Fireworks problem

vic · 07-08-2011, 04:24 PM

Hello.
I'm new to photography and tried to photograph fireworks for the first time last night, but I have a bit of a problem I hope someone can help me with.

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What are those blobs of light and how do I stop it?

Luckily I have another chance next Friday night

Thanks

Marc Sabatella · 07-08-2011, 05:40 PM

That lens flare. You can Google for advice, but to some extent, it's inevitable when shooting directl into light sources. Certainly, though, if you're using a UV filter, throw it away.

khardur · 07-08-2011, 05:44 PM

^^ You know, Marc, you've always had a knack for posting as I'm typing. Grrr. (just kidding

Do you have any filters on the front of your lens? If so, I suggest you remove them. This is light bouncing off some piece of glass, either a filter or a lens element itself, and causing an unwanted reflection in your final image.

If you used no filter on the front of the lens, is this a zoom lens? They (tend) to have more elements and thus more surfaces that light could reflect off. I recently took some shots with my 50-200 that I got unwanted reflections with, and yet with my 15mm and my 40mm prime lenses I got no such reflections.

You can see this sort of unwanted reflection taking sunrise/sunset shots depending on what lens/filter combination you are using.

vievetrick · 07-08-2011, 05:52 PM

By the way nice shots and a little work you can remove those blobs :-)

vic · 07-09-2011, 12:10 AM

Originally posted by khardur

^^ You know, Marc, you've always had a knack for posting as I'm typing. Grrr. (just kidding

Do you have any filters on the front of your lens? If so, I suggest you remove them. This is light bouncing off some piece of glass, either a filter or a lens element itself, and causing an unwanted reflection in your final image.

If you used no filter on the front of the lens, is this a zoom lens? They (tend) to have more elements and thus more surfaces that light could reflect off. I recently took some shots with my 50-200 that I got unwanted reflections with, and yet with my 15mm and my 40mm prime lenses I got no such reflections.

You can see this sort of unwanted reflection taking sunrise/sunset shots depending on what lens/filter combination you are using.

No, I wasn't using any filters, but it was a zoom (Sigma 10-20).

Originally posted by vievetrick

By the way nice shots and a little work you can remove those blobs :-)

Photoshop is way beyond me

Thank you for all your advice. Buying a Pentax was worth it for this forum alone

JeffJS · 07-09-2011, 12:18 PM

The only real way to avoid it is to change your shooting angle. With a Constant light source (like the sun) and especially with an ultra wide angle lens, you'll be able to See when this is going to happen in the viewfinder. For instance, I did This on purpose.

K5JS7183_mSpir20f28_June7_2011 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

By changing the shooting angle, I can control If it's there And how much of it is there and where (to some extent) it is.

Colbyt · 07-09-2011, 01:25 PM

Originally posted by Marc Sabatella

That lens flare. You can Google for advice, but to some extent, it's inevitable when shooting directl into light sources. Certainly, though, if you're using a UV filter, throw it away.

Excellent advice that I learned the hard way.

Do you go naked with no filter?

Marc Sabatella · 07-09-2011, 03:05 PM

I use a UV filter at the beach. Otherwise, never.

07-08-2011, 04:24 PM	#1
vic New Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 4	Fireworks problem Hello. I'm new to photography and tried to photograph fireworks for the first time last night, but I have a bit of a problem I hope someone can help me with. What are those blobs of light and how do I stop it? Luckily I have another chance next Friday night Thanks

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07-08-2011, 05:40 PM	#2
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	That lens flare. You can Google for advice, but to some extent, it's inevitable when shooting directl into light sources. Certainly, though, if you're using a UV filter, throw it away.

07-08-2011, 05:44 PM	#3
khardur Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Massachusetts Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,560	^^ You know, Marc, you've always had a knack for posting as I'm typing. Grrr. (just kidding Do you have any filters on the front of your lens? If so, I suggest you remove them. This is light bouncing off some piece of glass, either a filter or a lens element itself, and causing an unwanted reflection in your final image. If you used no filter on the front of the lens, is this a zoom lens? They (tend) to have more elements and thus more surfaces that light could reflect off. I recently took some shots with my 50-200 that I got unwanted reflections with, and yet with my 15mm and my 40mm prime lenses I got no such reflections. You can see this sort of unwanted reflection taking sunrise/sunset shots depending on what lens/filter combination you are using.

07-08-2011, 05:52 PM	#4
vievetrick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Easthampton - Massachusetts - USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,183	By the way nice shots and a little work you can remove those blobs :-)

07-09-2011, 12:10 AM	#5
vic New Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by khardur ^^ You know, Marc, you've always had a knack for posting as I'm typing. Grrr. (just kidding Do you have any filters on the front of your lens? If so, I suggest you remove them. This is light bouncing off some piece of glass, either a filter or a lens element itself, and causing an unwanted reflection in your final image. If you used no filter on the front of the lens, is this a zoom lens? They (tend) to have more elements and thus more surfaces that light could reflect off. I recently took some shots with my 50-200 that I got unwanted reflections with, and yet with my 15mm and my 40mm prime lenses I got no such reflections. You can see this sort of unwanted reflection taking sunrise/sunset shots depending on what lens/filter combination you are using. No, I wasn't using any filters, but it was a zoom (Sigma 10-20). Originally posted by vievetrick By the way nice shots and a little work you can remove those blobs :-) Photoshop is way beyond me Thank you for all your advice. Buying a Pentax was worth it for this forum alone

07-09-2011, 12:18 PM	#6
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	The only real way to avoid it is to change your shooting angle. With a Constant light source (like the sun) and especially with an ultra wide angle lens, you'll be able to See when this is going to happen in the viewfinder. For instance, I did This on purpose. K5JS7183_mSpir20f28_June7_2011 \| Flickr - Photo Sharing! By changing the shooting angle, I can control If it's there And how much of it is there and where (to some extent) it is.

07-09-2011, 01:25 PM	#7
Colbyt Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central Kentucky Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,417	Originally posted by Marc Sabatella That lens flare. You can Google for advice, but to some extent, it's inevitable when shooting directl into light sources. Certainly, though, if you're using a UV filter, throw it away. Excellent advice that I learned the hard way. Do you go naked with no filter?

07-09-2011, 03:05 PM	#8
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	I use a UV filter at the beach. Otherwise, never.