The Wisconsin folks had to take mine twice this past time because I closed my eyes because of the flash--nasty habit I seemed to have acquired over the years for self preservation! I wear contacts, so glasses aren't the issue. Had to force them open for the second pic! The flash is so bright, and the background color is not albino friendly! My hair is some strange yellow color it has never been, and my face looks like I have a horrendous sunburn, except for around my eyes and off to the sides of my chin, which are stark white! Since it has been such a pathetic winter here, I would not have had a sunburn on that particular day!
I agree that it probably has to do with their ability to see your eyes in the picture, they aren't picking on us in particular. I read once where a woman in Florida was having some sort of lawsuit over the issue, as she was a Muslim, or from some ethnic group that requires women to veil/cover their face, except for the eyes, and the DMV there said they had to be able to have a picture of her entire face. I do believe the DMV won out, but I am not certain.
I have a feeling we are just going to have to suck it up on this one!
It peeves me more that it costs more to get a state ID that is valid for less time than a valid driver's license, which costs less. I notice there has been some change to this, finally!
Joni