Eye Reflections.

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Do studio light reflections in the eyes in portraits bother you? Just something i'm pondering.
 
depends really - I tend not to like to see reflectors and stuff (and the photographer) in most cases.

Though a big rectangular softbox catchlight I don't mind:thinking:
 
If you took all the catch lights out, it would look pretty strange. In everyday situations people have catch lights naturally, say from a window for example. Catch lights give portraits a bit more 'life'
 
They give the eye a more alive look to it. They are so important that the choice of softbox is often down to the shape of catchlight required hence the octoboxes.
 
Octabox is on my shopping list for this very reason.
 
Hate Tri lites(?), like ringflash (sometimes), but it appears the octabox is a firm fave with a lot of portrait photogs.
 
Catch lights are vital - you need them, and they need to be right. The eyes are the first thing you look at, and the last.
 
a trick to make softboxes (square/rectangular) look like windows is a gaffer tape (or like gaffer across and lecky down) cross that blocks the light and looks like the window cross pieces
 
david1701 said:
a trick to make softboxes (square/rectangular) look like windows is a gaffer tape (or like gaffer across and lecky down) cross that blocks the light and looks like the window cross pieces
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I think gobo is the term used for this, or anything between the lightsource and its final intended destination to create a shadow or break up the light to make it more natural..
 
onform said:
I think gobo is the term used for this, or anything between the lightsource and its final intended destination to create a shadow or break up the light to make it more natural..
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A go-bo 'goes-between' the light and the subject/background. A flag - goes between the light and the subject. A cookie - erm, goes between the light and the subject! But, I think, a cookie is used to cast some sort of interesting shadow or pattern, so maybe this would be a kind of cookie? :shrug:
 
Both can be used to create patterned shadows, or shaped light.

Gobo / Goes Between - Used close to the light source (or even attached to it), nothing to do with lighting the background, it gives hard edged shadows

Cookie / Cucoloris - Placed somewhere between the light and where the shadows will fall, gives softer edges to the shadows. MAy be considered a variation on a Gobo

Flag - Typically used to describe a device used to prevent unwanted lightspill
 
lol

I skipped read through the question and saw - "Do reflections in the eyes in portraits bother you?" which is yes (togs and things like those triflectors)

when the question really was

"Do studio light reflections in the eyes in portraits bother you?" -to which i would have said if I took the time to read the post correctly ;) catchlights are important, as is the shape - a tog i know really don't like big softbox catchlights (though i don't mind them).
 
I think I should have worded that differently! Of course eyes look more alive with light reflection in them. It's just some photos I have noticed a HUGE reflection, and was wondering if you preferred certain kind of reflections to others? (and was also supposed to say that togs etc bother me when seeing them in reflection!)
 
MissV said:
I think I should have worded that differently! Of course eyes look more alive with light reflection in them. It's just some photos I have noticed a HUGE reflection, and was wondering if you preferred certain kind of reflections to others? (and was also supposed to say that togs etc bother me when seeing them in reflection!)
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Yes, the type of reflection makes a big difference.

If you want nice flattering portraits, a big catch-light does it. Some prefer square window-like, others round (maybe looks prettier?) but always big. Big catch-light equals big friendly eyes. Big softbox :thumbs:

Small catch-light means smaller piggy-eyes. No catch-light means dead eyes, the portrait doesn't communicate as well - can't see where the subject is looking.

Twinkle, sparkle, life!
 
Dare I mention multiple catchlights? ;)

Personally, I like catchlights of any description. Eyes look completely dead and 'orrible without them. I don't mind multiples either but since I got a strip torn off me at a mentoring session, I've been wary of having them in my images ever since.

Si
 
Spiritflier said:
Dare I mention multiple catchlights? ;)

Personally, I like catchlights of any description. Eyes look completely dead and 'orrible without them. I don't mind multiples either but since I got a strip torn off me at a mentoring session, I've been wary of having them in my images ever since.

Si
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I don't like multiple catch-lights either, but sometimes you can't avoid them.

Two in the top of the eye doesn't look too bad, but while I love the light you get from those Tri-light reflectors, the catch-lights look a bit weird. Sometimes it works, often not. Bit of PP?

They can also look quite disturbing - like from a ring-flash used close. You can even get brollies that have alternating black panels that give a deliberate circular fan-shape pattern - can look quite freaky which suits some subjects, maybe fashion, that sort of thing.

It's amazing how something so small can make such a big difference.
 
I find when I use my triflector, it makes subject look a little.... robotic

LINKY
 
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