How to take pictures of glittery glass eyes?

Hm. I see what you mean.

Someone else was having a problem with dark eyes and there are some useful suggestions in here http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?435925-Light-Ring. So, not the ringlight (overkill) but using fill flash, targetted spotlights or the use of reflectors to bounce light up into the eyes.

Personally, I think using a focused, undiffused accent light might work best (I say this because jewllery tends to be lit with a "sparkler", which is a small spotlight that is less bright than the main lights you are using. It really makes reflective surfaces gleam. Have a look in a jewellery shop window to see what I mean). Glitter probably works in the same way. So, a small Maglight, positioned near the camera to get the maximum bounce of light back again, and with the beam screwed down to its most focused, might work. Look through the viewfinder and move the Maglight about until you see as much sparkley glitter as you can get. Don't forget to still use whatever ordinary light you would to light the face too. And, the tricky one, both lights need to be the same colour temperature or you will get some very weird-coloured shadows. If you are using daylight, or daylight bulbs, you can now get daylight LED flashlights (Duracell do them). Make sure you get one with a focusing beam.

Good luck, and I would be interested in seeing the results.

 

Huh, that's weird, Shelly. Jiao has green glittery glass eyes, but I don't usually have trouble picking up the sparkle in her eyes:



This picture was taken with natural lighting only, no tricks used. Maybe it has something to do with the color of the eyes or the shape/height of the domes? Jiao's eyes, I'd say, are fairly high-domed.

 

The reason is cause you are using flash haha. Your flash is top left of ur cam. When it hits the subject at close distance, your light is blocked by the eye lids. Base on your pic, your light is on the top center. Flash being small light source deviates very little as the result your eyes are in the shadows. Mag light cant overpower flash. If you want to shoot the inner of your eyes right, you need to either lower your flash or shoot with a bigger light source.


AkiInBlack-1 by tassardar, on Flickr

Im not using glitter eyes but you can see all the way to the base of the eyes very clear. This is done with lamp which is a relatively large light source to a doll. The best way to see the glitter in the eyes is using a big enough source of light that will ensure your glitter appears in the pic. You can also shift the lamp till you see it of course

This is done with bounce flash from the top back angle and glitter eyes


Shiroyuki-2-3 by tassardar, on Flickr

On your link I notice you use lamps and flash.The eyes wont light up as the flash have overpowered the lights. I can see your flash being fired on the eye reflection and the 2 dull spot look like lamp. In light terms, the power of flash when you take a pic is easily the same as a 1000w lamp as such using flash and lamp light together wont work.

One more shot to illustrate shooting with a large light source


EyeShot-1 by tassardar, on Flickr

This is a littlefee with their small 12mm eyes. This is shot with a reverse silver umbrella source creating a light approximately 30inch wide. As you can see here if the light source is big enough, even dark colored eyes will reflect light and glitter alittle. Infact in this case you can even see the pattern of the eyes.


If you need more help on it feel free to pm me or post here

 

I don't have any experience photographing glitter eyes, but some of our dolls have very dark eyes, so it can be difficult to get the color to show.

I agree with zerartul that you need a larger light source. I think sunlight might be your ally; I generally take photos outside to get enough light, but not directly in the glare of the bright sun (or the eyes look like black pits ). For me, pictures turn out well when taken on slightly overcast days, or in partial shade, like under a tree. Essentially, you need the area to be generally very well lit, without one over-bright light source, or the eyes will end up in shadow.

I also wonder if the surface of the glass doesn't reflect the light when it's from a small, concentrated source, (like your flash), preventing it from reaching the back of the eye, and the glitter. I'm not sure about that, thought; just a thought.

If you can't get the chance to go outside, you could try moving your light source a little farther away to soften the glare, and lowering it a bit so it shines up into the eyes. I don't think your flash is going to be much help to you, especially taking pictures close up. Definitely try diffusing the light with paper or tape. You can also bounce the light with a hand mirror and make it hit the wall or ceiling, and that can work nicely.

Sorry my comment's a bit long, but it hope it helps. Best of luck!

 

hmm sadly i dont have my glitter eyes on hand as its back in singapore and i just moved to the us. on general though a bigger source be it a big flash or light will do the trick of lighting the inner eyes.

 

I am so glad I found this thread. I will have to try some of these tips as one of my boys have eyes mettalic eyes. I had the darndest time trying to take decents shots without one eye lighting and not the other or neither lit at all. Thank you

 

I would also stress the important of shooting against a white backdrop or something that will deflect the light. I took both of these on my phone and you can really see the color and the eyes. I had one diffused light source ( a clip on lamp) which pointed slight ABOVE the doll to give it a short of light bath.

Neither of these are glitter, but the gear eye can be quite tricky to shoot.