Once I Learned THIS, It Made My Photos Much BETTER

The Photographic Eye is devoted to helping you develop the most important skill in photography - your Vision
When you're ready to take your photographs to the next level, check out 'Learning To See'.
A system trusted by 1000's of photographers to help them see the photographs that others miss
Click here to start your journey: bit.ly/46QiCcX Break creative ruts and develop your unique photographic style with Focus and Frame!
Gain 30 years of photography experience in 4 weeks.
Only 7 spots left for the next cohort which starts August 12th.
Don't wait, sign up now: www.thephotogr...

[@ThePhotographicEye]

*LAST CHANCE* "Learning To See", a course built to give you to tools to take your photos from average to awesome is being removed from sale permanently on 31st December 2022. Start seeing (and creating) better photographs today for just $35. *Click here --> **tpe.teachable.com/p/learning-to-see*

[@thatniallcollins8186]

Those of us who have had eyesight problems since childhood may have found, as I did, that the practice of photography has helped our perception of the world and those problems may have aided in the creative process as well. Spot on, Alex. Well done.

[@Kitsaplorax]

I had terrible eyesight before LASIK. I've always composed by tonal masses and curves. My photography got harder after eye surgery because I could then see details that I wanted to include. Alex is right.

[@somebodyUgonnaknow]

Same thought

[@TheDavveponken]

beat me to it

[@martin701]

All I need to do is take my spectacles off. Can’t see a damned thing so maybe that’s the secret!

[@janineubert7262]

@@martin701 haha same here 😂

[@hotsauce7124]

I like the way you show people how to Frame subject matter, Compose the image, Find Inspire creativity.

[@garygaryp1984]

As a professional shooting film many many years ago I was taught the squint method as a way of assessing contrast in a scene. As we look around with eyes open we are unaware of the aperture in our iris constantly changing and the squint method limits it to one fixed aperture. I used to find this very useful for backlit scenes. Even with digital cameras I find myself still squinting at a scene before I take a picture.

[@kurtnelle]

So, defocus the camera and then look around the scene until you find a nice composition? GENIUS!!!

[@matthewalexander8752]

This video is SO worth watching- even if only to view many SUPERB photographs that are truly works of Art!- Thank you for sharing….

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you for watching

[@jpsteiner2]

Thanks!

[@ianrawlins2231]

Thank you Alex - your videos have a wonderful zen-like quality. I'm a beginner, and have been struggling with certain concepts + learning the technicalities of photography. I'm recently experiencing health issues which prevent me from leaving the house and garden as often as I would like. However; your wisdom and gentle encouragement are a gift to me right now. Once again, thank you. Ian x

[@andrewdoeshair]

Interesting! Very helpful. As a hair cutter, some of us use a similar method to refine haircuts. If you’re focusing on individual hairs to fine tune you’ll often see right past many imperfections, but I often sort of de-focus my eyes to see what I’m looking past. This is part of the reason we use a mirror during haircuts, too- removing depth perception by looking in a mirror you see gradation between long and short hairs more accurately, dark spots are dark spots in the mirror but they’re often unnoticeable if you’re looking directly at the head and you perceive a divot or bump in that area.

[@nilofido411]

Sunny London here...... I can’t squint.... never been able to do it, I mean effectively as in de focussing, however a little turn of the focussing ring on the lens does magic. Not only for composition but also for exposure control by spot metering on the highlights. I can’t honestly remember when I learned/started using this technique, nor if it was driven by exposure or composition. Love this channel because is about creating images rather than the multitude of channels procrastinating about gear.

[@suehodnett6911]

Thanks Alex 👍🏻 Artists also do the squint method. Another thing we do to make it easier to find problems in our composition would be to look at the painting in the mirror or upside down as our eyes see the painting differently this way.

[@malcolmrendle6622]

great idea Alex and nice to see some of your work included in the video for a change

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks 👍 Glad you enjoyed it (both the video and the images of mine)

[@ThePhotographicEye]

If you found this video helpful or interesting - give the video a thumbs up and let me know in the comments where you're watching from!

[@theblackmanarmedwithacamera]

Like this video, I find ALL your videos very insightful...packed with great information! You have a simple...and very passionate way, that you express your teachings!! I honestly feel, that you should be doing masterclass! I'm from CT in the USA. I usually take photos of the grit in the world! I love learning, trying and then using what I learn thru your videos, to practice, with my works!! Keep doing the great job that you do, when bringing these videos!! They're like the Bible of Photography! - THE BLACKMAN ARMED WITH A CAMERA

[@aliciafredes22]

Your videos made me feel I had a new camera, and made me loosen and quicker to take photos. Thank you from Buenos Aires.

[@kronkite1530]

Oh, and another trick I use now with digital cameras - used it yesterday in my garden with strong sunlight and patches of dark/shadow - is to deliberately underexpose so that only the brightest elements/contrasts/juxtapositions stand out on the screen (I used the rear screen and EVF of my CL this week and did similar with an XT2 last year for moonscapes in that fleeting silvery cobalt high contrast might sky we sometimes get.)

[@almostgreen9498]

A simple concept I’ve heard before but never taught so well. Kudos!

[@DanIvanson]

Have been using the squint method for awhile. Love it! Learned about it from an artist that does paintings with a traditional education in Europe.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Wonderful!

[@kronkite1530]

Something sort-of similar that I have used for years is to defocus the lens while adjusting viewpoint or composition, a hark back to time using a 4”x5” view camera. It works especially well in BW and/or subjects with strong verticals, diagonals or horizontal planes; like forests, urban landscapes/buildings/architectural interiors etc.

[@llewdis]

Now that is a great idea. I was trying to squint and couldn't get a hold of the idea. I put my camera in manual and used the lens to do the squinting for me! Thanks!

[@kronkite1530]

@@llewdis Glad to have been of some help!

[@dilullr]

Great idea! As I was watching the video I thought the same as you. Why not just use manual focus to blur the scene. It's certainly easier on the eyes. Thanks for confirming this technique.

[@ShootingStars808]

Aloha from Maui! I too discovered this in a black & white darkroom. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 🌴 📸

[@12symmo]

I discovered squinting when I was trying to learn to see what will render nicely in b&w and what won’t. Thanks for the ideas for using this method more generally, I will definitely try to use this more.

[@krishfilms]

Brilliant tip. Thanks for sharing. As an artist I used to do this but same me never thought to doing while I m having camera in my hands.

[@mixiepalms8338]

i squint to show me aperture! my dad taught me that! also show more than you know! I never knew about this ! I am Asperger's and am a street photographer thanks again

[@imagepoint9726]

I have been shooting for 27 years and have never heard of the squint method. Tomorrow it's suppose to rain which will make for interesting street photography. I will be out trying this, THANK YOU.

[@jakubwasowicz1533]

I met Your channel, and I immediately started to love it. Greetings from Poland 👋🏼.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Greetings, thank you for watching

[@pdcmoore]

Learned this method way back in the mid 1960s at The Coliege Of Art And Design, Birmingham. Originally used it for colour matching but when I first started photography in 1969 seemed logical to apply the method to it as well. Little known even now but works a treat.

[@SuzD0n]

It's useful when digital compositing too: it helps with skin matching as I can see the base tones and adjust accordingly before further tweaks.

[@fritz1339]

A brilliant talk about a totally underrated and little known technique. I have been using it for quite some time and I highly recommend it.

[@angelcorrea5268]

You are great, thanks for your generousity, let's squint!

[@KevinRusso]

Many times I put the camera in manual focus and defocus it. I learned this technique many many years ago when I used a view camera.

[@aljo.antony]

I squint my eyes when I see scenes with bright light and dark shadows. I lean more towards scene with high contrast. So i squint to check out the scene with the bright areas because squinting darkens the overall scene and I get to know the bright areas. So in camera or post I can achieve the effect that i love. I really don't know if I discovered this method or heard it from another youtuber, but i am really happy to hear about this from you. Thank you

[@BrianMorrisPhoto]

the turn the lights on and then off method will make you legend!

[@rajismyfavorite]

I'm planning to go take pictures tomorrow so I'm excited to try this. Since I'm so blind without my glasses, I don't need to squint. I just have to take my glasses off.

[@nolimitsphotos]

Did this just this week....tagged you on my IG post. Very cool chat...love your work!

[@ericlahra8373]

Another great video from you Alex. We ordinary run of the mill photographers are so lucky to be able to learn from your experience.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

My pleasure!

[@MrShanePhoto]

Simple and brilliant. Ive always used the one eye trick. But never thought to simplify my vision in this way.

[@tedbrown7908]

Great post Alex, Squinting can also give a better "Focus" on contrasts which is what you are highlighting here. I've found out that my camera can't squint which astonished me.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Good point! - yes, light and shade etc are like contrasts

[@einzwei3364]

Very interesting some of the portraits really make me think of Jan Vermeer as far as light and shadows are concerned.

[@stuarttracey2009]

This isa great way of learnng to see light, shadow and colour. Thanks for the tip!

[@ArcanePath360]

Interesting concept, whereby to gain focus, we often have to loose focus. I've seen others teach using the blur tool to get rid of details in parts of an image that offer nothing of interest, while boosting colours and contrast in other parts, and you end up sharpening an image without using the sharpen tool at all. This is always a good thing because the sharpen tools always look digital and horrible.

[@retropixer]

Such a spot on trick that really works. I stumbled on this by accident about a year ago, as my eye sight got bad by age. I actually add the “one-eye” method in addition to it, to see the environment in 2D. It works beautifully.

[@mohdnorazmil]

I have problem with squinting and blurring images :) but lucky my camera can from manual (when i manually turn my focus ring) to auto. I will try this out walking around with out of focus view on the camera to find the composition and focus after to see if that helps me :). Thanks as usual!

[@zackchoy1969]

Thanks for the great lecture video.

[@SOLIDSNAKE.]

Here's to all 4 eyes! 👍♥️

[@jakemcavoy2554]

When I was taking drawing classes the instructor was emphasizing us to squint our eye to see the light. Indeed we’re walking around half our eyes closed bumping in to one another. In the end, we all benefited. Now finding compositions for photography seems more abstract. The presenter does not elaborate how we can utilize the method other than telling us to squint as if composition will automatically present itself upon squish g our eyes. I’d like to learn more about the process of finding compositions while using this method.

[@stevew7779]

Great video and I'll use this for the rare shots I take where most things aren't moving. I can see how this would work for the 'fishing' kind of street photography where you're setting a scene and waiting for someone to walk into it, but for the on the move, dynamic type I prefer, if you squint at something to see if it works, it's gone by the time you unsquint, so you have to learn to see very quickly and trust your judgment. Liverpool, England, btw

[@colorplane]

It's very similar when manually focusing. Find composition first - after that do the final focusing adjustment. The issue with squinting is that the brain could still try to cheat and still would focus eyes good enough to start attaching to details you don't need to worry about till the composition is right. While with out of focus lens there is no way to cheat :) But still very cool method, especially to find the right contrast.

[@ChrisHunt4497]

Fascinating Alex. Thank you for telling us about this. I shall be using it all the time. 😍😍

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad you like it!

[@mixiepalms8338]

ps shadows and light ! monochrome captures it better. thanks for the inspiration! My dad was my teacher.

[@hotsauce7124]

This is an awesome technique

[@quila5397]

Thanks for sharing your insights. Enjoying these videos from Vancouver, Canada.

[@therapyroom-relaxingmusic6378]

it's very powerful tip. Thank you

[@shelmana]

Loved this, I naturally have double vision and have had since birth.w🤯🤯🤯 When I was young, I didn’t know that I saw the world differently to others. I only took up photography a few years ago and it is only through the eyepiece that I see single for the first time. Of course as most others as I age, my eyes age as well. Does double vision hinder my photos. - Not at all. Your words are truly inspiring, the camera sees more than we all do, often unveiling hints we don’t or do not appreciate. Shapes excite our brain to know more and lead as on a journey. I watch a lot of KZbin to learn and I have not once come across any other person who talks of seeing the world in like you have suggested. Fantastic Clip 👏👏👏👏👏

[@davidpipeline]

Good video, Alex. This was a tip that an old art teacher once told me but which I'd forgotten about. Thank you Alex.

[@kirkdarling4120]

Same for me. 'Way back in middle school art class in the 60s.

[@johnman5537]

Hi Alex, massive fan of your videos, could you talk about story telling and balancing that with composition, you may have already done a video similar - but something that more in depth, i find it hard to judge my surrounding , know where i am and then recognise elements of story and what is meaningful. and then on top of that worrying about placing the elements in the scene - and hoping i dont miss the 'shot'

[@denisesavage2382]

One of my foibles is things in the corner or edges that others find distracting - I hadn't even noticed them! Be interesting to try this and see what it does for those forgotten edges.

[@blood_n_guts_murphy]

This was a main lesson in an Adam Marelli class on Udemy and I thought it was "simply" great advice. 👍

[@martinsrdos7809]

I will try it.

[@boddumblues]

I've done this instinctually for years, this helps understanding why ;-)

[@AK-hk2pd]

Thanks for providing us with another tool to pack into our bag 😀

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Any time!

[@johananGR]

Thank you!

[@davidagren5506]

Superlike!! Exactly what i needed!!

[@billbaker9623]

Thanks Alex for introducing us to another valuable concept. Another interesting KZbin video that validates your Squint Method is "Bridging the Gap: Classical Art Designed for Photographers" by Adam Marelli. He gave this talk at B&H several years ago. It's nearly 90 minutes long so find a comfy chair and your favorite beverage before you start it. 🙂

[@anton0000001]

Thank you Alex 🙏

[@C-JOHANSSON]

Interesting video as usually, I will try this. But the colors in your video is a bit pale. Tried to squint but it did not help.

[@Rob.1340]

Thank you. All the best. 👍📷😎

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you too!

[@neronse83]

Your channel is gold ! Thank you so much 🙏📸

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@jcat5150]

Wonderful thought provoking episode, Alex. Thank you!

[@msandersen]

Great video, something to think about. BTW: 12:19 "Creating Imapct"

[@ThePhotographicEye]

That's my obilgatory mistake :D Thanks for watching

[@queenvashtiful]

Excellent video. I can't wait to try it.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@queenvashtiful]

@@ThePhotographicEye I did. I actually crash coursed several videos last night. By the way, Idaho is where I call home.

[@aldodibari]

Hj, Does applying this method work, blurring the camera lens or making a contraption with glass smeared with Vaseline that makes everything look blurry?

[@antoniobalonio8442]

Interesting 🤔 and subjective for sure … I have to confess I looked at the post date of the video to see if it was April 1st 😂. I guess if we squint enough it’ll make a bad view look better on the basis you can’t actually see it, but a compositional aid? Hmmm, forgive me, but I’m not a fan of a concept that encourages not seeing! That said, the idea of defocusing a lens is a better option… but then ICM has that base covered. Thought provoking idea for sure, but very subjective! The joys of the photography art form eh? Or is it an art? 😜

[@johnw.3636]

This is a very strong video.

[@alancoligado8540]

As someone who is near-sighted, I wonder if going out and trying to take photos without my glasses would have the same effect as squinting.

[@philhodgkinson1460]

Also with this method a photographer could try de focusing a standard lens to get blur.... and see the world in colour blocks...bit like a painter perceives the world......

[@iamdiegoye]

insted of squinting (which can hurt ur eye and relative spatial awareness), you can use your evf and throw the lens of out focus. then slowly pull it back in focus. pretty much the same concept.

[@neilcole3406]

Most interesting!

[@rcpmac]

Me: been squinting for years for the opposite reason when I’ve misplaced my glasses.

[@dudetom2]

My eyesight now feels like feature not a bug amazing!

[@JoeLiningToolFilms]

I love the idea of photographing shapes, not things. I've always preferred just using the concept of visual weight over almost all the other compositional techniques.

[@saifaldin_]

This concept is very prominent with painters. “Paint shapes, not things” is a popular adage. Same goes with squinting to read the major values easier.

[@petesuchon7340]

Thanks Alex, from the Great Pacific Northwest

[@devroombagchus7460]

Sounds like an instrument for what a photo “should” be.

[@1972myc]

I need glasses and I been lifting weights for fitness. I notice that without my glasses I can see the muscle definition, but with my glasses, everything looks washed out and I can't see the shadows as easily. So it does allows another dimensional view.

[@shanecgriffo]

I started doing this a few years ago and not sure why but i found it very useful when looking for composition when cropping and also when adjusting contrast, then i forgot to do it for the last little while .. lazy? Maybe.. anyway, thanks for the reminder and expanding the uses of the technique also :)

[@AndersSchildt-f9n]

First of all, I really like your videos! You take your time - and let us see images for long enough... That being said, this method is useless to me, as when I squint, everything gets sharper... aah well - there are other ways.. Happy New year.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Happy New Year

[@aikoos9615]

That should be pretty easy with my bad eyesight. I need to leave my glasses in the pocket and try this method

[@alexanderpons9246]

Funny, decades ago I was friends with a guy who was legally blind and once someone told him that it will be interesting what he will capture if he took pictures. Pretty much most legally blind individuals see the world as if they are squinting permanently. Thanks Alex Kilbee for all you share in your great channel!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you

[@davidmarshall5665]

Is there an ideal lens for street photography?

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Joel Meyerowitz Said that the best lens for Street photography is the one that matches your personality

[@keiraferrari7764]

So, by “squint,” you mean take my glasses off.

[@jfpare1]

Love it as usual!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks! What did you think of the intro?

[@jfpare1]

@@ThePhotographicEye A bit over the top, secret images? Sounds a bit to promo like some other photographers announcing magic powder! You usually how more restraint. Still, very good trick and teaching. Also great when culling. Bu then, don't listen to me, I am overly sensitive to promo and magical promises. Keep up this wonderful channel!

[@calmetosis]

Ahhx I think I got it. I just need to take my glasses off.

[@simonyoungglostog]

The eye is drawn to the highest point of contrast. This happens subconsciously, squinting shows you what the unconscious is seeing.

[@hmuz8388]

3:23 HE SAID IT, HE SAID THE TITLE!

[@clairerobinson2006]

The problem with some (me) is the tendency to have our over active brain fill in the blur, obscuring seeing the elements that would make the photo strong. I’m working on overriding my busy brain.

[@ubeauty100]

Thanks again …🎉cheers

[@dct124]

I've unconsciously have been doing this shooting with manual only prime lenses

[@ChocoStream]

Right great technique but why not just put the lens in out of focus ? and then focus ?? It's easier and you can do it with the lower angle shots :D

[@IvanGRANID]

this can work only with nearby objects, far things which need telephoto lens will disappear

[@spandsbab]

Because i have bad eyesight, squinting without glasses makes my sight better lol. Gonna try this by simply removing my eyeglasses.

[@donnlowel2387]

Squinting is hard… the best way to do this is, put the camera in your eye and blur the lens to infinity. I think that’s the best way.

[@virginiainla8085]

Thank you! I'm good at telling stories and capturing the moment but I'm awful at abstract compositions. Or, I feel like I am.

[@thegaus9609]

I wasn't lost until he said "Control + Zed" instead of "Control + Z"