Avoid Raccoon Eyes at Beach or Pool

by Mom-to-Mom

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Move to the Shade

Move to the Shade

Taking photos in the harsh sunlight or bright haze of summer can be very unattractive! This is demonstrated in my first picture on the left. There are big dark circles under my subject's eyes . . . ugh! Moving into the shade really helps a lot as you can see in photo on the right. Jeanne: Tamron SP 17-50mm F/2.8 Di II VC
Put The Sun Behind Your Subject

Put The Sun Behind Your Subject

I found it best for her to face away from the sun in order to avoid squinting and so that there is some bright sky behind her (backlighting). Jeanne: Tamron SP 17-50mm F/2.8 Di II VC
Change Your Perspective

Change Your Perspective

I love bright sunny days! Unfortunately taking pictures on those days can be quite difficult since "raccoon eyes" are usually on everyone in your picture. Besides the obvious, which is finding shade, there are a couple of things you can do to avoid the dark circles. My favorite is Change Your Perspective! I shot this photo while lying down in the sand with the kids huddled around me. I was still able to get the beautiful blue skies but none of the squinting! Lynda
Put The Sun to the Side

Put The Sun to the Side

My second favorite option would be the old saying "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!" Embrace the sun and all it has to offer! By putting the sun to our side and lowering my f-stop to a 5.6, I limited the raccoon eyes to a minimum and blurred the background just enough to make those smiles stand out! Lynda: Tamron SP 70-300mm Di VC USD
Make the Most of the Mid Day Photo Opps

Make the Most of the Mid Day Photo Opps

Those fabulous golden hours are the best for outdoor photography, but sometimes that's just not possible and you have to make the best of your mid day outing by using a few tricks to keep your family snapshots looking as professional as possible! One thing that can drive me nutty in my photos are the dreaded raccoon eyes! Ugh! If the sun isn't directly above your subject, simple place their backs to the sun and that will help. What I find myself doing most though is seeking out some open shade to shoot under! Simply place your subject in the open shade and that will help keep the light pretty and even on their face resulting in a gorgeous photo! At the beach and pool you can always find open shade under a tree, beach umbrella, or canopy! Looking for natural reflectors can also aid in great even light in photos. Water, walls, any lightly colored surface can be a great natural reflector helping keep light even in photos! Shooting mid day can be so tricky, but don't let it stop you from taking those pictures! Go for it! Hollie: Tamron 18-270mm Di II VC PZD
Get Under Cover

Get Under Cover

<p>When the sun is really bright, head underneath the pier where you have more control of the light on your subject. </p> <p>Stephanie: Tamron SP 17-50mm F/2.8 Di II VC</p>
Use Your Flash Outdoors

Use Your Flash Outdoors

<p>Have your subject turn their back towards the sun and shoot into the light, a flash will help smooth out any dark shadows.</p> <p>Stephanie: Tamron SP 17-50mm F/2.8 Di II VC</p>
Get Up Against the Wall

Get Up Against the Wall

Look for open shade under an umbrella or up against a nearby wall. Stephanie: Tamron SP 17-50mm F/2.8 Di II VC
Pop Up Your Flash

Pop Up Your Flash

The advantage of today's cameras is that you always have your flash with you. And it works wonders outdoors. If the flash is too bright, use the flash +/- compensation button to decrease the power of the flash to balance better with the sunlight. Stacie: Tamron 18-270mm Di II VC
Find the Open Shade

Find the Open Shade

Moving just a few feet into the shade makes a big difference in your effort to avoid squinty eyes and harsh shadows. You can even get better color that's not washed out by the sun. Stacie: Tamron 18-270mm Di II VC PZD
Find Shelter

Find Shelter

Moving from a bench in the sun to a chair just under the pavilion made a huge difference in the quality of this photo. You can see the sky in his eyes. Stacie: Tamron SP 28-75mm F/2.8 Di

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Hello. Welcome to Mom-to-Mom, a series of photo exhibits that feature non-technical tips and artistic inspiration from image-making moms. The exhibits, which focus on a new theme each month, are designed to encourage other moms like you to experiment with your cameras, lenses, a…

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While we are starting to think about back to school shopping, there's still plenty of time left for fun summer photos. But how do you deal with dreaded raccoon eyes (the harsh shadows we often get under the eyes)? The moms are here with their go-to solutions to get better photos when we're out and about during the harsh midday sun. The moms~ Hollie, Janet, Jeanne, Liz, Lynda, Stacie & Stephanie
Tamron Exhibits
  • Move to the Shade
  • Put The Sun Behind Your Subject
  • Change Your Perspective
  • Put The Sun to the Side
  • Make the Most of the Mid Day Photo Opps
  • Get Under Cover
  • Use Your Flash Outdoors
  • Get Up Against the Wall
  • Pop Up Your Flash
  • Find the Open Shade
  • Find Shelter

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Guestbook for “Avoid Raccoon Eyes at Beach or Pool”

Name/Note Date

08/30/12

alanofma

Such beautiful images, the kids are adorable. Thank you for sharing. Alan

08/07/12

victoriacalling

victoriacalling

 

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