Lens Flare

[hark]

After seeing one of BackdoorHippie's front lit photos, I decided to give one a try when the opportunity suddenly arose. Back when I had a film camera and different lenses, the results of the lens flare was quite different (and certainly much better than this! ). I realize lenses are made differently now than they were 15 years ago, but I've never seen this type of lens flare effect. At the bottom of the photo, it reminds me of a Christmas ornament. :glee:

Granted this is NOT a good photo--the exposure is off, and my post processing of this photo isn't good either. The photo isn't a keeper for me so I'm not concerned about its lack of quality. My question is if anyone has seen this type of lens flare effect? I had a circular polarizer on so I don't know if that created some of the small green dots at the bottom or not.

And here is a close up of the effect. This is what I'm questioning. Have any of you experienced lens flare with this effect?

 

[WhiteLight]

Ufo!!!!!!!!

 

[hark]

Ufo!!!!!!!!

Lol! It's definitely different, that's for sure!

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Ufo!!!!!!!!

United Flying Octogenarians?

 

[FastGlass]

it's the ass of some strange spider camping out with you're sensor. LOL.

 

[Bob Blaylock]

After seeing one of BackdoorHippie's front lit photos, I decided to give one a try when the opportunity suddenly arose. Back when I had a film camera and different lenses, the results of the lens flare was quite different (and certainly much better than this! ). I realize lenses are made differently now than they were 15 years ago, but I've never seen this type of lens flare effect. At the bottom of the photo, it reminds me of a Christmas ornament.
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And here is a close up of the effect. This is what I'm questioning. Have any of you experienced lens flare with this effect?

What stands out to me is this: Those are not merely “green dots”. They are spectra. Look more carefully at them. They transition from red at the bottom to violet at the top, with the continuum of visible colors in between.

Some part of your lens is splitting the light like a prism.

The green portion is much larger and more prominent than the rest, most likely because the light being split to form them is mostly green, having been filtered through the greenery above.

 

[fotojack]

You say you were using a circular polarizer. Well, for one thing, they're to be used at a 90 degree angle to the sun, NOT shooting into the sun! Hence your lens flare.

 

[hark]

What stands out to me is this: Those are not merely “green dots”. They are spectra. Look more carefully at them. They transition from red at the bottom to violet at the top, with the continuum of viable colors in between.

Some part of your lens is splitting the light like a prism.

The green portion is much larger and more prominent than the rest, most likely because the light being split to form them is mostly green, having been filtered through the greenery above.

Now that you mention it, I do believe the light was refracted like an effect from a prism. It might be from bouncing around between the panes of the circular polarizer.

You say you were using a circular polarizer. Well, for one thing, they're to be used at a 90 degree angle to the sun, NOT shooting into the sun! Hence your lens flare.

Jack, in the beginning of June I sent my Sigma Circular Polarizer back to Sigma to be replaced, and it literally arrived as I headed out the door. I put it on my lens and used it for the cemetery submission (monthly assignment thread) and completely forgot about it when I took this photo.

When taking front lit photos, I know lens flare can be present even when no filter is added to the lens. Sometimes lens flare can be used as an advantage artistically; I knew I'd get it--just not to this extent! And when I previewed the image on my display, I only looked at the star effect from the stopped down aperture and the overall exposure of the photo. The colored ball effect probably was from the polarizer so I may try to take additional photos with a UV filter and no filter at all for comparison.

When I created lens flare with my older Sigma 28-70mm lens on a film camera, the spots were in the shape of the stopped down aperture. These tend to be rounder than the traditional geometric shape which usually shows up. So now I'm curious to see how the lens performs without any filter at all.

 

[BackdoorArts]

With the extra glass on the front of your glass you're likely getting a combination of reflection and refraction as light bounces between the layers. I suspect that blob of rainbows (a good name for a band?) is a reflection off the front lens element as seen against the back of the filter.