One of the biggest challenges a photographer faces when taking Infrared portraits is the “Dead Eyes” Because the eyes absorb light to create mental images, less is reflected back to the sensor, making the area of the eyes appear darker.
If you over exposure the image and the subject, you lose details in the image and the eyes are still dark. You can try and make adjustments in post production, but the results often look unreal.
My solution was a ring flash. A ring flash mounts on the front of the lens and is often used in portraits to give a stylized look to the reflection in the eyes.
Rather than use it as a flash, I turn the unit on so that the LEDs around the lens are illuminated. This floods the subjects eyes and face with light, shrinking the pupils and allowing my Infrared camera to capture eyes that have a more lifelike appearance.
Now we have eyes that can be lightened slightly and adjusted just like the rest of the image. From here, you can take a portrait in whatever direction you choose.
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Dan Wampler
Dan Wampler is a digital artist from St Louis, MO. Having been interested in art and photography since childhood, he spent most of adult life working for Kodak and in the portrait photography industry. A student of the works of Ansel Adams, Any Warhol, and David Hamilton, Dan attempted to keep a wide range of artistic style.
As an early adopter of digital imaging, he found it gave him a way to completely incorporate art and photography. Began shooting Digital Infrared in 2004, and had first camera converted in 2006. His work has been seen in numerous gallery shows, is featured in an iTunes app. He produces Infrared and natural color digital art for sale and teaches his post-production techniques online.
Dan is LifePixel's Creative Director, social media manager, lead blog author, main workshops and training sessions instructor. His images appear in this gallery and throughout the website.
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I am looking at undertaking IR Portraiture and find your post very useful. I am interested in whether studio strobe lighting (using the model light on the eyes) and then flash will work on the eyes. Thoughts on doing it this way.
Greg, I have shot with studio strobes, and the modeling light will work. Depending on the type of studio lights and type of IR you are shooting, you may find the lights giving you way less illumination in IR than natural color.
Very cool technique Dan. Curious why we don’t see the catch lights of the flash in her eyes? Is it not strong enough? Also curious if you have experimented with other flashes.
Hi Dave, In this case the ring flash was used a light, not a strobe. The constant light shrunk the size of the pupils and flooded the eyes with light.
Thanks for the information !
Do you think that that would give the same effect even if you’re shooting outdoors in bright daylight ?
I am shooting a fiction film using my converted 5D mark2. and I am trying to avoid the “dead eyes”. I know that i could get my hands around the Kamio light made by kinoflo company (http://ohiohdvideo.com/media/products/kamio-system.jpg). Its fluorescent though not led. You think that would give the reflexion to the eye?
Thanks again
Joe
I am not certain what the results would be as I have not used that light system, but it appears to be a ring light system that should work. I would suggest a test shoot before to see. Good Luck!
Hi, I noticed that led light or even neon light doesn’t work with my nikon 7100 IR standard converted. I tried also with the torch of my samsung note 2 to illuminate really closely a face but no result , it seems that this kind of light it’s not captured.I’m surprised to see that you use a led ring flash. Am I doing something wrong?
Thanks!
Hi Walter, I have had good results using LED ring lights with IR. I do not use it as a flash, but have it on projecting the light directly at the subject. The LEDs produce sufficient IR light for the camera to capture. Maybe try it that way. Good Luck!
Thanks Dan, by the way which ringflash model do yo use? There are quite a lot in the market and some are not too expensive but I m not sure if they give enough power for portrait shooting. Tanks for your help!
Walter, This is Meike ring flash. It is not very expensive. I have used 2 different ring flashes, both are off brands and they work well.
Great thank you!
Good Morning Dan –
This was a very helpful article. I like to call the dark-eye effect the “Survivor Effect” – the TV show Survivor uses IR a lot, and the eyes almost look evil. This technique will allow photographers to greatly expand their use of IR in portrait photography.
Great tip. Thanks!
Thanks for this feature, pretty useful for those of us who like to shoot people in infrared.
This was very helpful. Thanks!
You are very welcome.
great information. Thanks.
Ahhhhhhh! Thank you Lifepixel and Dan.