This tip shared by photographer David Bergman and AdoramaTV helps anticipate what’s coming into your frame as you shoot pictures, regardless whether you shoot with your right eye or your left eye.
David shares: “Most people tend to press their eye up to the viewfinder and close their other eye especially in bright daylight. It’s nice to block out the light coming in from the outside and focus on the image that you’re shooting. However, I’m gonna recommend that in some situations you should leave your other eye open.”
“It takes a little getting used to and can be disorienting at first but there are a couple of good reasons to do this. The main one being you can see what’s happening outside of your frame if you’re shooting action like sports or even people walking around in Times Square. You’ll be able to see what’s coming and will be prepared to take the picture as soon as the subject enters your frame.
If you’re a portrait shooter there’s another reason to leave both eyes open. When your face is buried behind a big camera you can’t really interact with your subjects. I still like to occasionally bring the camera away from my face and talk but having my other eye open when I shoot creates just a little more connection.”
“As a random aside and just for fun – take your zoom lens and play around with the focal length while looking through the viewfinder with both eyes open at around 70 mm on a full-frame camera, which is about the same focal length as your vision. You’ll get this really trippy 3d effect look! I’m no optometrist but I think it’s because your eyes can’t converge properly on the same subject when only one is looking through the camera lens.”
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*For more information visit AdoramaTV YT page, and of course you can keep up with David on Instagram and Twitter @DavidBergman. LATEST UPDATE: David opened up new IGTV episodes where you can ask him questions live! find out more at http://www.AskDavidBergman.com
Watch the full episode with David Bergman and Adorama TV: