Overcast lighting, shadowed rooms, limbal rings (barely). Banned: Catchlights, sparkles, anime shine, "doe eyes." 3. Context or GTFO Every post must have a flair: [ART] , [SELF] , [STREET] , [CINEMA] , or [MANNEQUIN] (yes, mannequins count—they have the best dead eyes).
Portrait at arm’s length. High-quality: Macro lens on a single iris. We want to count the cracks in your soul. 7. No Editing the Emptiness You may adjust brightness, contrast, and color balance. You may not digitally remove catchlights, paint in darker pupils, or use FaceTune to create a “hollow” effect. That’s cheating. r/deadeyes subreddit sidebar rules
Before you post, read the rules. 1. The Stare Must Be Authentic No forced expressions. No exaggerated "smizing." No wide-eyed manic panic. Overcast lighting, shadowed rooms, limbal rings (barely)
Vent posts go to r/offmychest. Come back when your eyes are empty again. The subject’s eyes must occupy at least 50% of the frame. No full-body shots where we have to squint to find the stare. No hats casting deep shadows over the brows unless the eyes remain visible. Portrait at arm’s length
— The r/deadeyes Mod Team (we’re watching you, but without interest) Want to suggest a rule? Send a modmail. We’ll read it eventually. Maybe.
Cover the lower half of the face. If the eyes alone convey nothing at all? You’re in. If they convey annoyance? You’re out. 5. No Pity Parties This is an aesthetic subreddit, not a support group. Do not post crying selfies with titles like “My dog left me and so did my will to live.” We get it. Life is hard. The void is vast. But r/deadeyes is for the look , not the trauma dump.
For [SELF] posts, you must include a one-sentence "state of mind" caption. Example: "Stared at the microwave for 14 minutes without blinking." Without context, we assume you’re just tired. And boring. We are not r/restingbitchface. We are not r/mildlydepressed. A dead eye is neutral , not hostile. If you look like you want to speak to the manager, that’s attitude—not emptiness.