Can a flash make a newborn go blind?

11 years 6 months ago #263992 by Jerry Miller
I was reading another photographers Facebook page today where he was claiming using a flash with a newborn could cause a newborn to have eye trouble and possible blindness. I've reached out to the photographer to hear where he had heard this from and haven't heard back from them.

This topic has gone around in circles on forums in the past. I'm posting to see if anything new has been uncovered?


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11 years 6 months ago #264050 by effron
No. The flash of a camera, even if used to take many, many pictures of your newest family member, should not harm an infant's vision. Although the flash seems very bright, it actually isn't much different from normal daylight...... ;)

Why so serious?
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11 years 6 months ago #264066 by Henry Peach
Nope. If it could there would have been a massive epidemic of blind babies long ago. The strongest speedlights at close range are similar to normal sunlight.

But there is another good reason not to use direct flash: it makes portraits look like snapshots. Bounce the flash off the ceiling or wall. Or use a diffuser or light mod of some sort.
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11 years 6 months ago #264111 by Paris Gal
:agree:

5D mark II gripped | Canon 100L | Canon 85 1.8 | Sigma 50 1.4 | Tamron 28-75 2.8 | 580ex II | 430ex II x 2 |
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11 years 6 months ago #264119 by Joves
Nope not true at all. It is one of those Urbane Legends that get circulated forever. If flash hurt a newborns eyes, then I would have been blind, I was the first born and had tons of flash photos taken of me. This in the day when flashes were huge and very bright.


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11 years 6 months ago #264167 by Scooter
And this would have been uncovered years ago :agree:


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11 years 6 months ago #264181 by icepics
I'd be interested to know where the photographer got the information and what it's based on.

My job was as an early intervention specialist working with children birth to three; my background is in education (not a medical field). I know newborn infants' eyes are not yet fully developed, and I've done assessment/screening involving visual tracking, black & white/bright color objects, lights on a baby toy, etc. but nothing related to something nearly as bright as a flash.

An infant's central nervous system is going to be affected by things differently than an older child's or adult's since their bodies are so much smaller. That's why something like lead poisoning can cause brain damage in infants, but an older child or adult exposed to the same lead intake would not be affected nearly as much (depending on the age).

Any sensory stimuli that is too bright, too loud, etc. could at least cause discomfort, so you may not get a pleasant expression on the baby's face for a portrait. Probably the best thing would be to ask the parents, or if they have a concern, they could ask their child's pediatrician.

Sharon
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11 years 6 months ago #264188 by Stealthy Ninja
www.medhelp.org/posts/Eye-Care/infant-flash-photo/show/432284

Doctor said no problem.

Just don't go burning phosphorus near the baby and you'll be fine.
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11 years 6 months ago #264336 by Joves
Besides the fact that if you are shooting a newborn correctly, the lighting will be diffused soft lighting. Using harsh direct lighting gives you terrible results every time.


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