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Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)Has anyone ever noticed how the lighting set-up affects a bear's expression? Michelle posted Michelle Lamb's wonderful bear just now and it reminded me of this question I've long thought about.
The expression on the bear has a wide-eyed, sort of surprised-but-happy expression: the prominent lighting is of curving rectangles, creating a wide-set expression. This does NOT impact Michelle's fabulous bear or her talents! It just shows how the lighting postions can affect a bear's 'Look'. A bear can look cross-eyed if the light all comes from the front and they're set very close together.
Many times most of a photographer's photo set-up is also displayed in their images: this bear appears to be in a square or rectangular light box/tent, with lights shining through both side panels and light bleeding over to the top panel of a sifter/smaller/farther away light overhead.
The photographer here is dead center in front of the set-up; (sometimes a highlight can appear on the eyes' surfaces that're facing forward, due to there being a light panel across the front of the light box and only the lens extends into the interior). A light placed overhead and another to the side but still in front of the set-up will dilute the surprise or startled expression. Side lighting with the elongated reflections can effectively be used to give that expression on purpose, according to how the lights are positioned.
There's also a wonderful Colorado Blue sky seen through a window in the background, behind the photographer & studio setting!
Adding a stronger light overhead and/or another toward the front of the set-up would add more highlights: not a bad thing as it gives more 'sparkle' highlights in the eye.
And TGoodness we now have the cool lights instead of hot photo bulbs of just a few years ago. They made photo sessions torture and if one was forward-thinking and used filters over the lights or these now-common light boxes/tents, the light couldn't touch them or get near them or they would melt the nylon fabric. The new florescent lights can press right against them and the fabric's fine.
I'm also one who's guilty of looking into the eyes to see the actual studio set-up - to learn from those more experienced! - and to see the style of decorating in a home or workroom in the reflections. Remember the infamous eBay photographer-in-the-buff and his teapot, in the early digital eBay days? We're so concentrated on positioning the bear and getting everything in perfect focus that it's easy 'to-miss-the-forest-for-the-trees'.
In the minis that I shoot, there isn't as much reflected in the tiny highlighted dots, but I've often wondered if anyone else's ever noticed this effect?
Past Time BearsBobbie, you're so very observant! It is interesting to look at eye reflections. I take most of my photos outdoors in natural light and I can get some weird looking ones in my bear's eyes. And you're so very correct . . . they can most definitely influence the expression on the bear's face. Good point.
Bears by EdieYes, Bobbie, I have noticed this too. Getting highlights in the eyes is the most important thing though as if the eyes have no highlights at all the bear looks lifeless! Sometimes it can be so hard to get highlights in the wee minis but it never really dawned on me that at least we don't need to worry about the reflections like in bigger bears! One of the things that bothers me most is seeing bears with one big light reflection in one eye and then 3 or 4 light reflections in the other eye - it can be quite distracting!
Great observation, Bobbie. And to add to what Edie said, I've noticed that if the eyes are even a little bit "off" those reflections really draw attention to that "offness" so sometimes I actually check for eye symmetry using my photo lights!
BruinwerksOk...Ok... I confess! 
Sometimes when I can't get the highlights 'just right' I use photo editing software, and erase the offending spot and paint in a new one in exactly the right spot! :redface: :redface: :redface:
Cheryl 
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)I've done this too Cheryl. No apologies needed! The faceted nailhead eyes that I often use are like a double-crusted pie without its pan. They sew through from side-to side.
Sometimes they're perfectly sewn in but it's impossible to get them set so that the camera lights coming from different spots on all sides don't strike different planes, making different triangled facets light up. I've erased the offending ones and pasted in the matching ones from the other eye.
Cameras pick up (or don't) things that don't register to ones' eyes in-person!
LuxembearsGosh Yes Bobbie. Highligths are so important. They also make the eye look wet, like a real eye. If you look at cartoon,character, they too have highlights. Some even look nice with several separate reflections.
If you can't get the reflection just where you want it with the positon of your photo lights you can use a cosmetic self standing adjustable mirror, or mirrors, and reflect it rigth where you want it. Cool little tid bit I picked up from watching a professional photographer. 
This also works for lighting up any areas that need more illumination.
