Much like in meeting people, the first rule of photography is to focus on the eyes. By looking someone in the eyes, we show we are paying attention. When we get distracted we lose focus on the person and what they have to communicate.
In photography you have to focus in on the eyes, they have a lot to tell us. They convey emotion. They are expressive and can entirely change the way a face looks, even if nothing else changes in the expression. If the eyes are out of focus, the entire picture loses its clarity.
Eyes are beautiful. Arguably they are the most beautiful element in any frame — that goes for people, other mammals and even birds. Think about the most powerful photos you have seen and what you remember about them, invariably the ones I remember include a powerful gaze. Think about the stunning photo of a green-eyed Afghan girl on the cover of National Geographic in the mid-2000s or your favorite portrait of Princess Diana.
The eyes bear power in animal photos too. In bird photography, we often talk about the color and beauty of the feathers, but the eyes of many birds are some of the most vivid you will ever see. The American Bald Eagle has piercing eyes. The Roseate Spoonbill has gorgeous colorful pink and yellow feathers, but their faces are set with warm red eyes. You definitely don’t want to miss out on the beauty in a bird’s eye.
And if you want to ensure your bird photos are sharp, you simply need to focus on the eyes. If the eyes are clear, you can be sure your photos will be as sharp as an Eagle’s gaze..
