Do you think a portrait will just never be good w/o catchlights?

[kristenh]

just curious

[OsmosisStudios]

THe thing with catchlights is that they add depth and life to eyes. Without them, the eyes are missing that little extra something and most photos look like snapshots.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

THe thing with catchlights is that they add depth and life to eyes. Without them, the eyes are missing that little extra something and most photos look like snapshots.

Agreed 100%.

[BigFuzzy]

I agree that catchlights always make portraits better, but to answer your actual question, NO, I don't think that a portrait can "never" be "good" without catchlights. I've seen plenty of "good" portraits that don't have catchlights.

[cphoniball]

There are many kinds of portraits, and many of them don't require catchlights to be "good".

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by kristenh

just curious

Depends on the angle of the portrait. Frontal yes, side, probably not.

[deck]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

I agree that catchlights always make portraits better, but to answer your actual question, NO, I don't think that a portrait can "never" be "good" without catchlights. I've seen plenty of "good" portraits that don't have catchlights.

Agreement!

[autofocus]

To me, eyes without catch lights look flat, lifeless and dead...kind of shark eyes like. But, I will agree with Big Fuzzy that there have been many good photographs that don't have them.