Left or Right...??

Do you use your left or right eye when taking photos through the viewfinder? When you are used to taking photos with that eye, can you take photos with the other eye?

I used my right eye to take photos all the time. Before writing this discussion, I tried using my left eye and I just felt uneasy taking the photos and just couldn't get the right moment. Maybe it's just me, but what about everyone?

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Permalink Reply by Stian O on June 5, 2008 at 11:14am: I take photos with my right and wink with my left. That makes perfect sense.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by buzznfrog on June 5, 2008 at 12:47pm: Reza,

Good question. I'm not an expert on how our eyes function, but I do know a bit about what you are asking. Most Photographers will refer to themselves as either "right-eyed" or "left-eyed", you will rarely find someone who feels 100% comfortable shooting with both eyes. It's similar, yet not completely synonymous, to being right-handed or left-handed.

Personally, I can compose with either eye for a short while, but I default back to my right eye.

There are a few advantages to shooting with your left eye, as can be viewed by Joe McNally's short video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDsx3-FWfwk

Enjoy the video and practice with both eyes.

www.miriellophotography.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Reza on June 6, 2008 at 4:47am: Thanks for sharing the video! Definitely a useful tip but unfortunately it only works for a D3 type of camera even though you're a lefty. I tried it with my D80 but it's just too small!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Reza on June 6, 2008 at 4:25am: Lol, the answer is yes, I would close my other eye, because I found it distracting and hard to focus (as in consentration) to see other things with my other eye. But when I used my left eye and closed the other one, I would still find the same feeling. I just couldn't get it right.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Howard Harrington on June 5, 2008 at 1:20pm: I agree the most people, use the right eye, as I do.. but it is important to keep both eyes open, it reduces eye strain. I learned that from Astronomy, and my eye doc....; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Macey on June 5, 2008 at 5:21pm: i Use My left Eye To shoot...i think more mainly Becuase my Right eye is a bit didgy and i have to wear glasses for that =P
My eye Doc says that People have a dominant eye and the other is just use for depth of field...or thats my simple down version of what he said!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jadeast on June 6, 2008 at 4:59pm: I am currently a left eye photographer, but was once a righty and I think that switching has made ME a better photographer, because it taps into the more creative side of the brain for me. this may not work for you but anything that causes you to think differently, should open some new inspiration.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by EVA CANTRELL on July 7, 2008 at 5:04pm: I haave read the book 'DRAWING WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAIN BY BETTY EDWARDS and it was an experience and most interesting. I was once left handed and was belted across the hands at school and made to use my right hand. Consequently I now so many things right handed and many left handed . I can write with my left hand quite nicely and do not have trouble getting the letter set the right way and it just happens. I hold a froom right handed way but bat left handed all underarm sports left handed all over arm sports right handed eat left handed draw right handed. When my sister went to school they tried the same thing on her but me mother stopped the teachers hitting her hand and she became a full lefty. I wonder how this change has affected other people when made to change at school in the old days; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Maeda on June 7, 2008 at 5:33am: I am a right handed person but I use my left eye for the viewfinder.. is that normal? hahaha!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Reza on June 10, 2008 at 5:22am: Hehe, I've been practising my left eye too for sometimes, kinda weird at first. Too bad the weather hasn't always being supportive =/; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sweetness on June 13, 2008 at 6:42am: Interesting discussion!
I'm right eyed.
And as I close the left while using the right to look through the viewfinder, I can't close the left one by itself!
As I work as a photographer, it sometimes gets to be a bit of a nuisance as I get eye strain.; ▶ Reply to This