How to Avoid Photo Red Eye

By eHow Electronics Editor

Rate: (12 Ratings)

We've all received pictures from the photo lab only to find that the eyes of friends, loved ones and even the family pet have taken on a red glow. Rest assured, this is a problem that can be avoided with relative ease.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Your Camera

Step1
Attach a flash gun or detachable flash to the camera with a flash cable that connects to the front of most 35 mm cameras through a small socket.
Step2
Set the shutter speed of a manual camera to 1/60 second using the shutter speed dial on the top-left side of the camera.
Step3
Set an automatic camera to flash mode and attach a flash gun to the socket on the front of the camera.
Step4
Hold the flash gun a couple of feet to one side of the camera and slightly above the subject's head.
Step5
Press the shutter release on top of the camera.

Your Subjects

Step1
Turn on the lights in the room so that your subjects' pupils will decrease in size.
Step2
Ask them to look to the side of your camera rather than straight at the camera when you snap the picture.
Step3
Divert babies or pets so that they look away from the camera.

Tips & Warnings

  • Many cameras with built-in flashes feature a low-powered pre-flash that helps reduce the incidence of red eye.
  • Bounce the flash off surroundings by aiming the flash gun at the ceiling or a wall for softer, more diffused lighting.
  • Use an adjustable flash that can be pointed at an angle.
  • "Red eye" is caused by flash lighting reflecting off the back of the retina.

Comments

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Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 My photography teacher taught me this in school - Simply stick a cigarette paper over the flash window. That defuses the light enough.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Software that automatically removes red eye from digital photos exists. There is also manual software. The best I've seen that is available is in Adobe's PhotoDeluxe.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 If you do end up with "red eye," you can buy a pen that will remove it from your photos. It costs about $4 and can be purchased at hobby or craft stores. This has saved many of my pictures!

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eHow Article:  How to Avoid Photo Red Eye

eHow Electronics Editor

eHow Electronics Editor

Category: Electronics

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