I am a beginner and am having trouble working with portraits. The professionals in magazines seem to take decent pictures of their portraits but what makes it stand out is how clear the eyes are in those pictures which makes the picture absolutely beautiful and realistic. I am talking about being able to take a picture with a clear look at the human iris/pupil in a picture which has the entire face and maybe including the human shoulder. Is it the crappy camara or is it the lighting technique? It's probably both, but I think it's mostly lighting. Can anyone help? It would be greatly appreciated! (please respond in clear english and not photography lingo) Like I said, I'm new and trying.... thanks in advance.

-- Fire Star (FIRESTAR501@hotmail.com), May 08, 2001

Answers

That's a really good question. And now, until I can post a picture of a really clear eye shot, I don't think I'll be able to say I've answered it.

Another quest! Meheheh...

-- ed (ekang@cse.nd.edu), May 08, 2001.

The important thing to get the eyes out of shadow and to put a catchlight in them is good use of fill - either with a tiny bit of fill flash or reflectors or both.

This shot was done with the subjects back to the sun, but with quite a bit of reflected fill coming from the building and sidewalk behind me. The catchlight and additional fill came from a tiny 12" reflector just to the left.

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=129119&size=lg

-- John Kantor (jkantor@mindspring.com), May 08, 2001.