how to get crystal clear eyes ?

[samy1718]

how to get clear eyes in portraits ? i have seen some videos on enhancing eyes in Ps .. but i cant get crystal clear eyes ? do i need to have lighting equipment ? or do i need to have prime lenses ? i used 18-55 kit lens to take this pic

www.flickr.com/photos/93665503@N07/8519394492/in/photostream

but i want to get like these

www.flickr.com/photos/93665503@N07/8519394962/in/photostream

www.flickr.com/photos/93665503@N07/8518282165/in/photostream

 

[lnguyenh]

Make people turn their faces towards the light, to get nice bright catchlights and very little shadow in the eyes.. Then you can do some post processing to brighten the eyes even more.

But actually, I think some of the pics you showed have had the eyes whitened a bit too much for my taste.

 

[Paul Jones]

samy1718 wrote:

how to get clear eyes in portraits ? i have seen some videos on enhancing eyes in Ps .. but i cant get crystal clear eyes ? do i need to have lighting equipment ? or do i need to have prime lenses ?

I think it's a combination of the three you mention:

- good lens
- good lght
- a touch of post-processing

Best regards
Paul
--
Paul Jones
http://www.pauljones.org

 

[Hurricane Phil]

Samy,

Their eyes look pretty clear to me. The catch light in her left eye is a bit strong, but still her eyes are quite nice. The baby's eyes are very dark and will require some PP to bring them out, more. You did a good job of getting light, and not shadows, onto the eyes. A quick trick I use, is to bring the picture up in photoshop and open up levels. It will open in the RGB channel, which is what you want to use. Move the center slider slowly to the left to brighten the eyes until you can distinctly see the iris. You may have to try this a few times to get the right balance so that you don't wash out the skin. Now, move the left slider gently to the right to bring back contrast, but just enough so as to not over-darken the eyes. It's always best to start with a properly exposed picture. Give it a try and post your results.

Phil

 

[Sean_Jayhawk]

I used a Sony NEX 5N and a Contax G 90/2.8 lens and handheld a shot just using the light coming in from the window today and grabbed this shot of my son (the eyes are so sharp that even my reflection in them is pretty detailed). No flash and I was shooting at f/2.8 so the plane of focus was sort of thin. I think the key was nailing the focus where I wanted it to be and having a fast shutter speed and keeping a low ISO - to get a fast shutter and low ISO, you probably need very good light. Of course, having a nice lens doesn't hurt.

--
60 of my favorite shots from 2012

 

[Kweide]

It is easy, just a bit dodge and burn. Go for midtones about 10% strength max, choose Dodge and paint over the eyes iris. You will see how it lighten up a bit. Do as much you like. Burn the pupil, choose dark tones and 25% strength. Burn as much you like. After that choose the lights 10% strengh max and dodge the eye white a bit. Always to your taste.

After finishing sharpen the eyes with the sharpening tool, strength about 20-30% to taste. Thats all done in a few seconds....bit do it on a separate layer

There are more elaborate way to do this as well but this methode is by far the fastest Is it the look you wanted ???

One tipp: set the cameras focus point always to the eye which is nearest to the camera !






see more of my work on http://www.klaweide.de ( some NSFW )

 

[Hurricane Phil]

Nice job, Kweide.

 

[Thomas Kachadurian]

how to get clear eyes in portraits ? i have seen some videos on enhancing eyes in Ps .. but i cant get crystal clear eyes ? do i need to have lighting equipment ? or do i need to have prime lenses ? i used 18-55 kit lens to take this pic

www.flickr.com/photos/93665503@N07/8519394492/in/photostream

but i want to get like these

www.flickr.com/photos/93665503@N07/8519394962/in/photostream

www.flickr.com/photos/93665503@N07/8518282165/in/photostream

You need a broader light source. Huge open window. Big soft box. You need to be between your subject and the light.

Tom

 

[Sean_Jayhawk]

sean lancaster wrote:

I used a Sony NEX 5N and a Contax G 90/2.8 lens and handheld a shot just using the light coming in from the window today and grabbed this shot of my son (the eyes are so sharp that even my reflection in them is pretty detailed). No flash and I was shooting at f/2.8 so the plane of focus was sort of thin. I think the key was nailing the focus where I wanted it to be and having a fast shutter speed and keeping a low ISO - to get a fast shutter and low ISO, you probably need very good light. Of course, having a nice lens doesn't hurt.

Hmmm, I changed the white balance slightly in Flickr and that broke the link . And I can't edit the post. Sorry.

 

[sunshine eternal mind]

There is not substitution for getting it right the first time.

1) Like mentioned- first you have to have a good sharp lens if not then you will have to stop down the lens.

2) Second- Using wide open the lens ex 1.4 2.8 increases the chances of missing focus. For head shots f4 or more are appropriate.

3) Third - make sure that you have a fast enough shutter speed.

4) Fourth-make sure the camera/lens does not suffer from back or front focus.

If you get it right then I see no need to try to sharpen the eyes in post- thats from my experience.

 

[allPhoto]

Thease eyes are enhanced in PS;

Its always a problem to get crytal clear eyes; Its not up to the lens; its all postproseccing; You need to make the white whiter and then fix the eye color (or even change it)