photog question

[jannylynn]

I have a few pictures of my children that have a funny spot on them. What causes this so I don't do it again? (look at DD, she's in a spotlight)



and



I thought it was DD's glasses until it showed up on DS's pic.

Any ideas?

[Traci Reed]

It's either a spot on your lens or the sun shining on it (the sun's shining at your camera lens causing lens flare)

[jorgies5]

You might have a dirty lens...a smudge or fingerprint. At least that always seems to be my problem when my photos look like that.

[CA Dreamer]

I think that happens when there is some light bouncing between the lens and the filter. Does it happen in all lighting situations?

[jannylynn]

Originally Posted by CA Dreamer

I think that happens when there is some light bouncing between the lens and the filter. Does it happen in all lighting situations?

It was just a couple photos out of this setting. Fortunately it isn't on other photos. (I considered a smudge on the lens but it isn't on all the pics from that run.) I do have a filter on my lens so that might be what it is. I wish I could have seen it with my eye so I could turn slightly or get out the hood.

[Ginger_79]

Looks like a flare to me. Caused by the sunlight. I'm not a pro though. Do you have a sunshade for your lens? Is it called like that in English? It's usually a black plastic ring that you can put around your lens to prevent such effects. For me this usually works very well.

[MissKim]

Sunflare. Photographers love to get flare. You just had the setting exactly right to get it. It would be lovely if the flare was to the right a bit and not right over the faces. It can be hard to see in camera.

[g8rbeckie]

Yep - sunflare!

This can happen any time you are shooting into the sun (it must have been peeking out from behind the trees - I see sunlight on your DD's hair!).

The size of the sunflare is relative to the aperture (f-number) of your pic

But I'm like you - I usually try to avoid them because like Kim said, it's hard to see in-camera where the flare is and if it isn't done right it ends up messing up the photo (like this).

I heard a good tip once - that was to always keep your lens hood on (if you have one). That way it helps out in situations like this, but also just protects your lens. If you bump your camera or lens, you'll bump the hood, not the glass of the lens directly.

[jannylynn]

Originally Posted by Ginger_79

Looks like a flare to me. Caused by the sunlight. I'm not a pro though. Do you have a sunshade for your lens? Is it called like that in English? It's usually a black plastic ring that you can put around your lens to prevent such effects. For me this usually works very well.

I have one. It was in the car where it isn't very useful. I moved us to the shade hoping the filtered light would prevent stuff like this but even then there were some sunny spots.

I did get this one without flare in the wrong spot:

[jannylynn]

Originally Posted by g8rbeckie

I heard a good tip once - that was to always keep your lens hood on (if you have one). That way it helps out in situations like this, but also just protects your lens. If you bump your camera or lens, you'll bump the hood, not the glass of the lens directly.

I need to get a different hood. I get a black shadow on the bottom of the pic when it is on in some indoor settings. I have to remember to not get too close so I can crop it out.

I know the hood saved my camera once though. I had it on a table and someone bumped into the table causing my camera to fly off and hit the chair below. I'm certain that the rubber hood cushioned the impact.