Steady Hand
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All of the following is written in a friendly tone of voice and with the sole intent to help the original photographer (Derthax) or others with another set of eyes and another POV. 
It may seem otherwise to some.  Mostly because it contradicts something someone else wrote. Just remember...they are both just opinions.
Chuck wrote a very detailed (well written) description of how he sees the "nose" issue. I give him credit for that. It all sounds very..."authoritative" and "scientific."
Just remember...it is his "opinion." (Though I am sure it will seem like "indisputable fact" to him or others.)
I don't agree with the "make the nose disappear" suggestion.
Of course, that is my "opinion," and I don't expect Chuck or others to agree.
I like noses (small, big, wide, pointed, sharp, Roman, pug, ski slope, hooked, freckled, etc.) and see no reason for anyone to think they must make them "disappear."
I think noses are "essential" to getting a sense of the unique facial characteristics of a person. In fact, as a painter of portraits, the Nose is a very critical part of the image...and one I (as a painter) would NEVER try to make disappear. For example, how would Bob Hope have looked if his nose "disappeared" in photos of him? A nose can be a "distinguished nose" too (e.g. Cyrano or Madame X) .
In fact, I think the "flattened nose (missing nose) look" seen in many photographs is very unflattering and unnatural too. It is too often seen in photos, in my opinion. In fact...in many photos posted here on FM, I see the "missing nose" phenomenon often. In some cases it is so extreme it looks like a "sunken nose" in the image. Usually this is because of the use of two light sources (at 45degrees) or too much fill above the camera and poor light control. Of course some people like "fill over the lens" and "lotsa light" to make faces look flat (for their reasons). I don't. 
Folks, the nose is a very important part of the face. Show it. It adds "natural dimension" to the image, when seen with some shadows either around it or below it.
And...despite many online "tutorials" (some from ancient studio photographers "opinions"), there is "proof in the pudding."
Look at a real "three dimensional person" and see the nose? Now look at the typical "nose disappears/flat nose" photos and see if it looks natural to you.
It does not look natural to me.
In fact, when I finish a shoot and look over the images, I am truly disappointed if I find a shot that I made of a person ...and it has a "missing nose." It happens sometimes (usually when I am outside without control over the light or the position of the person or when I am rushed) and I regret it. I would like to show you an example, but I usually "toss" those or only keep one if it is too important for other reasons. In short, I avoid the "missing nose" look whenever possible.
Vive la nez! (French for "Long live the Nose!")
And about those eyes....
Too often I read on a forum like this that the eyes don't look good in some posted photo because they are not "perfectly" aligned (in the "center of the orbit of the eye") or because there is more than one catchlight, or the catchlight is not at the "1:00" position, etc.
Sorry...I see it differently.
I look at eyes all the time...closely and with sharp observation. I look at real people (not photos) in real situations. Look carefully at someone you love (or like) next time you are out together. Look at the eyes and see the "light" and the shapes. Look while they are giving you natural expressions (not just studio "cheese").
And what I see "naturally" is multiple catchlights, catchlights on the whites, catchlights in the iris, catchlights all over the eyes. I also see eyes that look all over the place too. It is part of what I call natural "expressions."
So my Simple Suggestion:
Look at eyes and noses as essential parts of a face and learn to see them as nature made them and as one sees them in a natural view. Don't try to force the eyes or noses to all look the same (or same direction) or "one size fits all."
Of course this is just one person's opinion...
Derthax, I think the image posted above looks VERY nice and it has a "natural" looking set of eyes (expressive) and a nice looking "natural" position for the nose. Pretty woman too.
Now...after reading all of this...just remember...this is an opinion. You are free to believe what you want and see it how you want to see it. Form your own opinion. For myself, I will "trust my own eyes" and "follow my own nose."
To Chuck: don't take this personally. You are entitled to your opinion and methods, and I am just stating a different POV and opinion. I am really just addressing the issue of "nose disappearances" and "perfect eyes" for a discussion. And, don't feel a need to debate this (I have no more time for the issue) and please don't feel the need to send me a long PM either. I have said just about all I have to say on this topic of "noses" and "eyes."
To Derthax: Sorry if this seems "off topic" and I don't want to hijack your thread. I simply wrote in detail to help you and encourage you to continue to make "natural" looking images of your subjects.
Edited on Nov 24, 2008 at 04:19 PM · View previous versions
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