How can I take a good picture of an eye?

[Alice Adams]

I've taken a few photos of eyes because I find them fascinating, but I've never taken one which I look at and think 'wow' is that really mine.. I would like to do that someday but do you have any tips or something to help me take a photo of eyes?

[FaerieMoon]

Eek, eyes are difficult. Don't use a flash, lol. I've found that daylight (and somebody else's eye) is the easiest. As far as technical info, I don't have any tips but I'm sure somebody will! I like the last photo you posted, by the way (:

[Teresa (pocketmouse)]

Yes,definitely daylight :) perhaps not direct sunlight (uncomfortable for your subject!) but perhaps by a window with ambient sunlight on a sunny day. If you have a macro lens, use it, otherwise try a reversing ring or extension tube to turn a normal lens into a "macro" lens. :D

[C and LJ]

Depends on a lot of things that you haven't brought to light. You likely have concerns that you have to be close. Not necessarily. Get as far away as you can, to avoid a distorted appearance, and zoom in. Don't know what kind of camera you are using. If it is a point and shoot, you're limited, as their little flashes only point straight, which can blow everything out. As @clarissajohal indicated, avoid the flash, but make sure you have some catch light in the eye. Get farther away, and zoom in. To get the catch light, shoot outside, and keep the person from looking into the sun as they will squint. If they are looking into the Sun (for lighting), make sure it is a lower, evening or morning sun. To avoid squinting, have them close their eyes, you count to three, and they open their eyes. 1-2 seconds later, shoot. *the delay will help them lower their brow). This just scratches the surface. Practice makes perfect. Have fun!

[Brandie]

I'll third daylight. Some of my best eye shots have been of my daughter by our huge patio door.

[J A Byrdlip]

If using a flash, try putting a piece a paper at a 45 degree angle in front of the flash to bounce it off the ceiling, or at least, defuse the light (not a point of light source). Try it out before hand to see what you get (digital photography is wonderful). I don't think anyone has said a detachable flash would help the image, I don't have one.

[Mary Thorpe]

@jinximages

[Jennifer McCannon]

Animal eyes are the easiest and best ones in my opinion I use my 18-55mm lens. Here is an example-Horses eyes are my favorite to shoot.

[Jennifer McCannon]

Here is another one This one I used my 75-300mm lens because I was further away

[jinx (@jinximages)]

@mjkthorpe Thanks for the heads-up! :)

I have nothing against flash for eye shots. Just, not direct flash. Bounce flash is quite alright, or OCF (off camera flash). Just don't use direct flash from right on your camera unless you like the red-eye or deer-in-the-headlights look.

Natural light is definitely great, but I often use flash when shooting in natural light anyway, just to control the shadows better.

Here's one using off camera flash (studio strobe):



Here's one using natural light and on-camera indirect flash:



Here's one done with two studio lights:

[Cromwell]

Just ask Phil.



She's taking pictures of the entire alphabet. :-P

[Alice Adams]

@clarissajohal @pocketmouse @cluvlj @lolanae @byrdlip @mjkthorpe @horselover @jinximages @cromwell Thanks for all the advice, I will have a go. If I take a good shot of one, please take a look and leave feedback. Thanks:-)

[Kelly Gareau]

Here's a picture of my eye done with a macro lens, tripod, indoors and with a flash... Good Luck!

[Jennifer McCannon]

@jinximages Those are awesome