Comments on: Lens Flare – and how to avoid it

By: Life with Kaishon

Life with Kaishon — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:02:45 +0000

I took pictures of some of my friends recently and one friend and her family LOVED lens flare and the other hated it. I guess it is very subjective : )

By: Denver Commercial Photographer

Denver Commercial Photographer — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:06:43 +0000

I thought it was funny to see what picture you picked for the “photoshop lens flare” effect. I find that you can also get flare even when your lens isn’t pointed directly at the sun, it can also be when bright sun comes across the lens just a certain way.

By: DC

DC — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:28:33 +0000

Lens flare can actually be a great thing -- as mentioned in the article, it can add a lot to a photo. One of my personal favorites (Quincy Steam Engine) has serious (natural) flare in it, but it adds to the photo by emphasizing the feeling of a glaring sun on a hot steam engine. Don't be afraid of flare -- just be sure you have a reason for having it when it shows up in your photos.

By: Brandt

Brandt — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:44:05 +0000

Since lens flare is a common happening (I have 1 or 2 which would be really great without the flare spots ruining it), is it possible to do an article on how to remove those spots in photoshop??? I have just spent 2 hours trying to remove it and keep the photo looking great but my photoshop skills are minimum. I was a believer that if I coundnt take the photo properly first it isnt good enough. Had never used photoshop other than converting to black and white.

By: Craig Wilson

Craig Wilson — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:44:57 +0000

Good information, it took me a while to realise how much a hood can reduce lens flare! Now is permanently on.

By: Neil Cowley

Neil Cowley — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 03:57:04 +0000

I like to use the lens flare when I can to help give a graphic presence to the light. Of couse I know how to control it so it’s only a matter of artistic placement, that photo shop can control.

By: Rod Pascoe

Rod Pascoe — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:22:37 +0000

At least now with digital cameras we can usually see the flare!

Anyone remember the good old days of groaning when the lab sent your prints back?!

By: photographyVoter.com

photographyVoter.com — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 07:18:02 +0000

Lens Flare – and how to avoid it

Great discussion about lens flare, what causes it, and how to avoid it.

By: Ed O'Keeffe

Ed O'Keeffe — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:39:44 +0000

I always shoot with a lens hood day or night but found that at night (street photography) street lamps always give a lot of potential lens flare, here I remove the UV filter from the front of the lens, just gives one less piece of glass for light to bounce between.

By: Sam's Stock photo review

Sam's Stock photo review — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:23:13 +0000

any protection around the lens can help. i’ve used a piece of paper, cardboard, plastic as makeshift lens hoods while in a bind. just make sure they are not too big for your lens or they’ll show up in the frame…

By: mattbell

mattbell — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:55:16 +0000

another anti-lens flair trick:

if you keep getting flare and can’t figure out where it’s coming from (for instance: if you’re using multiple light sources, flags, reflectors, etc), get in front of your camera, look directly straight into your lens, and any light (source) you see reflecting back at you is your culprit. flag/block it and keep shooting.