How to Create a Lens Flare

A lens flare is caused by light reflecting inside the lens of a camera.

A lens flare is an optical phenomenon that occurs when light reflects inside the lens of the camera. The light bounces off of the camera lens and components inside of the lens and camera to create streaks, haze, and other effects. Typically a lens flare is something you want to avoid, but it has gained some attention among photographers for the artistic effect created when the lens flare is used on purpose. It can help add realism and drama to the scene, create a washed-out effect, and make an otherwise boring photo stand out with the artful use of light.

Instructions

1. Take the photograph with the lens pointed around the sun. The strong light produced by the sun will bounce around the inside of the lens and create a natural lens flare effect. Experiment with taking photographs near dawn or dusk so the sun is closer to the horizon than at midday.

2. Position the subject of your photo in front of the light, but not obscuring it. This will create a type of silhouette and allow the suns rays to obscure part of the subject. It also creates a "washed out" effect, where the rays of light reduce the contrast and vibrancy of objects in the foreground.

3. Remove the black hood from the front of the lens. The hood prevents light from getting into the lens; removing it will allow light in from many angles, maximizing the chance of a lens flare.

4. Disable the "auto-focus" function on your camera. The auto-focus mode on the camera will typically focus the camera on the brightest object in the frame because it's programmed to assume that the brightest object is the most important. Manually focus the camera on the foreground subject to eliminate the risk of the photo turning out blurry or the subject becoming too obscured by the background light source.

5. Switch to "manual mode" for the shutter speed and aperture, if possible. By shooting at an angle into the sun or another light source, you're creating a scene where the background is overexposed. By shooting in manual mode, you can overcompensate for the background light and capture more of the details of the foreground subject.

6. Take the photograph, and then preview it on the camera's LCD screen to see if the lens flare was captured. If not, change the camera angle slightly, adjust the aperture and shutter speed, and then shoot again.

References

• Digital Photography School: 5 Tips for Achieving Artistic Lens Flare
• Cambridge In Colour: Understanding Camera Lens Flare