, I guess I should be too.
  • afev0602afev0602 Registered Users Posts: 166 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2011
    I actually see what you mean, however....I don't think it's something your doing--I think it's actually the children. I know my grandaughter has one eye that is never quite as open/large as the other and I tend to go back and tweak it a little if it's bugging me.

    I also notice that all 3 shots you provided are children and I seem to be pulling out of my head somewhere that small children's eyes still have a slight tendency to crossing or wandering....This may be google worthy.rolleyes1.gif
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  • anonymouscubananonymouscuban Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 4,586 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2011
    Dude... you've been staring at these way too long. I don't see any of the issues you've pointed out. Sure, with the first, maybe one eye has a slightly different shape than the other but I think it's just natural asymmetry of his face. Both eyes in #3 are staring directly at the lens. Lastly, I see absolutely no hint of his eyes being crossed.

    I think you might need a drink. :D
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  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2011
    anonymouscuban wrote: »
    I think you might need a drink. :D

    That could make it worse.....:D:D:D
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • zoomerzoomer Registered Users Posts: 3,688 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2011
    Don't overthink it, these look great.
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  • HackboneHackbone Registered Users Posts: 4,027 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2011
    I agree with you on 1 & 2. On #1 you could do a transform to open the right eye ever so slightly. With children more often than not I find that their eyes seem to develop later than the rest of them. I often have eyes not seeming to focus on the same spot. However you've got to go with what walks in the door. Good job on these, they are great.
    Charles
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  • reyvee61reyvee61 Registered Users Posts: 1,877 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2011
    Bryce Wilson wrote: »
    Thank-you for the kind comments. Although I do tend to be over critical of myself when it comes to my finished results, I can't believe that I'm seeing things. I haven't had a drink in at least two days, I swear!

    On number one I guess I could chalk up the one eye being smaller due to a smile squint, but number two and three drive me to distraction.

    On number three, look how the eye to your left is looking directly at the lens and the eye on the right is looking up and to your left out of the frame. The difference in the amount of white between the pupil and nose on each eye is quite noticeable, at least to me.

    With number two, every time I look at it, it reminds me of a shot I saw years ago with a child that had a fly on their nose and was looking cross eyed at it.

    But, if you guys are good with it, I guess I should be too.

    Now that you specified more precisely I can see it but I've always considered that to be a part of development and nothing we can do much about. I have three kids of my own and six grandkids, the littles ones display some of these "traits" as well.
    I don't think parents even notice stuff like that.
    Yo soy Reynaldo
  • AllenAllen Registered Users Posts: 10,013 Major grins
    edited March 26, 2011
    They look fine here. The thing that bothers me is the huge reflection in each
    eye. To me seeing these reflections from a window, lighting reflectors, etc. really
    distract in closeup portraits.
    Al - Just a volunteer here having fun
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  • angevin1angevin1 Registered Users Posts: 3,403 Major grins
    edited March 26, 2011
    Bryce Wilson wrote: »
    Thank-you for the kind comments. Although I do tend to be over critical of myself when it comes to my finished results, I can't believe that I'm seeing things. I haven't had a drink in at least two days, I swear!

    On number one I guess I could chalk up the one eye being smaller due to a smile squint, but number two and three drive me to distraction.

    On number three, look how the eye to your left is looking directly at the lens and the eye on the right is looking up and to your left out of the frame. The difference in the amount of white between the pupil and nose on each eye is quite noticeable, at least to me.

    With number two, every time I look at it, it reminds me of a shot I saw years ago with a child that had a fly on their nose and was looking cross eyed at it.

    But, if you guys are good with it, I guess I should be too.

    Your photos really are very nice!

    How close were you? if you were closer than say ten feet, then expect eyes to have to narrow their focus, hence beginning to look cross eyed.

    Our bodies are two halves put together or grown together in the womb. Each side will have differences from the other. Symmetry like we often see in some drawing/art can make a Being look other worldly, because in this world Asymmetry rules!

    These are really cute kids!
    tom wise
  • Bryce WilsonBryce Wilson Registered Users Posts: 1,586 Major grins
    edited March 26, 2011
    angevin1 wrote: »
    Your photos really are very nice!

    How close were you? if you were closer than say ten feet, then expect eyes to have to narrow their focus, hence beginning to look cross eyed.

    Our bodies are two halves put together or grown together in the womb. Each side will have differences from the other. Symmetry like we often see in some drawing/art can make a Being look other worldly, because in this world Asymmetry rules!

    These are really cute kids!

    Thanks...

    Bingo, I think you have hit upon the problem/solution. All three were taken hand-held at a distance from the subject somewhere under five feet. I guess it might be time to invest in a cable release for my digital body's, AND clean out a little more space in my garage.:D

    Thanks for taking the time to figure this out and present a solution. It is most appreciated.
  • AndeeAndee Registered Users Posts: 123 Major grins
    edited March 26, 2011
    I would agree with Charles on the tool suggestion if it bugs you that much. And use it slightly as he mentioned. These look very nice. An as was mentioned as well ,we all have one entire side of our body that is larger than the other just start looking at that on others and that can be very distracting as well. Hopefully you can see that is one of the amazing things about the human form and try not to focus on it as much. Also the side the eye that looks smaller might be the side that has a tad more of a shadow on it making seem smaller or the side of the camera it was taken from making it appear smaller. But to most folks I do not think they are going to see it and I bet the parents/family of these little ons wold be thrilled with all of these shots. Hopefully you did not mention that to them as I rather imagine they never would see it unless pointed out then they may look at you with confusion. These are very nice. But if you notice one side larger than the other try shooting in such a way to make the other side look larger. But again these are nice and from the other comments unless pointed it out most would not see it as these are little cutie pies and that is all you see! Hang in there. Don't drive yourself nuts!
    ~ANDEE~

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  • l.k.madisonl.k.madison Registered Users Posts: 542 Major grins
    edited March 27, 2011
    They look fine to me - I only notice it when you point it out in the last example, but if I was her mom, I'd buy it.

    I have one eye that ALWAYS squinches up when I smile - to the point that the photographer I used in high school would have to remind me to do the 'eye trick'. It's simple: have them close their eyes (the ones that are old enough to do this for you), count to three, and on three they open and about half a second later, you click. It forces their eyes to have a more natural open look without cheeks making them look closed.

    But yes, it is a developmental thing -especially in babies. Their eye muscles are very weak and they often can't hold both looking at the same thing for a long period of time. As far as the last little girl, that's just her. Nobody's symmetrical, promise. :)

    Honestly, I say give it to mom and dad, if they want you to fix it, then fix it otherwise, they probably wouldn't even notice if you did.

    This is the only time I've ever messed with eyes. It took the magic lasso, drawing a loose circle around her eye, opening it up in a file by itself, flipping it then putting it back over her other one. A few opacity tricks, some tugging and pulling and some erasing and it was fixed. This sweetie was sooo sick but it was the only time Mom and I could do it, so I had to work with what I had. I know this little girl pretty well and I only notice the eye that got fixed when I see the original.
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  • Bryce WilsonBryce Wilson Registered Users Posts: 1,586 Major grins
    edited March 27, 2011
    Thank-you one and all for the feedback you have provided.

    And the learning continues...
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