One eye?

gman

gman

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Graham
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Was having a wee glance through the 'spot the tog' thread and noticed a lot of people close one eye when looking through the view finder.

Is this quite common as I tend to keep both eyes open so I can see what's going on outside of the viewfinder. Almost like a peripheral vision type thing. I think I get it from shooting and carried it across to photography but wondering what others do and think about it?
 
gman said:
Was having a wee glance through the 'spot the tog' thread and noticed a lot of people close one eye when looking through the view finder.

Is this quite common as I tend to keep both eyes open so I can see what's going on outside of the viewfinder. Almost like a peripheral vision type thing. I think I get it from shooting and carried it across to photography but wondering what others do and think about it?
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Me too! :D
 
Nupe - one eye closed for me... must be the darkside (aka target shooting!...)
 
Wouldn't it depend ENTIRELY on what you are doing at that moment in time?

Maybe just trying to do a bit of precision framing?

Maybe shooting a sporting event, and want to keep one eye on the action outside the frame?
 
Oli R C said:
Wouldn't it depend ENTIRELY on what you are doing at that moment in time?

Maybe just trying to do a bit of precision framing?

Maybe shooting a sporting event, and want to keep one eye on the action outside the frame?
Click to expand...

I agree. If your doing a portrait its unlikely you want any peripheral vision. If your waiting for something to run into your frame, having your other eye open is a must. Or if something else going on affects the contents of your frame. ie at say a concert and your taking a shots in the audience, the expressions on peoples faces and what they're doing will change as someone comes on the stage and being aware of this instead of just hoping to get lucky. Not the best of examples really - I just woke up - but i think it makes the point - In some situations it really helps. However if you have no need of it in a given situation, having the the one eye shut will help you to concentrate on composition better and to make sure you're getting the best shot.
 
I tend to have both open, one in the viewfinder one watching the reflection off the screen, I like to know whats going on around me.
 
I'm a left-eye shooter, so keeping the right eye open would serve no useful purpose.
 
Im right-handed but use my left eye!! :shrug:
 
Depends what I'm shooting. Motorsport, I tend to keep my left eye open as well so I have a vague idea what's going on out of frame. Landscapes, I close the spare eye and rely on my ears to tell me if anyone's around and about to step into frame.
 
I take one eye out of the socket and rest it on the hot shoe, it's comfy and it keeps it warm
 
I only take one eye with me. I'm always losing things on a shoot so this seems the sensible solution.
 
smoothedit said:
Nupe - one eye closed for me... must be the darkside (aka target shooting!...)
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I suppose that is why I have always used one eye, it just kind of seems natural. Wouldn't you go kind of "boggle eyed" with both eyes open (I am not going to try, in case I stay in cross eyed mode :lol:)?
 
I usually close the other eye, but when using microscopes at work I have both eyes open even when using a monocular microscope - it reduces eyestrain (not necessarily in any clinical sense - your eyes just feel less tired after a long session when not squinting through one eye only). Considering how long I can be peering through a viewfinder, perhaps it's worth getting in the habit of opening the other eye when togging too!
 
I can't see much out of my left eye anyway (well, anything in focus) so I tend to shoot "one eyed".

Steve
 
LOL!! Once again some cracking responses... made me chuckle putting the spare eye on your hot shoe!!! :lol:

Personally, I always use my right eye and close the left. I've tried keeping it open but my vision gets really confused and gave me headaches. Same when I used to shoot my air rifle with a scope on it.
 
You should close both eyes for long exposures as light might leak from your eye into the sensor :) :) :)

Seriously now I usually close one eye except when shooting sports or, sometimes, birds in flight
 
Nod said:
Depends what I'm shooting. Motorsport, I tend to keep my left eye open as well so I have a vague idea what's going on out of frame. Landscapes, I close the spare eye and rely on my ears to tell me if anyone's around and about to step into frame.
Click to expand...
I have a very similar approach so it depends what I'm photographing.
 
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