Do you shoot with one eye closed or both open?

[berrywise]

I have always shot with one eye closed but recently have been trying to teach myself to be able to shoot with both eyes open. I find it helps when shooting sports especially because I can be aware of what is going on around me and not just in the viewfinder.

Any thoughts?

[mjs1973]

Judging by some of my pics, I would say both eyes CLOSED!!

[another view]

A while back, I heard about some of the rangefinder shooters working with both eyes open. It helps in some cases - usually I compose with one eye closed (left eye on viewfinder), and then watch for the action with both eyes open. Kind of a neat trick. So two out of three - how do I vote? ;)

[mtbbrian]

Like you when I shoot bike stuff I generally keep both eyes open for the same reasons.
But if I am not doing bike stuff I am right open, left closed.
I tend to keep my ears open too, so I can be aware of my surroundings at the same time.
Brian

[OldSchool]

I usually close the left. And, then everything is blurry for a while after I pull away from the viewfinder....
Tim

[Axle]

Right eye open.

[Old Timer]

I'm trying hard to keep both eyes open, but 37 years of closing the left is a hard habit to break.

[JSPhoto]

Both eyes open, if not I wouldn't be here today! Sports photographers should always have both eyes open, and always have a way out.

JS

[Lava Lamp]

I have always shot with one eye closed but recently have been trying to teach myself to be able to shoot with both eyes open. I find it helps when shooting sports especially because I can be aware of what is going on around me and not just in the viewfinder.

Any thoughts?

Both eyes open. I had a science teacher in 5th grade who insisted that we keep both eyes open when using the microscope and it kinda stuck.

[opus]

My instinct dictates whether I shoot with one eye closed or both eyes open. If I'm shooting casually, with plenty of time to spare, I'll close my right eye. (Instinctual, don't know why I use my left eye to look through the viewfinder -- I'm right handed.) But if I'm shooting sports, where I pre-position to get my shot, I instinctually keep both eyes open to watch the play.

I never even think about it, really.

[ACArmstrong]

One eye for everything but sports, and then I look with one eye until the play starts and then try to open both. HOWEVER, my left eye is damn near useless so it doesn't do me much good to have it open anway - just the occasional ability to get out of the way if something happens.

[ken1953]

Since a lot of my shots are taken while driving, I try to keep both eyes open, but usually with everything else, I'll usually have right eye open and left eye closed. Occasionally, I'll open and close the left eye to see whats going on around me especially when shooting sports.
Ken

[walterick]

I started with an automatic camera and my right eye closed and left open. Then I switched to a manual camera which has a winder knob that must be open in order to use it so I had to switch to left eye closed, right eye open.

Rick

[Mr Yuck]

right eye open, left closed for portrait stuff, but for action: sports, animals, etc, both eyes open....and then there's the occasional both eyes open looking the opposite direction technique

http://typicallyrandom.com/photoalbu...G_4180_JPG.jpg :lol:

[almo]

I find it impossible to shoot with both eyes open. It's too distracting, and it causes my vision to blur.

I'm Right eye open, left eye closed.

[SmartWombat]

It depends

Sometimes both eyes, left eye watching the action on track.
Sometimes left eye, as that puts my nose out of the way and I can see the viewfinder and still use flash.
Sometimes right eye, in bright snlight it's hard to see in the 20D viewfinder.

Eyepiece extender makes a bit of difference, mostly worse as the viewfinder image apears smaller. But it helps wiht the nose/camera/flash problem

[Photo-John]

What technique are you using here, Scott?

I mostly use only my right eye. Sometimes I keep the left eye open when I have a fixed composition and the subject is moving into the frame. I have a hard time with the left eye, though. With a super-wide lens I sometimes compose and then completely remove my eyes from the camera and just watch the subject approach with both eyes. I will have a landmark and when the subject hits that spot I take the picture. This works well with a controlled composition and a fisheye.

The Sigma SD10 camera has a big, "Sports" viewfinder kind of like a rangefinder. Only the middle part of the frame is actually the area photographed. So you can actually see your subject before it enters the frame, without using two eyes or removing your eye from the camera.

[berrywise]

I call that the screw the vertical grip stick that elbow out for all to see approach!

[Janie]

Both eyes open - squinting causes wrinkles you know! ;-P