Do you want to do your own iris photography? This article explains how to clearly photograph the iris. It is undeniable that suitable cameras, lenses, and other instruments must be used for this. And how to choose them? Here you can find the answer.
The entire universe is contained in the eyes. In the center of the eye is the pupil, and around it is what is called the iris. The tissue structure of the iris is the most complex in the human body. Its uniqueness even surpasses human fingerprints. Capturing this miracle with a camera is not only considered an artistic creation but also the key to the secret of life.
Recommended hardware for doing iris photography yourself
Regarding the camera, a mirrorless camera is more suitable than a DSLR because the flange distance of the mirrorless camera is shorter, which defines the distance between the sensor surface and the lens mount. With a shorter flange distance, internal lens reflections are reduced, making it possible to design and manufacture the camera body smaller and lighter.
Shutter speed is crucial in iris photography. The light sensitivity of the eyes leads to blinking, so a shorter shutter speed is very important to precisely capture the moment just before.
A high-resolution sensor also plays a significant role in iris photography. With a full-frame camera with 40 megapixels, the ciliary folds ring and iris crypts are clearly depicted. But be aware that high resolution does not always guarantee this. To achieve satisfactory photography, one must also consider the distance between the lens and the eyes and often use a circular polarizing filter simultaneously.
The wide-angle lens is not suitable for iris photography, as it can cause distortion when the focal length is less than 50 mm. However, using a wide-angle lens with a 90 mm focal length can better capture the iris because it increases the distance between the eyes and the camera, which can help avoid blinking to some extent.
In contrast, the SIRUI Saturn 35mm T2.9 1.6x anamorphic carbon full-frame lens is ideal for this purpose. The lens, with its 1.6x squeeze factor, creates a beautiful oval bokeh in a more pleasing shape, adding extra expressiveness and aesthetics to the filmed result. Additionally, well-designed aspherical elements are used in this lens to eliminate chromatic aberration in iris photography. At the same time, the overall size and weight of the lens are reduced, making it especially suitable for handheld use.
Solving problems in iris photography
The pupil reflex during shooting can disturb iris photography, as it ensures the eye's rapid adjustment to lighting conditions. To solve this problem, it is recommended that the photographer first focuses in darkness and then snaps the photo in a fraction of a second after turning on the light. If necessary, an LED light can also be used for this.
And the human cornea has a curved surface that creates mirror reflections. This disturbs the shot and impairs image quality. A polarizing filter can solve this problem by eliminating about 80% of the reflection.
When photographing the iris, one should avoid constantly letting high-intensity light fall directly into the eye, which can lead to retinal damage.
Post-production after photographing
After shooting, post-production is also indispensable to get excellent photos.
If there are disturbing reflections on the cornea in the photos, you can remove them with the retouching tool, making the iris detailed and true to life. You can also simultaneously reduce the saturation, making the iris clearly visible.
Furthermore, the iris will appear three-dimensional by increasing the sharpness setting. But it is important to avoid excessive sharpening; otherwise, the iris will look completely unnatural.
In image post-processing, it is also recommended to realize artistic effects. You can add mist to the iris in the photo and simultaneously correct the colors to represent the human-cosmic connection. It is also ideal to color the iris and thereby achieve multicolored eye effects.
Conclusion
Doing iris photography yourself means not only simple photographing but also discovering the secrets of the body. This way, one can understand that every iris as well as every person is unique. And that is also the meaning of iris photography. Now it is time for you to do your iris photography with the SIRUI Saturn.
