Flash use and eye damage

[vanderkm]

Does anyone worry about using a flash in taking photos of reptiles that cannot blink - any danger of damage to the eye with repeated shots, or is everyone using just natural light for their shots?

Mary v.

[shimbathesnake]

i don't think not being able to blink or not makes any odds. If we could blink quicker then the flash then we would have our eye's shut in all our photos.

[Lisa]

It's never been something i've particularly worried about. I do try to get enough light not to use the flash, but that's due to better pics with out the flash with proper lighting

[vanderkm]

Thanks for the answers - seems like a silly question now that I look back on it - good point shimbathesnake - not really the blink that makes the difference - just the thing that came to mind because we found the flash on our camera so strong and it seemed like the snakes would have no relief cuz they can't blink.

We were thinking about setting up a place to photograph the snakes and debating whether it would be better to have strong room lights over the area for doing macro shots or to rely on the flash and that is when we got worried about how repeatedly bright the flash is. Guess their pupil just constricts after the first flash and there is no chance of really hurting them - wonder if they keep seeing the bright spots afterwards!

Mary v.

[Alicewave]

It's not a silly question. I have worried about this myself. When I got my first leo I took a ridiculous number of pics of her and I noticed she had a harder time aiming at her prey. When I chilled out with it, she got more accurate. This may be a coincidence but I think repeated flashing can be damaging, at least temporarily. I try to take pictures from above their heads when I can to avoid the flash going directly in their eyes.