Having Your Iris Photographed: A Visual Trend That's Truly Eye-catching.
As Christmas approaches, you might be looking for an original and personalized gift idea. Have you considered giving your loved ones a photo of their iris? Having one's iris photographed is an emerging trend in the field of photography. Decoding a fashion that turns the colors of your eyes into works of art.
A uniquely beautiful iris.
In ophthalmology, the iris is the eye's diaphragm as it regulates the amount of light reaching the retina. It is also the pigmented part that gives our eyes their color. Although this part of the eye actually contains only one brown-black pigment called melanin, the blue, green, or brown hues of our iris are unique.
The diversity of looks is infinite, as each person has an iris as unique as a fingerprint! In principle, eye color remains the same throughout life. It characterizes an individual so well that a photographer had the idea to take close-up shots.
It is now possible to visit a specialized photo studio of the Iris Galerie brand to have one's iris photographed and to immortalize the colors of one's eye by professional photographers.
Photos that are a feast for the eyes.
Having your iris photographed only takes a few seconds but yields uniquely beautiful images. You simply sit in front of a machine that looks like an ophthalmologist's to take the picture.
In studios specializing in this new form of ocular portraiture, everything is done to reveal and enhance the slightest nuances of the iris. After the actual photo is taken, it is reworked to, for instance, erase the shadow of the eyelashes. The digital processing of the image takes just a few minutes.
Clients then have a choice among a wide range of sizes, finishes, and effects to turn their eye photo into a true work of art. With professional-quality printing in very high resolution, it is possible to leave with an image from 20 cm to 150 cm and have it framed to hang at home as fine art photography. Depending on the size and finishes chosen, the price of the print ranges from €49 to over €3000.
A somewhat egocentric decorating trend.
The concept of Iris Galerie sprouted during the Covid-19 pandemic, at a time when eyes were the only visible part of the face due to mandatory masks. Iris Galerie, which is now the leader in this thriving sector, was created by photographer Emeric Wehbeh in 2021.
Since then, this astonishing idea has spread throughout France, but also to Italy, Denmark, and even Canada! Currently, there are over 40 stores in France where it's possible to have one's iris photographed.
The concept is a hit and reveals a certain degree of narcissism in all of us, as more and more customers do not hesitate to display their own gaze in their living room or above their bed...
If you think this trend is decidedly too self-centered, it is possible to combine several irises on the same photograph. It can be fun for a couple to merge two eye colors into one image. It is also common to assemble multiple irises to create an unusual family photo.
This trend, which gained momentum on social media during the year 2023, is partly explained by the emotional charge associated with the eyes. Unlike other parts of the body, the iris does not age. With its unique colors and petal-like or striated structure, it holds a beauty that is often unrecognized.
At the end of this unusual photo session, the resulting image is always a surprise, especially since the macrophotography technique used reveals shapes and hues that are barely distinguishable with the naked eye. And you, would you be willing to try the experience or offer it to a loved one?
