How did they avoid flare?

DougL · 27-09-2010 7:46pm #1

So, I was looking at today's Big Picture post and I came across this:

How the hell did the photographer avoid flare? Every time I try something similar, I get horrible flare!

Paulw · 27-09-2010 7:57pm

Most likely a polarised filter or an ND grad filter.

DougL · 27-09-2010 8:01pm

Paulw wrote: »

Most likely a polarised filter or an ND grad filter.

Hmmm. I'm pretty sure an ND grad would only darken the flare, not eliminate it. A polarizing filter with remove some reflections, but not flare afaik.

Paulw · 27-09-2010 8:25pm

But, there is some flare in the image.

Of course, they could always remove flare in PP.

Fajitas! · 27-09-2010 8:52pm

It's just one of those lighting conditions, you can see a wee bit of flare coming from the bottom right of the sun, but there's enough haze in the sky to stop the rest of it flaring out.

oshead · 27-09-2010 11:18pm

The amount of flare produced is also very much dependent on the lens used. Do you know which is used here?

DougL · 28-09-2010 12:03am

oshead wrote: »

The amount of flare produced is also very much dependent on the lens used. Do you know which is used here?

No idea, I wasn't able to pull any EXIF data from the JPG.

My understanding is that flare is actually reflections bouncing around between elements, so I would guess prime lenses would be better, since they have fewer elements.

Borderfox · 28-09-2010 12:16am

Probably something like a 24mm prime, the Canon version in the Mk2 is very good at controlling flare.

Diabhal_Glas · 28-09-2010 12:18am

A lens hood might also help reduce flare

CabanSail · 28-09-2010 12:59am

Lens Hood will not assist too much when pointed directly towards the light source.

As pointed out by Paul there is flare there but it's not intrusive. It's probably a combination of many things. Lens with good flare properties, well positioned to place flare in unobrtusive places, etc.

I would also say that image is either using an ND Grad Filter or else it's Bracketed and exposures combined in PP. The longer exposures may have been sheilded to keep the front element in shade.

PCPhoto · 28-09-2010 9:33am

I've done similar shots where I've had the camera on a tripod and used my hand (or an object) to shade the front of the lens from light coming in - so maybe they've used something to cast a shadow over the camera - so to minimise flare.

cnocbui · 28-09-2010 4:03pm

Maybe they cropped the image and the flare went away, as one could do with this shot taken with a 28mm F2.

DougL · 28-09-2010 7:59pm

I was just thinking that fine-tuning flare is a really good use for live-view mode, if you're lucky enough to have a camera that has that feature. I'm going to give it a try if the sun shines again before spring

I'm considering buying a Canon 50mm f/1.4 prime. One review I read said, "It also shows the middle amount of flare - noticeably less than the f/1.8 and noticeably more than the f/1.2". Since I can't afford or justify the f/1.2....

How did they avoid flare?

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