Why Do You Have Red Eyes in Photos and How to Avoid It
There’s nothing like a pair of bright red eyeballs to ruin the perfect shot. While this is a fairly simple fix, SciShow explains why it happens in the first place, and what you can do to prevent it.
As explained in the video, the effect is related to the enlargement of the eyes. When the lighting around you is dark, the muscles in your iris dilate your pupils to let in more light. This way you can see things. When your eyes glow red in photographs, it is often due to the fact that you are taking a picture in a dark room, and this is what happens to your eyes:
… that if suddenly there is a bright flash of the camera, all this light floods your eyes before the muscles of the iris can contract. Some of these may bounce off the blood vessels in the back of the eye and appear as glowing red light, destroying the group photo you were trying to take.
Some cameras actually blink a couple of times before taking a photo, so your eyes can get used to the light. SciShow also suggests brightening the room in front of the photo so your pupils aren’t wide. Otherwise, do not look directly into the camera lens.
They offer some additional information in the video, as well as some tips on how to determine if photos with red eye may actually indicate eye problems. Check it out above and then head over to their YouTube channel from the link below.
Why are my eyes glowing red in photographs? | SciShow (YouTube)