Left eye gets blurred from having it shut...

[Addicted2Shooting]

Almost every session I have my left eye is giving me problems from having it closed for too long. Is there something I'm not doing right?

[number six]

Old vaudeville joke (from 80 years ago):

"Doc, it hurts when I do this."

"Well, stupid, don't do it!" (Bang on the head with a mallet.)



Try shooting with your left eye open. Not as strange as it sounds.

-js

[Addicted2Shooting]

Yeah but I feel more focused when my left eye is closed

[number six]

Yeah but I feel more focused when my left eye is closed

Yep, I know. So do I. But give it a try - takes time to train your brain...

[fotoworx]

Lots of 'togs shoot with both eyes open.

[rral22]

Almost every good photographer, rifle, or shotgun shooter I know shoots with both eyes open. Learn to do it that way. There are lots of advantages, and all it takes is practice.

[gjl711]

SHoot, both cameras and firearms with both eyes open. YOu get use to it pretty quickly. It's amazing at how adaptable your brain is.

[ryant35]

Yup. Both eyes open. You get used to in in no time.

[MS-18E]

Almost every session I have my left eye is giving me problems from having it closed for too long. Is there something I'm not doing right?

I have the same exact problem! It takes me quite awhile for my left eye to get back to original focus and it always freaks me out. At first I kept cleaning my glasses thinking it must have gotten smudged pressing against the camera. At least know I know its not just me. I'll try to shoot with both eyes open from now on, or look through my left eye since then the right eye will be covered behind the camera body.

[BottomBracket]

Yup. Both eyes open. You get used to in in no time.

It's certainly better than both eyes closed, that's for sure.

[Addicted2Shooting]

Yeah this is going to take a while. I just tried shooting with both eyes open and the pictures came out blurry.

[ryant35]

You should also be shooting with your dominant eye.
http://drawsketch.about.com/cs/howtoindex/ht/eye_dominance.htm

You also need to considerate on just the eye you are shooting with. Once you get used to this you can watch your surroundings or track your subject with your other eye.

I learned this shooting short course off road races to avoid getting run over.

[reneethomas]

I hate to admit this but I never paid attention to whether or not I shot with one eye closed. Not only did I pay attention when I pulled my camera out today I was shocked. For some reason I shoot with my left eye! I never noticed! Not only that but apparently I keep both eyes open most of the time! I noticed when shooting macro I will sometimes shoot with one eye closed but usually use the one eye for spotting so it stays open. For other shots both my eyes are open.

PS. I am right handed to boot! I have always been odd so I guess I should not be too shocked! :p

[ryant35]

I hate to admit this but I never paid attention to whether or not I shot with one eye closed. Not only did I pay attention when I pulled my camera out today I was shocked. For some reason I shoot with my left eye! I never noticed! Not only that but apparently I keep both eyes open most of the time! I noticed when shooting macro I will sometimes shoot with one eye closed but usually use the one eye for spotting so it stays open. For other shots both my eyes are open.

PS. I am right handed to boot! I have always been odd so I guess I should not be too shocked! :p

I'm right handed and I also shoot with my left eye. And I kick with my right foot...

[mr7q]

I'd recommend the both eyes open method. As an avid shooter, it comes a bit naturally to me when using a camera instead of a rifle. If you're using a lens with a decent zoom, it also helps you maintain a little bit of spatial awareness.

Of course, you could also get an eyepatch, and do it that way. But then you'd need a hook. And a pegleg. And a hat with a sweet feather in it. And an awesome accent. See? You can't lose! :)

[cspratt]

Best solution is to "train" yourself by using an eye patch, then over time lengthen the time you don't need it. Soon your brain will allow you to "shut off" the one eye not being used for focusing.

[alabama1980]

It's certainly better than both eyes closed, that's for sure.

Ha! I take my best images when I shut both of 'em....spray and pray!! :)

It does take a while to do it with both eyes open, but after reading another post on the subject I've been practicing....it really is easier than it sounds!

[Kendoway]

I'm glad I found this thread. I'm a right handed person who also shoots "left eye", and I get this same problem of a tired right eye from keeping it tightly closed. I'm going to try the "both eyes open" technique and see if it helps.

[RDKirk]

I'd recommend the both eyes open method. As an avid shooter, it comes a bit naturally to me when using a camera instead of a rifle. If you're using a lens with a decent zoom, it also helps you maintain a little bit of spatial awareness.

Of course, you could also get an eyepatch, and do it that way. But then you'd need a hook. And a pegleg. And a hat with a sweet feather in it. And an awesome accent. See? You can't lose! :)

Yeah, but on Sep 19, you'd be right in character.

[ryant35]

It's pretty easy to get used to shooting with both eyes open, especially at a short course off road race because you need to see if a truck is off course heading right for you.

[Jon Foster]

I shoot with both eyes open most of the time. If I'm shooting into bright light I might close my left eye but not for too long. My vision will be blurred...

Jon.

[vibin247]

I used my left eye initially when I started photographing, but I eventually kept both eyes open, with the right eye on the viewfinder. If I do need to focus in more, I'll close the left eye.

[JoePhotoOnline]

Keeping both eyes open keeps your situational awareness up, especially when sing telephotos lenses. A photog was just creamed the other night by a few football players while he was shooting the cheerleaders with a 300mm. He never saw them coming...

Also, if you are shooting potraits/people, letting them see your other eye helps put them at ease. If they don't have eye contact with you and only see a shiny black machine snapping away, some can get nervous.

[Addicted2Shooting]

Keeping both eyes open keeps your situational awareness up, especially when sing telephotos lenses. A photog was just creamed the other night by a few football players while he was shooting the cheerleaders with a 300mm. He never saw them coming...

Also, if you are shooting potraits/people, letting them see your other eye helps put them at ease. If they don't have eye contact with you and only see a shiny black machine snapping away, some can get nervous.

They don't notice my eye anyway, I'm shooting with an 18-55 mm lens, I practicly need to shout to them how I want them to pose!