camera eye
camera eye
Understanding Red-eye in Photos and How It Can Be Prevented
Why are eyes red in photos?
Red-eye is a phenomenon that happens only when taking photos using a flash. When taking photos in day light or when in high ambient light scenarios people’s eyes look normal. When taking pictures in low ambient light scenarios using a flash the result many times is redness in the people’s eyes.
The reason for the color red is simple – when flash light from the camera hits the eyes it penetrates and is reflected back from the retina. The color of the reflected light is red because the light is actually reflected from the red blood in the retina.
In some scenarios the red-eye is evident while in others it is mild or doesn’t seem to appear at all. One of the main factors for that is the state of the pupils. If the pupils are dilated (for example the pupils dilate in darkness or when drinking alcohol) more light is reflected back from the retina and the eyes in the photo appear redder.
Common way to reduce red-eye
The most commonly used method to reduce red-eye is activating the camera’s built-in red-eye reduction feature. The red-eye reduction feature is very simple yet effective. When turned on the camera shoots a series of pre-flash strobes followed by one more strobe when actually taking the photo. The pre-flash strobes cause the pupils to reduce in size and by the time the photo is taken the pupils are small enough for the eye redness to substantially reduce.
The red-eye reduction feature does what it is supposed to do: reduce the red-eye effect but almost never is it completely prevented. There are many limitations to this feature for example pupils reaction time to light can vary. In addition this feature can have a side-effect that results in photos having people’s eyes closed. The reason is that the pre-flash strobes blind the people and cause them to close their eyes.
Other ways to prevent red-eye
Understanding what causes red-eye helps being more creative in preventing it. Following are some ways to prevent red-eye other than using the built-in camera red-eye reduction feature:
Increasing the light where photos are taken (for example by turning on the lights in a room before taking photos of people) causes people’s pupils to reduce in size and eye redness to reduce.
Point the flash away from the eyes. Since red-eye is caused by flash light reflected from the retina the best way to prevent red-eye would be to eliminate such reflection as much as possible. In most cameras the angle between the flash and the lenses is narrow (this is especially true for built-in flash and pocket cameras) causing most of the flash to bounce back from the retina to the lenses. Increasing the angle (for example by using an external flash) reduces the reflected light. You can also use a bounce flash – by having the flash light bounce off a bright surface (a white wall or a professional reflector) most of the direct reflection from the retina can be eliminated.
Red-eye can also be removed after photos were already taken by using photo processing software on your PC. Most digital cameras include a CD with PC software that embeds this feature. Although this method doesn’t eliminate the red-eye from the source it can result in a practically red-eye free photo. Some software are better than others some are manual while others automatically identify the red-eyes and process that area to revert to normal eye colors.
About the Author
Ziv Haparnas is a technology veteran and writes about practical technology and science issues. This article can be reprinted and used as long as the resource box including the backlink is included. You can find more information digital photo printing printing and photography in general on printrates.com – a site dedicated to photo printing
|
|
Waring SB30 1300-Watt Portable Single Burner $49.86 The Waring Pro SB30 Countertop Burner is compact and portable, making it a versatile heating option for everything from cooking in dorm rooms or offices to vacationing in campers…. |
|
|
Harris Hawk Photo Mugs Olympus Digital Camera…. |
|
|
Naughty Evening Gown Photo Mugs This attention seeking young Frenchwomen, wearing two types of fur, and little else, ensures that all eyes and cameras are on her and not her male escort. …. |
|
|
Rush: Through the Camera Eye [VHS] $19.98 … |
|
|
Maya Deren – Experimental Films [VHS] $14.98 … |
|
|
Streamlight StylusPro LED Penlight $41.34 Shine some light in those small, hard to reach places with the Streamlight StylusPro LED Penlight. This handy little light is constructed with corrosion resistant aircraft grade aluminum alloy. Its shockproof, waterproof, and impact resistant to withstand everyday wear and tear. The StylusPro features a powerful white LED bulb with a burn time of 7.5 hours. It includes an unbreakable pocket clip a… |
|
|
Stanley 66-052 6-Piece Precision Screwdriver Set $3.39 6 Piece, Precision Screwdriver Set, Consists Of: 0 PT Phillips, 1 PT Phillips, 1.4 MM, 2.0 MM, 2.4 MM & 3.0 MM Slotted Screwdrivers…. |
|
|
Nite Ize LHS-03 Clip-On Flashlight Holster with Stretch Capability and 8-Position Rotating Clip $4.05 Unique holster that stretches to fit most flashlight shapes – durable clip rotates and locks in 8 positions for shine from the hip function…. |
|
|
Red Eye (Widescreen Edition) $1.98 Veteran horror director Wes Craven lends his proven talent to the non-horror thriller Red-Eye, turning it into an above-average potboiler that makes the most of its 85 tension-packed minutes. That’s a perfect running time for a movie like this, in which a resourceful heroine Lisa (Rachel McAdams, the breakout star of 2005) is trapped on a red-eye flight with creepy villain Jackson Rippner (Cillian… |
|
|
Cyrus $5.35 With johns social life at a standstill and his ex-wife about to get remarried a down-on-his-luck divorcee finally meets the the woman of his dreams only to discover she has another man in her life – her son. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 12/14/2010 Starring: John C Reilly John Hill Run time: 91 minutes Rating: R… |
|
|
Visions of Italy $24.70 VISIONS OF ITALY – DVD Movie… |
|
|
Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cloths Wipes … |
|
|
PEC-PAD Lint Free Wipes 4×4 100per/Pkg $7.95 PEC PADs are the ideal photo wipes for those who hate photowipes! Until PEC PADs came along, photowipes fell apart, left lint and scratched emulsions. PEC PADs are extremely strong, lint-free and so soft and pure it is almost impossible to scratch an emulsion with them. PEC PADs are so soft they can be safely used to clean all types of sensitive surfaces: scanners, CD’s, mirrors, lenses, telescope… |
|
|
Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth By Apex Healthcare Products $2.49 Get your lenses (eyeglasses, reading glasses, sunglasses, cameras, binoculars, and more) sparkling clean with this Micro-Fiber Cloth – the perfect accessory to slip into your glasses case…. |
|
|
Micro Fiber Cleaning Cloth (Red or Blue Paisley print) with Crocodile-style Case (Gray, Navy, or Purple) Optical quality micro fiber cleaning cloth works with or without liquid. Great for anti-reflective lenses! Effectiveness won’t wash out. A functional and stylish carry case will also carry your driver’s license and one or two credit cards…. |
|
|
Civilian Lab POD Sunglasses Case/ GPS/camera Case $17.95 Simple, unique, hardcase designed to give solid cover to glasses, medium sized electronics, and small tools. Use this case to safely carry your glasses, digital camera, g.p.s. receiver, cell, tools, pencils, or charger. The rigid thermoformed construction, tough, fibrous outer material, and peapod shape provide good crush, shock, and scratch resist as well as a neat look. A fuzzy inner liner stops… |
|
|
Flip Video Carrying Case for Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder Flip Ultra + Screen Protector Kit (11 Color to Choose From) This package includes: . A Carrying case for Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorders . A screen protector… |
|
|
Playstation Move Motion Controller $49.99 Sony 98058 Gaming Pad 98058 Video Game Controllers… |
|
|
Just Dance $22.48 UbiSoft Just Dance 17580 PC Games… |
|
|
PlayStation 3 320GB System/PlayStation Move Bundle $319.99 PS3 MOVE SYSTEM 320GB BUNDLE K CHASSIS… |
|
|
Moving Pictures $2.67 With Moving Pictures, Rush’s complex songwriting and musical virtuosity reached new heights. It’s that rarest of creatures, a highly listenable progressive-rock album; even the all-instrumental “YYZ” is of interest to listeners besides musicians. The highlight of the album is “Limelight”; like many progressive-rock bands, Rush writes songs about the experience of being on-stage. The result is impr… |
|
|
Gorilla Manor $6.17 Soaring, sky-scraping harmonies, dreamy orchestral melodies, & throbbing tribal beats. Draws a line from the vocal stylings of Crosby Stills Nash & Young & the Zombies through the more esoteric edges of post-punk & Afro-beat… |
|
|
Rush Chronicles – The DVD Collection $14.05 CHRONICLES – DVD Movie… |
|
|
Apple Wireless Keyboard MC184LL/B [NEWEST VERSION] $65.00 Use the Apple Wireless Keyboard on your desk, on your lap, or anywhere within 30 feet of your Mac or iPad – all because of its built-in Bluetooth technology. Its compact design takes up 24 percent less space on your desktop than full-size keyboards, so you have extra room to move the keyboard around and mouse comfortably alongside of it. You’ll also feel a difference when you type on its low-profi… |
|
|
Logitech Keyboard K120 $9.57 Logitech K120 Keyboard – Wired 920-002478 405… |
