Two Catchlights A No-No ???

Bryce Wilson

In some instances, when doing portraiture, I find it easier to use a second fill light rather than a reflector to soften shadows. Recently, I was roundly chastised for an image in which two catch lights were visible in the eyes of the subject.

Thought I would throw it up for debate here. Does the small secondary catch light detract from these images?

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novicesnapper

Wow, really? I guess it was a good thing you didn't use a ring light then. I do like a nice catch light, but it's not a deal breaker. Butttt when I see two humongous softboxes staring at me, with a slit for pupils (cat eyes), that does detract imo. Want to mess with people, put several PP catch lights in lol.

reyvee61

Wow, I've never heard such a thing really.
I don't see anything wrong with these at all

D3Sshooter

I would say 2 is OK, one in each eye . Here I see 3 (2+1) that is less OK for me.
In certain light modes two will work per eye (clamp). But overall we tend to settle for one in each eye at 10 to 10.
But at the end its all about taste and can differ from scene to scene. So , as always I would not dear to make a firm statement one or two or more...

jpc

... Does the small secondary catch light detract from these images?

IMO, yes, absolutely. I use two soft boxes and clone one set of catch lights out. You're not left with much iris after you cover it with a second catch light.

reyvee61

The other thought is to use a modeling lamp or something so the the pupils dilate so that more of the iris shows.

Gotham

Go look at the cover of any major beauty magazine -- half the shots will have more than one catchlight in each eye. A standard clamshell beauty shot will have one on the top and one on the bottom. It's a matter of taste, but it's certainly not wrong. But as jpc says, you can always clone one out (or both for that matter).

Icebear

So, what do you do when you're shooting in window light, or outside, or in any number of natural settings where the "scene" reflected in the eyes isn't a precise rectangle or perfect circle? Look, if the catchlights are pleasing that's all that counts. To say there's some rule that you can't have two catchlights is just silly. The examples you posted are fine to my eye.

Hackbone

At times it is impossible to not have two. When I can I will clone out 1 if not I work up the other catchlight to lessen the second. By the way this bothers photographers more than it does clients!!

kdog

Never delete catchlights. They are necessary so that other photographers can figure out your lighting!

slpollett

I think it depends upon the eyes and the catchlights. The ones in your examples do not bother me at all. My favorite images of my daughter have 2 catchlights in each eye. I think it depends upon how big the irises are and how big the catchlights are. Only you (& maybe your client) can decide if it is distracting. I think done correctly, they are fine.

Just my thoughts for what they are worth.

Sherry

zoomer

2 catchlights, so what.
If you have catchlights that bug you get rid of them. Shooting outdoor there are catchlights all over the eye.

jpc

Icebear wrote: »

So, what do you do when you're shooting in window light, or outside, or in any number of natural settings where the "scene" reflected in the eyes isn't a precise rectangle or perfect circle? Look, if the catchlights are pleasing that's all that counts. To say there's some rule that you can't have two catchlights is just silly. The examples you posted are fine to my eye.

There's no "rule". Just opinions. I do agree that reflections from natural light are far less of an issue than reflections from soft boxes.

eL eSs Vee

When I first started out with photography, back in the early '80s, I'd been told that one catch light was all you needed, because we have only one sun. After all, we don't live on Tatooine. Personally, I don't care how many catch lights there are, as long as they don't distract from the eyes. I've deleted some, leaving only one, because it looked better than two huge catch lights. I've also left three per eye. If I find them distracting, I'll delete the offending ones. Make it your own choice.

ForceGhost

eL eSs Vee wrote: »

After all, we don't live on Tatooine.

Speak for yourself! :ivar

D'Buggs

Catch lights are as much part of a photograph as is the subject. IMO if you start tweaking with them, the overall image becomes compromised.

Icebear

D'Buggs wrote: »

Catch lights are as much part of a photograph as is the subject. IMO if you start tweaking with them, the overall image becomes compromised.

I never claimed to be a photojournalist .

Hackbone

Here is one with two catch lights and not.

1. Just looking at the eyes which one do you like?

2. For those purists which one would you like if this was your daughter.

3. No raggin on me for the hot shoulder. I totally missed catching that and will probably ask her to come in again for that mistake.