Watch the video: create lens flare in-camera
Many modern lenses are so well designed that they all but eliminate lens flare. Specially coated glass elements stand up against even the brightest, harshest sunlight – and for everyday use, this is a good thing.
Unwanted flare, caused by light bouncing off lens elements, is unpredictable, not to mention a pain to remove in post-processing. However, what if you could make and control lens flare on command, with the ability to move and shape it to suit your subject? Well, you can, and we’ll show you how.
• More tutorial videos: Photography tips
Shooting through a piece of metal pipe in direct light – sunlight is ideal – creates instant in-camera flare. The pipe shape, color, position and texture will all affect how your flare looks, and every result will be unique.
This creative effect is best used in moderation, but play around, and with a little practice you’ll soon get the hang of it. Read on for our take on introducing deliberate lens flare…
01 What you’ll need
The best lens to use here is a prime with a focal length of 50-100mm and a wide maximum aperture, such as f/1.8. You’ll also need a piece of metal pipe that’s around an inch in length and diameter. Cut it to size with a pipe cutter if you need to.
02 Subject choice
03 Camera settings
There’s not an ideal setting for all scenarios, but we used Aperture Priority mode so we didn’t have to worry about constantly changing the exposure at the same time as moving the pipe. Most of our shots were taken at ISO100 and around f/2.8.
04 See the light
You can employ any light source for this, including the sun, street lamps, bulbs or flash. Bright sunlight is easy, effective, and free to boot. It also creates particularly good-looking flare when low in the sky, during the afternoon and early evening.
05 Use live view
Switch to Live View so that you can easily assess how your shots and the flare will look. Rotate the pipe back and forth in front of the lens, and move around your subject to reposition yourself in relation to the light source. Fire the shutter when you’re ready.
06 Pipe dreams need practice
You won’t magically get a flare as soon as you hold the ring in front of your lens; consider where the sun is in the sky, and the position of your subject in relation to it. Practice makes perfect, so keep tweaking until all the elements line up!
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