Eyes always closed during Photos

782378

My wife's family must have very sensitive eyes because it seems as if their eyes are closed in almost every photo I have of them. Can anybody recommend a make of camera which may be able to avoid this or give any advise in relation to eyes being constantly being closed during photographs using the flashes for digital cameras.

I have 2 digital cameras and have set the flash to lowest settings in both to no avail.

It seems to be the same for all digital cameras, strangely it doesn't seem to causes a problem with cheap disposable cameras.

Any advise would be apreciated!:(

City-Exile

What kind of camera do you have?
It's a good idea to bounce the flash, if you can.
That way it's not going directly into their eyes.

Thirdfox

That's because many advanced camera systems have a pre-flash to measure correct flash exposure before the actual flash. The cheap disposable cameras just fire their flash once.

One way of getting around this is to use manual flash (only one flash) but you'll need to figure out the right setting.

Bounced flash will also be less likely to cause blinking. I take photographs with my SB600 bounced and rarely get "droopy eyes" syndrome in my photos.

Some people just react faster than others (I often have droopy eyes when people take photos of me )

ThOnda

Disable the flash and open your aperture :-)

AnCatDubh

ok. here's an 'ole ingin trick' and what's better is that it works - Very non technical BTW. If you do a search in this forum there are other very technical solutions.

The trick is - as the group pose tell them to close their eyes. Yes this will also ensure a smile on their faces too! Count back from 3 - 2 - 1 - say open your eyes and then fire one or more shots in quick succession, If they know do as you say - you are nearly 100% guaranteed open eyes for *everyone* in the group. Have used this with a group of 25 and not one closed eye in the resulting shot. Nice. Still recommended to fire a couple in quick succession.

Plan B - you could always issue them with match sticks to force the eyes open

leeroybrown

I'm not sure why the camera is taking the blame here.

I've got pretty sensitive eyes and the problem for me is that (typically outdoors) I'll be put somewhere with good light for the shot and will have to squint at the light coming over the camera while someone fiddles with the camera without telling you they're not taking a shot. I'm fine with the flash and pre-flash but not with the unnecessary extra posing.

Cantab.

Aren't there cameras now with fancy signal processing that ensures that people's eyes are open/mouths are smiling, etc?

Fionn

yes the eyes shut trick is a good one that i've used and it does indeed work, along with not just one photograph of the group but a couple and from slightly different angles can also cut down on squints, grimaces and mad looking eyes

Zillah

Light moves very fast.
Electronics process very quickly.
People's eyes move comparatively very slowly.

With that in mind, I'm going to say you should get another, better camera. There is no reason that a good camera shouldn't be able to grab an image before their eyes have a chance to close.

Thirdfox

For reasons I stated above the opposite can be true whereby the iTTL/eTTL multi-flash systems of Nikon/Canon can result in catching people mid-blink whereas cheap flash systems (with only one flash) do not have this problem.

OP: You can also use FV lock if it's available on your camera. It locks flash exposure at one value and will only flash once, you'll need to change it if the subject changes distance or the situation changes.

Muineach

any ideas on how to have people not to put on stupid looking smiles ? :rolleyes:
i think you know the type, they see "oh camera", and put on a silly looking smile

Borderfox

Muineach wrote: »

any ideas on how to have people not to put on stupid looking smiles ? :rolleyes:
i think you know the type, they see "oh camera", and put on a silly looking smile

Get one of these and they wont even know you are there so no funny smiles

Muineach

hmm nice, oh!, you meant the lens

Dades

782378 wrote: »

Any advise would be apreciated!:(

Is there an LED on the front of the camera that flashes just before the flash fires?

People instinctively know when the see that light, that a flash is coming - and are liable to shut their eyes. If there is one maybe disable it (with a bit of duct tape if necessary!)