[jheu02]

I know as a general rule we try to avoid lens flare as much as possible. We get hoods, or contort ourselves to get something just in the way enough to block the light from causing it. But, let's face it, the coatings, angle-to-subject, contortions, etc. can only do so much. So, let's celebrate lens flare for what it can sometimes do for or to our photos. Feel free to include the lens that produced your masterpiece. Here's a couple to get this thread started (all shot with my Kiron 28-70mm):

Sun_flower


Close Encounters


War of the Worlds

[KarenH]

Great theme, John. I love flare, when it's adding a certain feel to the shot.
Your first shot is pretty, like a little golden spotlight is aimed at the flowers.

[JeffJS]

Spiratone 12mm f8 FE (don't know what the actual aperture was).



Zenitar 16mm f2.8 FE



I don't know that I would call either one of them nice photos but the flare is there.

[twilhelm]

DA 18-55 @45mm f13

Attached Images

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[KarenH]

Which ball to take?

Tamron 28-300 mm

[Tamia]

Great idea John. Here's one I took in the last couple weeks with the 18-55mm kit lens...

[jva59]

John, Agreed! An excellent point. Drawing on my (now all too long) memory, I seem to recall that the use (often enough overuse) of flare in '70s cinema and television was a common artistic choice. Countless films and programs would use it to convey a sense of oppressive heat as characters trudged through the desert or the glare as they fought their way across a snowy landscape.

[Voytech]

Here's some from my SiN album.




Here it's less visible

[Nesster]

I worked hard to get this shot - I'd noted the sun hitting the stop sign, and figured I'd use a single coated lens to get the full effect, so I loaded up the Kodak Retina IIa... only thing, that first roll I screwed up royally when attempting to rewind the film, shattering it. So I had to load up again and hope for another sunny morning. This then is from the re-shoot.

[twilhelm]

Nice shot Nesster. But made me squint when it loaded on the screen.

[jgredline]

[Clou]

Great idea.

All photos taken with the A15/3,5

[jheu02]

Good to see that others also like a judicious use of flare.

JeffJS: You certainly did get flare with your FEs. I find the first shot a bit more pleasing as the flare almost adds another wisp of clouds. The 2nd is a bit too distracting except for the extra geometry it adds.

Karen: I'll take the orange ball. I think it would work even better without the actual tennis ball, like your dog is chasing the light.

Tamia: I like the sunstar and the extra little flash of color at the outer ring of it.

Voytech: Your second one reminds me of the Northern Lights. I thought you'd used a screw-on filter for the first one though. So that's all flare?

Jussi: Great shot. You were even able to keep some of the post details in the midst of the brightest reflection. Cool.

Javier: Great shot, though a lot of the extra flare is masked by the B/W conversion.

Great start folks.

[KarenH]

Thanks John, I think you are right.

[jgredline]

Thanks John.
Here is the color version