Focus on furthest eye?

[Paulie-W]

Couldn`t really think of a title, but, is it poor form to focus on the eye furthest away? The reason i`m asking is that having watched a film on the tv the other night (cant remember wheather it was a dvd or not), in a close up, the focus was on the far eye. Looked kind of moody, but would like your views on this. I.E always closest eye or not etc

 

[david1701]

generally closest eye, I have used the further eye for effect before

 

[Arkady]

It generally looks 'wrong' if the sharp point of focus is the furthest eye and the near eye is still brightly lit.
If the nearest eye is in near or total shadow then focus on the eye that is brightly lit.

This is one out-take from a recent test-shoot: the sharp point of focus is the furthest eye. See how the eylashes on the near eye are blurred - it's not a matter of life-and-death by any means, but it's not quite right - and being not quite right means - to me anyway - that it's wrong.

and here again, but done 'right'...

 

[Paulie-W]

Cheers guys.. thought as much.

Good examples there Rob, ta.

 

[TCR4x4]

With the furtherst eye in focus its like the model is looking away from you into space and doesnt make the shot look to good. With the closest eye, its looking right at you. Certainly in those two examples above anyway.