bounced/reflected flash - eyes get white marks

[Erik_L]

I am using a 420 EX with a foam bounce card that deflects some light forward, and allows some light to bounce off the ceiling. I took some T-Day pics today and noticed that many of the shots had eyes with a giant white triangle (the shape of my bounce card) in the pupil.

How can I diffuse the light while still maintaining output?

My sister's fiance's sister, and her boyfriend:

http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af339/smrndmguy/whiteeye.jpg

see what I mean?

[dpds68]

Most shooters go out of their way to get good "Catchlights" in their subjects eyes , I myself find that it helps the composition .

[dpds68]

Have a read here

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=478450&highlight=Catchlights

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=463101&highlight=Catchlights

Some want to artificially add them in

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=569849&highlight=Catchlights

[Erik_L]

wow, who would have thought that someone would want that effect. I want to see their eyes, not my white piece of foam!

oh well, I just need to mess around some more. Plus, no way could I have captured THIS without a flash. it is a dark nook between two pieces of dark leather furniture, and he only had his tounge out for a second.
http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af339/smrndmguy/Crop_1000-1-11.jpg
FYI, if anyone out there is deciding "flash or lenses"... get the flash!

[Cathpah]

Yep, that catchlight or reflection-in-the-eyes is usually considered to give the eyes/eye contact more punch, and add that sparkle/life in the eye.

Take a second and look around at professional photography you see in print, and you'll see most subjects have a catchlight. In the end, I think it only brings attention the eyes. I'll never fake or add a catchlight to someone's eyes in photoshop....but I also can't remember ever feeling the need to erase a catchlight.

[TheHoff]

Eyes tend to look dull and lifeless without them. If anyone complains, tell them your photographic skills captured a glimpse of their very soul through their eyes.

[KIP]

Some of the most realistic animation I've seen seems to be most life-like because of the animators attention to the eyes, and adding catchlight. It adds that life-like sparkle.

Also, when I'm bored at dr's offices I like to look thru magazine and check out models eyes and try to guess what sort of lighting equipment they used based on the reflections. Definitely take a look at advertisements next time, and you'll notice the "whites" have been there all along, and most of the time most people don't even notice.

[cdifoto]

wow, who would have thought that someone would want that effect

I find it surprising that you don't.

[Erik_L]

so, my little foam contraption does a great job creating catch lights...?

good! no reason to throw it away now.

[CliffordPhotography]

Take a picture without the foam...you'll still notice a little light in the eye.

Like already stated, it brings life to a photo. Photoshop it out and see how it deadens the photo.

[Erik_L]

I see the errors of my ways now. the fool I was!

perhaps I will cut out pieces of foam shaped like stars and touroids and such to get more complex results. imagine a star shaped flash head and a heart shaped aperture!

[KIP]

perhaps I will cut out pieces of foam shaped like stars and touroids and such to get more complex results. imagine a star shaped flash head and a heart shaped aperture!

totally! i saw someone do this on flickr, with a ringflash. check it out here http://www.flickr.com/photos/l_s_g/3949991711/ very very fun idea. :D

[dmward]

Take the image into whatever photo editing software you use and clone out the catchlight.
Then compare that image with the original with the catchlight in the eye.

If you are still not convinced show the two images to the subjects of the photo. I suspect that most often they will prefer the image with the catchlights.

[smorter]

haha ironically I go out of my way to even clone them from one eye to the other in photoshop to get catchlights, not eliminate them :)

[Balliolman]

Eyes without catchlights appear flat/lifeless/dead.