Inability to shut one eye - anyone else?

[Candace Rochelle]

Hello

I've just ventured into the world of DSLR photography and I've discovered a small issue. I can't wink, or fully close one eye at a time. So when I'm taking photos, I am squinting my left eye shut. This isn't effective because it half closes my right (viewing) eye and after a period of time squinting causes blurry vision and a killer headache.

I'm thinking of devising some sort of pirate style eye patch to cover my left eye, but thought I would post here and see if anyone else that is wink-challenged has discovered a different way to get around this.

Thanks
Candace

 

[Michael Melb AU]

This problem is not new to me - I had to deal with it before (thankfully not personally). Here are my tips:

• try to use your other eye for work with viewfinder. You may find that closing right eye works for you;
• use the camera diopter adjustment for viewfinder (check the manual). This may allow you to shoot with both eyes open (I do sometimes), and cuts eye strain.
• use eye patch if you wish, but a pirate with a camera is better accepted at kid's party than in the street

Generally speaking, I squint too - and don't find it uncomfortable with viewfinder properly adjusted (see above). I think this may be the main source of your problem.
--
Everyone can do it - some do it well. But nobody is perfect.

 

[trekkeruss]

Shoot with both eyes open. You won't get blurry vision or headaches, and you will be better able to track moving subjects.

 

[Guidenet]

I'm thinking of devising some sort of pirate style eye patch to cover my left eye, but thought I would post here and see if anyone else that is wink-challenged has discovered a different way to get around this.

Candace, at first I thought this was a joke thread, but I've learned you hear everything here so I realize it's serious. My question would be, how long are you keeping that viewfinder up to your eye such that it causes a headache.

Back in the film days and manual focus we used to tell novice photographers to not stare through the viewfinder very long. It would give inaccurate focus as your brain began to try to make it right. Take your eye away and stare off into the distance and then look back. Don't spend long at the viewfinder. Know your framing before you look into it. Previsualize your image before using the viewfinder. Don't put your eye up there and wander around looking for a picture. You won't find one. Just snapshots.

There's no reason to not keep both eyes open. Videographers often do this so they can tell where the action is going next. No reason you can't either.

Some cameras just have horrible uncomfortable viewfinders. This is especially true of entry level models. Sony used to make some DSLRs with a ridge that poked you in the upper eye where the LDC fit to the body. It was dreadful.

If worse comes to worse, you can stay in liveview which doesn't work that well for general photography or action but might be your only way if you can't learn to use a viewfinder.

Good luck and have fun.

--
Cheers, Craig

Follow me on Twitter @craighardingsr : Equipment in Profile

 

[corneaboy]

I know you probably won’t believe it but it is possible to train yourself to close one eye without closing the other eye.

There is one group of muscles in the lid itself and a much larger group that encircles the eye. You have to learn to just use the lid muscles.

The first step is to get a feel for the two muscle groups. Close both of your eyes gently and you will feel the lid muscles. Now squeeze the lids tight and you will feel the larger muscles. Practice this until you can just barely shut your lids with a minimum of effort. Then try to get the same feeling when closing one eye. As soon as you feel the larger muscles coming into play open your eye and start over.

If you are successful you will probably find that when you try this using the camera you will at first go back to your old havit of squeezing the lid. Keep thinking about the feeling of just gently closing the eye not behind the viewfinder.
Good luck.

 

[Candace Rochelle]

Thank for the input everyone.

As I have recently (as in 2 weeks ago) gone from a simple point-and-shoot to a 60D I am very much still learning the ropes and I am probably spending an inordinate amount of time looking through the view finder trying to focus my shots. I guess experience will help there.

It is a good thing to point out though because it wasn't an aspect I had considered as been a 'bad' thing!

I have managed to adjust the viewfinder so I can keep both eyes open without affecting my vision, so will try that for awhile and see how I go.

 

[Candace Rochelle]

I know you probably won’t believe it but it is possible to train yourself to close one eye without closing the other eye.

There is one group of muscles in the lid itself and a much larger group that encircles the eye. You have to learn to just use the lid muscles.

The first step is to get a feel for the two muscle groups. Close both of your eyes gently and you will feel the lid muscles. Now squeeze the lids tight and you will feel the larger muscles. Practice this until you can just barely shut your lids with a minimum of effort. Then try to get the same feeling when closing one eye. As soon as you feel the larger muscles coming into play open your eye and start over.

If you are successful you will probably find that when you try this using the camera you will at first go back to your old havit of squeezing the lid. Keep thinking about the feeling of just gently closing the eye not behind the viewfinder.
Good luck.

That is interesting Corneaboy; I can feel what you mean by the separate muscles. I'm going to give it some practice! Thank you.

 

[Skipper494]

Most pros shoot with both eyes open with a VF, as I do, practice makes it easy.

 

[Kenneth Sloan]

Who told you that you were supposed to close one eye while shooting?

--
-Kenneth Sloan

 

[hotdog321]

I'm a pro and I always shoot with both eyes open, but I don't even notice. It is also handy to avoid getting blindsided when you are putting all your concentration into the lens.

 

[marzal]

I too have the same problem not being able to close one eye but I dont have any trouble focussing. Have you thought of getting an eyecup? they work really well. If you want to go better this is a gadget on the market, I cant remember the make but its similar to the folding sides on top of the TLRs, If you have the joy of having Live View on your camera thats also another option

 

[nikkorwatcher]

The dioptre adjustment on your camera might help to put your non-camera eye out of focus when you are looking through the viewfinder if that is what is distracting you.

 

[Deleted1929]

I'm not sure if you've consulted a doctor about that but if not I'd suggest you do. Many people cannot wink ( apparently ) and some of them have medical reasons and some have simply never learned but can develop it ( or so I understand ).



I'd recommend an eye patch if there's a medical reason preventing you from using the eye, or practice if it's simply that you never have and your muscle memory isn't there to do it.

 

[Mike_PEAT]

How about shooting with your LEFT eye, and closing your RIGHT eye...does that work?

Personally I use my left eye for photography and close my right because for me it's far more comfortable than the other way around.

 

[scorrpio]

I keep both eyes open. Especially valuable for action photography - you can see what is about to enter the frame.